A state-wide coalition of educational groups will work with other state constituents to fight for a tax increase which they believe is needed for funding higher education in fiscal year 1988.

Ross Hodel, Illinois Board of Higher Education deputy director of public service, said the coalition will be working with other non-educational “supportive” groups such as the Woman League of Voters, the Urban League and the United Mine Workers to push for a tax increase.

At the March 3 board meeting, IBHE Executive Director Richard Wagner said, “The legislators are saying they haven’t heard from the citizens. That’s the importance of a grass-roots citizens involvement and not just education (involvement).”

IBHE member John Gilbert said “all people are going to have to talk to the legislature” about the approval of a tax increase.

“I can tell you, in my judgement, education alone can’t get a tax increase. We need to include every agency in the state,” he said. Gilbert said he was a member of the Illinois senate for 12 years. “We need to broaden this. In my judgement, more legislators are interested in being elected.”

Hodel said, “Primarily, we are working hard to get the word out to local groups.” He said members of the coalition, including some university leaders, are making appearances around the state at such organizations as local rotary clubs.

In addition, Hodel said three groups within the coalition have been working to inform the public about the situation facing institutions of higher learning in Illinois because of poor funding and the need for additional state resources.

One group is an alliance of state university alumni who have been distributing information by direct mail and through university publications. The other two groups are government relations officers and public relations officers of some state universities who are discussing the issue with legislators and Illinois citizens.

Hodel said future efforts of the coalition will be organizing activities for when the legislature is in session during late March and early April. He said part of the efforts will include lobbying in Springfield. As part of the coalition, the Board of Regents also will attempt to influence the legislature directly during the spring session, Regents Chancellor Roderick Groves said.

The coalition of educational groups was formed by the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the State Board of Education Feb. 2.