A state-wide coalition of educational groups is planning its strategies to inform the citizens of Illinois that a tax increase is needed to help fund higher education in fiscal 1988.

The coalition was formed Feb. 2 by the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Board of Higher Education and is comprised of constituents from both elementary, secondary and higher education.

“We are collecting and disseminating information about the impact of the stark reality of no tax increase,” Ross Hodel, IBHE deputy director of public service, said.

Hodel said within the next few weeks the higher education subgroup of the coalition will meet with university alumni associations, public relation officers and Illinois business leaders.

“Gov. Thompson will introduce his budget Feb. 25 which will not include a tax increase. We need to get the word out to the citizenry what the effects of this will be (on higher education),” Hodel said.

Board of Regents Chancellor Roderick Groves said the regency system is collecting statistics and other information to develop materials for speaking purposes. “We’re getting together a campaign to get us in contact with the public in various ways,” Groves said.

In addition, he said each university of the regency system, which includes NIU, Illinois State University and Sangamon State University, will develop its own campaign and contact points to inform the public about the funding needs of higher education.

Future efforts of the coalition will be organizing activities for when the legislature is in session. “In late March and early April we will focus on a new series of efforts to influence the legislature,” Hodel said. Part of the efforts will include lobbying in Springfield, he said.

Groves said the Regents also will develop a campaign which will focus on the time period during which the legislature will be in session. He said the regents will plan activities which will attempt to influence the legislature directly.

Richard Wagner, IBHE executive director, said evidence of support for a tax increase for Illinois schools needs to reach the legislators from the local level.

Hodel said the coalition will make efforts wherever possible to put together information about the need for a tax increase and what the economic impact would be statewide if one is not approved.