Today is the day of reckoning for the Illinois Education Amendment, which would require the state to provide a “preponderance” of funding for elementary and secondary education.

While the amendment is not specific in its funding levels, it is generally agreed that a “preponderance” would be 51 percent of the cost for elementary and secondary education.

The amendment will need 60 percent approval to become part of the Illinois Constitution.

State Senate candidate John Nelson, who is a Democrat, is a strong supporter of the amendment.

“The amendment is needed to ensure every kid has a reasonable chance for quality education,” Nelson said. “I think we are doing a decent job, but we must do better.”

Nelson said Illinois’ funding level for elementary and secondary education has fallen from picking up 48 percent of the education tab 15 years ago, to the present level of 33 percent.

Alfonzo Thurman, associate dean of the College of Education, said he also supports the amendment.

“Elementary and secondary education need more funding; we must better prepare students for college and for life,” Thurman said.

However, Thurman said there is the potential that the amendment could hurt higher education.

Some critics have speculated that if the state were locked into funding for elementary and secondary education, it would have to decrease available funds for other state agencies and cause increased competition for the remaining state funds.

Nelson said the amendment could benefit other areas because it will force the legislature to take action and confront Illinois’ “mess of a budget.”

Nelson also said that the assertion that the amendment would double the state income tax is “a blatant lie.”

He said that Illinois’ present income tax of 3.25 percent (with the surcharge) is one of the lowest in the nation.

State Sen. Judy Baar Topinka, R-North Riverside, said the “amendment is too vague and hides the huge tax increase necessary to implement it.”

She said Gov. Jim Edgar estimates that an increase of 150 percent would be required.

Topinka also said the amendment gives the impression that funding for education will shift from property tax to income tax revenues, and that this is not the case.

Topinka said the amendment doesn’t provide for property tax relief, and that suburban school districts would have their income tax increased while their property tax stayed constant or was increased.

Topinka said the suburban schools will end up supporting the whole state education system because of a school aid formula which “discriminates against the suburbs.”

She said new money generated through an income tax increase would be doled out under this old formula.

Nelson said that the property tax presently makes up 60 percent of the funding for elementary and secondary education.

Nelson said Illinois has reached its limit in terms of the property tax. He said the amendment could provide property tax relief, but that this would be up to the legislature.