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Legislators didn’t lift the end-of-year sunset on the Invest in
Kids program before they adjourned spring session. Last week,
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said discussions continue.
“I’m willing to work with the program if it gets extended or to
figure out how we would wind down the program if it doesn’t get
extended,” Pritzker said.
The program is funded with private donations in exchange for a
75% state income tax credit. More than 41,000 students have
benefited since the program was started nearly 5 years ago.
Pritzker said “nobody is trying to shut anything down.”
But, the Illinois Federation of Teachers union said the program
diverts funds from public schools and “must sunset as intended”
at the end of the year.
Pritzker said he’ll listen to both sides.
“People who say, ‘well, actually it’s not costing taxpayers
anything,’ Actually, it’s costing taxpayers 75% of the total
amount that gets raised,” Pritzker said. “And so that’s
something that I think some people who are budget conscious are
paying attention to as well.”
Earlier this year, Anthony Holter with granting organization
Empower Illinois, said if the program isn’t extended beyond the
end of 2023, it’s not just the short-term uncertainty that will
strain families and schools.
“That school is making a commitment to that student for the next
eight or nine years, and having the stability of the program to
ensure that the family has the financial resources to attend
that school over that period of time is critical,” Holter said.
The tax credit doesn’t hurt the budget, Holter argues. He said
the benefit for families and children is priceless.
“So I would ask them to be courageous for kids and put aside
some of these other concerns to focus squarely on those who this
law was intended to benefit and that’s children from low-income
and working-class communities through this state who desperately
need choices and who with them will have a bright and vibrant
future,” Holter said.
Legislators could take up an extension of the program during
fall session.
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