John Gregory -- Illinois Radio Network

The Republican legislative leaders are sounding the alarm about what a change in the state’s school funding formula would mean for some districts.

The proposal would base state funding to schools more on need.  Illinois Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) says the real result would be reducing funding to school districts in some of the suburbs of Chicago.

“The way you solve a problem is not to gut one area of the state,” Radogno said.  “We shouldn’t gut Chicago, we shouldn’t gut Downstate, and we shouldn’t gut suburbia, so any bill that is this unbalanced is not a good bill.”

The bill has already passed in the Illinois Senate. Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) is among the suburban lawmakers meeting with school districts to build opposition ahead of the fall veto session.

“I think there’s a lot of apprehension in the House, but I do know if the speaker is determined, he can always find 60 votes,” Durkin said.

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