VILLA PARK— Schools across the 23rd State Senate District are set to receive record-level funding from the bipartisan budget passed by the Illinois State Senate.

State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) fought to ensure schools across Illinois received state funding as promised by the mandated education funding outlined in the new evidence-based funding formula.

“The most important investment we make as a state is in our children,” Cullerton said. “We upheld our commitment to our schools with a new funding formula that will ensure children have the opportunity to receive a superior education regardless of where they live.”

The budget allocates more than $544 million in dedicated funding to early childhood education to give Illinois kids a strong foundation before they enter kindergarten.

“Studies continue to emphasize the fact that the time and money we allocate in educating students at an early age pays dividends in the future,” Cullerton said.

To fight the high property taxes that continue to burden working families across Illinois, the budget commits $50 million to support property tax relief.

“Funding schools the right way will lead to lower property taxes,” Cullerton said. “As we work to funding our schools at full adequacy levels, it is essential that homeowners are given relief from high property tax bills.”

Since Cullerton has been in the Senate, DuPage County schools have seen significant increases in school funding amounts. He pledges to continue to work toward ensuring Illinois schools are properly funded.