Illinois school districts are increasingly relying on local taxpayers to invest in public schools. Illinois finance data show local taxes and school fees now make up 67.4% of revenue for districts statewide, the highest percentage in at least 15 years.
The state contributes nearly 25%, one of the lowest shares in the country. The federal government contributes nearly 8%.
The local portion for education has slowly climbed since 2001, when local dollars averaged nearly 62% of K-12 public school expenses in the state.
Nearly every cent flowing into affluent Butler School District 53 in Oak Brook comes from local dollars, about $10.1 million. Most of the funding is from property taxes paid by businesses and homeowners that cover everything from school building projects to teacher salaries.