Board member urges Will County to support federal education donation tax-credit program

Member Balich told colleagues he had placed materials on the members' desks about a federal program that he said would provide a $1,700 tax credit to donors who give to nonprofit scholarship or education programs. "The federal government is giving, $1,700 tax credits to anybody that donates money into a nonprofit for these children's programs," Balich said, and described a range of potential uses, including tutors, special classes, partial private-school tuition and test preparation.

Balich said the program, as he described it, would be available to families at every income level and would not cost the state or local government directly. He said the county should work to get the state of Illinois to "opt into the program" and proposed seeking a referendum asking whether the county approves the approach in hopes of persuading the governor to participate. "So I'm asking everybody that when we bring this forward ... we got to work toward getting this on a referendum question saying whether our county approves it or not so that the state has at least us on record saying we think it's a good idea," Balich said.

He asked that the board refer the matter to the appropriate committee for study. "When this goes to the committee, whichever Joe decides, we'll be talking about it," Balich said.

Why it matters: if a state opts into a federal donation tax-credit program, advocates say it can expand private funding for educational services; Balich urged the county to record support formally so state officials can note local backing. The board did not vote on a referral or take formal action at this meeting; Balich said he would work with staff to identify the proper committee.