DECATUR — Gov. J.B. Pritzker pledged that his proposed budget will lead to more funding for Illinois career technical education programs like the ones offered at Richland Community College, which he toured Thursday. 

More money for higher education is a key aspect of the budget plan that the state’s 43rd governor proposed in February. He said faculty members have left Illinois universities for institutions in other states due to a 10-year lack of proper funding. Pritzker said budget issues have also created anxiety among students due to wavering opportunities to receive grant money. 

"My grandfather once said ‘It takes a lifetime to build a reputation and about five minutes to screw it up,’" said Pritzker during a meeting with the Herald & Review’s editorial board. "In the last four years in Illinois, I would argue that our colleges and universities reputations got damaged significantly."

"… If you want to fix that problem, you’ve got to make the investment in universities and community colleges."

Pritzker’s proposed budget, unveiled Feb. 20, includes a 5 percent increase in funding for public universities and community colleges, and a boost to the Monetary Award Program that helps low- and moderate-income students attend college. 

The governor is calling for the state to move to a graduated income tax, or "fair tax," structure that would charge higher tax rates to those in upper income brackets. He says the move will not only allow the state to invest in higher education and other priorities, but would also help the state tackle its $3.2 billion deficit. Illinois still has $15 billion in debt associated with unpaid bills and has paid $1.25 billion in late-payment penalties.

The graduated tax plan is Pritzker’s preferred solution to bridging the budget gap. He said alternatives would be cutting state spending by 15 percent or enacting a 20 percent income tax increase for residents. 

The flat-rate system was written into Illinois’ 1971 Constitution. Changing it would require a constitutional amendment approved by 3/5th majorities in the General Assembly and ultimately by voters — at the earliest, in the November 2020 election.

Opponents have criticized the plan, saying that there’s no way to determine whether changing Illinois’ flat tax system will be favorable to middle-class earners in the future. After the governor announced his plan in early March, the House Republican caucus unanimously signed a nonbinding resolution opposing the new tax system and saying there’s "no need to negotiate" between caucuses.

Pritzker defended his plan and said that many of the conversations he’s had with residents and business owners have been favorable toward the idea. 

"When you say, ‘Where are you going to find the revenue necessary to help balance the budget?’ I think it’s just wrong, and I think most people think it’s wrong, to say to the middle class … that this should fall on them when the people who are most capable of helping us overcome this challenge are the people at the top," Pritzker said. 

When asked how he and his team estimated that the fair tax would bring in $3.4 billion in revenue, Pritzker said it was based on state Department of Revenue data and feedback during discussions with outside independent groups. 

"We took the facts, we applied them to the numbers and we came up with the $3.4 billion," he said. "And I think we’re pretty right on."

Richland President Cris Valdez said he hoped and believed that Pritzker walked away from his visit Thursday with more understanding of the value of community colleges. He joined students, instructors and other officials in leading Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton on a tour of the college’s Workforce Development Institute and Dwayne O. Andreas Education Center. 

"We have the ability to be very reactive (and) to respond to industry needs. That’s shown primarily through some of our structure and training," Valdez said. 

Pritzker praised Richland’s workforce programming for equipping students with necessary tools to enter the Illinois workforce. 

"It’s very important that we provide the skills that are necessary for the industrial jobs that are available out there," he said. "… I’m really glad to be here to see what Richland is doing, and I’m looking forward to helping them grow the programs here so that we can create jobs across Illinois."

The Rev. Courtney Carson, Richland’s director of essential skills, said many people who graduate the program are able to find quality jobs that pay well and provide benefits in the community without having to search for long.

One graduate, he said, was even offered a job that paid $42 an hour while he was still living in transitional housing. 

"That’s amazing," Carson said. "… These are unheard-of stories. But at Richland Community College, we’re making miracles happen in the lives of individuals. We’re extremely happy about what’s going on. "

Cherell Ingram and Armar Washington both took workforce development classes at Richland and are preparing to reap the benefits of their work.

Ingram, 32, said she was offered five jobs before accepting an offer to work in Archer Daniels Midland Co.’s bioproducts plant. Carson described having to choose between employers as a "good problem" to have. 

As for Washington, he recently earned his commercial driver’s license after completing Richland’s truck driver training course and will soon start working as a subcontracted driver for Dunn Company. 

"It really was just a dream come true," said Washington, 37. "And where I’m from, dreams are just dreams. Richland made it happen for me. I never thought I’d be where I’m at right now."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.