Sen Andy Manar (D), Rep Sue Scherer (D) and others argue there is an urgent need to fix inequalities in the way moneys are distributed to schools around Illinois. As so much of education funding is tied to local property taxes, Sen Manar says this puts agricultural communities, with low tax bases at a disadvantage. Critics also note that the low property values in low-income areas means schools in poor neighborhoods will continue to have their students get far less money than students in more affluent neighborhoods.