Contents

May 1991

Illinois Issues

Vol. XVII No. 5
Established 1975

Mayor Box at mid-term: keeping taxes low and understanding Rockford's 'Mr. Larsons' Chuck Sweeny 10 Revisiting the 1985 education reforms: Is the 'old school bus' running better? Donald Sevener 14 Public service reform in Illinois: recommendations a la Volcker commission Wen Huang 17 Illinois' urban health care dilemma Richard Krieg 20 Finding a method (not a formula) to gauge adequate education funding Bill Kemp 26

Columns Politics Demographic wave may wash out Democratic majorities Charles N. Wheeler III________ 6 The state of the State Democratic dilemma in reconfiguring Edgar's budget Michael D. Klemens _________ 8 The Pulse Splits and chasms on affirmative action Cedric Herring ___________ 36 Chicago A tale of two wards, or diversity in one city Paul M. Green ___________ 38

Departments State Stix Straws in the wind Margaret S. Knoepfle _______ 4 Legislative Action Farmland property taxes: Fair or not? Wen Huang _______________ 28 Judicial Rulings F. Mark Siebert ____________ 30 Names Patricia Burtle-McCredie _______31 Book Reviews Chicago: struggle over modernism Larry Shiner _____________ 33 State Reports Anna J. Merritt ____________ 35

Cover illustration: Rockford Mayor Charles E. Box stands in downtown Rockford with the library in the background along the riverfront. The photographer is Brad Burt, and the photograph is courtesy of the Rockford Register Star.

May 1991/Illinois Issues/3