Above: Members of the Citizens for Education Committee stand with their Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce's "Chamber's Inspiration Award."

School districts around the state of Illinois are feeling the pinch because of the delay of state aid payments. Taylorville has not been an exception. With the district strapped for cash and huge budget cuts possible, some concerned citizens put together a proposed took it on themselves to make sure district students weren’t the ones punished for the district’s financial woes.

A new award given at the Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet last Friday is called the “Chamber’s Inspiration Award”, and it was given to the members of the Citizen’s for Education Committee that put much time and effort into getting the measure passed. The presenter of the award, Miller Media Group’s Randy Miller, said this award isn’t meant for one particular person.

The committee’s efforts helped the referendum pass by more than a 2-to-1 margin. With the passing of the referendum, a property owner with a $100,000 should expect to pay an extra $283 per year to Taylorville schools.