By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – A report from the Illinois Policy Institute claims the state could save up to $170 million annually by consolidating school districts.

The study says about one-fourth of Illinois’ 859 districts have just one school and one-thirds of school districts serve fewer than 600 students.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Brady on WJBC.

State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, said he’s an advocate of consolidation.

“Local government, smaller government is better when it can be affordable,” Brady said.

But Brady told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin those decisions should be made at the local level with some help from the state.

“We shouldn’t give them incentives to be inefficient and we should give them incentives to be efficient,” Brady said.

Brady has long said the Illinois State Board of Education should be abolished.

He added that he’s heard ever since taking office the state could cut the number of school districts and local governments.

“They’re right,” Brady said. “When you look at that, it’s alarming and needs to be looked at.”

Illinois has the most local taxing bodies per-capita in the country.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].