In This Issue:
- Governor Releases More Construction Funding
- NIU Makes Funding Request
- Video Gaming Brings Big Revenue
- Some of the Bills That passed the House Last Week
- Continuing the Discussion of School Funding Formula
- Multi-Year Transportation Improvement Plan Unveiled
April 14, 2014
Governor Releases More Construction Funding
Just in time for the summer construction season, Governor Quinn released hundreds of millions of dollars in new bonding for infrastructure improvements last week. Counties, townships, municipalities and mass transit are among the beneficiaries of the funds from the $31 billion Jobs Now capital bill approved in 2009. The fact that it has taken six years to generate the revenue capacity to service the bonds is testimony to how slow the Illinois economy remains.
I have posted the allocations for each unit of local government in the 70th District on my website. Sufficed to say the dollar amounts per unit of government are not a large portion of their budgets but the funds can certainly help.
One of the biggest surprises in the allocations was the change in the Amtrak route from Chicago to Rockford that now includes a stop in Belvidere and bypasses Genoa. As you may remember the Department of Transportation (IDOT) conducted an extensive study some years ago of two routes-a northern and southern– for the least costly and quickest to construct service from Chicago to Rockford. The winner was the southern route through Genoa.
According to the Governor, an agreement with the Canadian National Railroad to use their track on the southern route could not be reached after several years of negotiations. To get the train service to Rockford, IDOT switched the routes and the Governor didn’t bother to tell local officials.
The new construction allocation includes $223 million for track improvements, signaling, depots and other expenses. It’s interesting that the longer range goal of continuing Amtrak serve from Rockford to Dubuque will require the use of Canadian National track.
NIU Makes Funding Request
Northern Illinois University President, Doug Baker, Acting Provost Lisa Freeman and four NIU students testified before a House higher education committee in Springfield last week regarding their operations and budget. A key message was the counseling support and internship opportunities NIU is giving its students.
Raquel Chavez, Elaine Rodriguez (both of Hampshire), Husam Salem and student Board of Trustee member Paul Julion (both from Chicago) underscored the quality, diversity and experiences of NIU students. They testified to the importance of state funding for student monetary assistance and explained their career dreams. NIU is asking for nearly flat state funding next year which would be $93.4 million out of their $242.5 million budget.
Video Gaming Brings Big Revenue
The growth in video gaming could add more than $100 million in annual state tax revenue. The Illinois Gaming Board reports that as of January, 14,423 video gaming terminals had gone into legal operation throughout Illinois. In that month more than $500 million was wagered, and taxes levied on the wagering activity generated $9.6 million in new monthly state revenue and $1.9 million for local tax revenue.
The Video Gaming Act allowed licensed bars, taverns, restaurants, truck stops, and certain social clubs to apply for licenses to operate up to five video gaming machines. Operating much like the slot machines installed in conventional gambling casinos, the video machines allow repeated play for paper receipts that can be exchanged for cash at the pay stations of the host establishment.
Installation of legal video games began in late 2012 with the Gaming Board closely scrutinizing license applications and issuing a slow stream of new licenses. The Video Gaming Act allows municipalities to “opt out” — ban video games– within city limits; something Chicago, so far, has done.
Some of the Bills That Passed the House Last Week
The House was on deadline last week for bills to be passed. Over 200 bills were debated and here are a few that received approval.
Saving Chicago Pensions-SB 1922 as amended in the House, reduces future pension benefits and increases pension contributions for the City of Chicago and its municipal and laborer workers. The bill, which does not cover other sectors of Chicago workers, passed the Senate and moved to the Governor for final action. The reforms negotiated with the unions were necessary to preserve the pension system, help avoid Detroit-style bankruptcy and keep pension responsibility in the city’s hands.
Another Hospital Bed Tax–HB 1322 requires hospitals to pay a $55 per bed fee to fund the Illinois Adverse Health Care Events Reporting Law of 2005. Proceeds will be used to address public complaints, improve quality and patient safety, and fund other programs and information.
Public Settlements–HB 3664 provides that any employee severance or settlement agreement to be paid with tax-payer funds is not allowed to contain a confidentiality clause. This is to ensure that tax-payer funds are not used to “buy silence” from a previous employee or claimant.
Grant Transparency–HB 3820 creates a standardized cash flow monitoring and assessment for state grants similar to federal grants and provides centralized management which would eliminate duplicity in the grant process and help avoid corruption.
U.S. Made–HB 3861 clarifies existing law that all state agencies must purchase vehicles that were made or assembled in the U.S.
ID Badges–HB 4033 allows employees of certain developmental disability centers or integrated living communities to not wear identification badges. IDs badges create a more sterile and institutional feeling rather than the “home-like” atmosphere these facilities aim to create.
Money Follows the Child–HB 4591 allows school state aid dollars on a per student basis to follow the student when they transfer from a public to a charter school or the reverse.
Military Head Stones–HB 4598 provides that no cemetery may charge more than $500 to place a memorial marker provided for a U.S. Veteran by the U.S. Government.
Audits–HB 4811 states governmental units with less than $850,000 in annual revenue must conduct an annual audit by the Comptroller ever 3 years and give annual reports at other times.
Hemp Production–HB 5085 permits the growing and processing of industrial hemp again for commercial purposes or research with a license from the Department of Agriculture.
Sales from Home Cooking-HB 5354 allows home kitchen prepared food for sale without health department inspection unless there was a complaint or disease outbreak. Municipalities would have to create an ordinance allowing home baked goods before they would be allowed. A similar exemption already exists for church dinners.
School Board Removal–HB 5537 defines when the Illinois State Board of Education can intervene in failing districts and remove the school board.
Medicaid Services for Military Families-HB 5697 allows developmentally disabled dependents of service members to remain on the Medicaid roles or apply for eligibility when the service member is temporarily relocated out-of-state. Watch this video explanation here.
Bullying–HB 5707 allows schools to be involved in certain cases of cyber-bullying which may take place outside of school property, but which affect a student’s ability to attend or perform well in school.
Engineer Licensing–HB 5709 adds municipal engineers with county engineers who are not required to be licensed to perform a valuation on property under $10,000 in value.
Stroke Data–HB 5742 allows the Department of Public Health to collect a stroke center designation fee from Stroke Centers and Stroke Ready Hospitals for the collection of stroke care data and to pay salaries.
Alternative Drug Facility–HB 5766 establishes a pilot secure facility in DuPage County where individuals convicted of drug or property crimes and sentenced to prison would be allowed to serve their sentences in a treatment-intensive environment.
Juvenile Records–HB 5862 allows municipal or county ordinance violations of juveniles to be expunged just like juvenile law enforcement and court records.
Allergic Response–HB 5892 expands which school personnel can administer epi-pens or inhalers in the case of allergic reactions.
Manufactured Homes–HB 5938 allows owners of manufactured homes that are permanently affixed to the land to convert the property into real property. This would allow for better mortgaging processes and more rights of the owner of the manufactured home.
Continuing the Discussion of School Funding Formula
The debate on SB 16 to change the school state aid funding formula began in a Senate subcommittee last week which it passed but now will be debated in the full committee.
Many would like the funding foundation level per student to be more equitable between districts regardless of property wealth, and provide all students with the support they need. If the bill passes out of the Senate as expected, its future in the House is less certain. Feel free to share your opinions about the bill and ideas for improvement.
Multi-Year Transportation Improvement Plan Unveiled
A new five-year Department of Transportation (IDOT) plan was released last week that will lead to the repair or rehabilitation of 1,845 miles of highway and 384 bridges across Illinois. While centering on roads and bridges, the plan also covers $1.85 billion for public transportation, and $800 million for airports and airfields.
Federal aid will outweigh Illinois taxpayers’ funds for many of these projects. Discussions will continue on the possible introduction of a supplemental capital bill to provide funding for some of the state and local transportation projects not fully funded in this plan.
The two-week legislative break is the perfect opportunity to connect on issues important to you. Listen here for my thoughts on constituent engagement. Feel free to call my office to share your opinions or to set up a meeting.
This is a special religious week: may it be meaningful to you. Best wishes.
Bob
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