This issue affects all our towns in the northern suburbs and at the end of the article, we have links to state legislator’s offices.
Editor’s Note: This article by Chris Canning presents the cost to Wilmette if the General Assembly reduces the share local governments get of the state income tax.
Currently, the Illinois General Assembly in Springfield is considering a $300 million reduction to the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) in an effort to solve the State’s budget crisis. LGDF is Wilmette’s share of the income tax you pay to the State of Illinois. This would result in at least a $647,000 loss of revenue to the Village that will directly impact the Village and you as taxpayers.
While we applaud the General Assembly’s efforts to cut their spending, cutting local government revenues is not cutting State spending but rather asking the Village of Wilmette and its residents to bail-out the State. Please understand that the revenues at issue are not grants or aid from the State to local governments but are funds collected by the State for the benefit of local governments. Most importantly, the revenues the General Assembly now seeks to cut have been designed to support local services and thereby reduce the property tax burden on local taxpayers.
Unlike the State of Illinois, the Village of Wilmette reacted promptly to the Great Recession, and for two consecutive years reduced its operating budget, taking action that reduced the workforce to its lowest level since 1995 and resulting in the lowest property tax increases in the last decade.
Because the Village has already made drastic spending cuts, if the State proceeds with their plan to eliminate Village revenues, it is likely that the Village Board will have no alternative other than to consider the elimination of essential public services that may impact the health, safety and welfare of our community.
How you can help
To ensure that the Village is able to maintain essential public services, I strongly encourage each of you to contact your State Legislators urging them not to reduce the Village’s revenue sources.
Let your legislators know that you value the services provided by the Village of Wilmette. State budget discussions are ongoing through the month of May so please act now and contact your legislators.
Below please find contact information for Wilmette’s legislators and General Assembly Leadership:
Senator Jeff Schoenberg: 847-492-1200, senator@jschoenberg.org
Representative Daniel Biss (17th District): 847-568-1250, repbiss@gmail.com
Representative Robyn Gabel (18th District): 847-424-9898, robyn@robyngabel.com
Senate President John Cullerton: 773-883-0770
Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno: 630-243-0800
Speaker of the House Michael Madigan: 773-581-8000
House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie: 217-782-8121
House Minority Leader Tom Cross: 815-254-0000
State Governor—Patrick Quinn 312-814-2121
Revenue Losses for Area Towns as Calculated by the Illinois Municipal League:
Evanston
$1,742,972.40
Legislative Contacts:
State Representative Robyn Gabel (18th District): 847-424-9898, robyn@robyngabel.com
State Representative Daniel Biss (17th District): 847-568-1250, repbiss@gmail.com
State Senator Jeff Schoenberg: 847-492-1200, senator@jschoenberg.org
Glencoe
$204,118.20
Legislative Contact:
State Representative Karen May (58th District) 847-433-9100, karen@repkarenmay.org
Glenview
$1,045,792.80
Legislative Contacts:
State Senator Jeff Schoenberg: 847-492-1200, senator@jschoenberg.org
State Senator Susan Garrett: 847-433-2002, ilsenate29@sbcglobal.net
State Senator Ira I. Silverstein: 773-743-5015
Golf
$11,700.00
Legislative Contact:
State Representative Daniel Biss (17th District): 847-568-1250, repbiss@gmail.com
Kenilworth
$58,804.20
Legislative Contact:
State Representative Robyn Gabel (18th District): 847-424-9898, robyn@robyngabel.com
Morton Grove
$544,518.00
Legislative Contacts:
State Senator Ira Silverstein (8th District): 773-743-5015, silverstein@senatedem.state.il.us
State Senator Jeff Schoenberg: 847-492-1200, senator@jschoenberg.org
State Representative Louis I. Lang (16th District): 847-673-1131, reploulang@aol.com
State Representative Daniel Biss (17th District): 847-568-1250, repbiss@gmail.com
State Representative John D’Amico (15th District): 773-736-0218, johnd@ilga.gov
Northbrook
$776,178.00
Legislative Contacts:
State Senator Susan Garrett: 847-433-2002, ilsenate29@sbcglobal.net
State Senator Jeff Schoenberg: 847-492-1200, senator@jschoenberg.org
State Senator Terry Link: 847-735-8181, www.link30.org
State Representative Daniel Biss (17th District): 847-568-1250, repbiss@gmail.com
State Representative Carol Sente, 847-478-9909, www.carolsente.org
Northfield
$126,828.00
Legislative Contact:
State Representative Daniel Biss (17th District): 847-568-1250, repbiss@gmail.com
Skokie
$1,515,945.60
Legislative Contacts:
State Senator Ira Silverstein (8th District): 773-743-5015, silverstein@senatedem.state.il.us
State Senator Jeff Schoenberg: 847-492-1200, senator@jschoenberg.org
State Representative John D’Amico (15th District): 773-736-0218, johnd@ilga.gov
State Representative Louis Lang (16th District) 847/673-1131 RepLouLang@aol.com
State Representative Daniel Biss (17th District): 847-568-1250, repbiss@gmail.com
Winnetka
$285,175.80
Legislative Contacts:
State Representative Daniel Biss (17th District): 847-568-1250, repbiss@gmail.com
If your town isn’t listed, go to your town website for legislative contacts.
