I am pleased to have this opportunity to inaugurate a new monthly column in the Illinois Municipal Review. Each month I will present information which I hope will be of interest and value to the state's elected and appointed municipal officials.

For those of you who are not already familiar with the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA), let me give you a brief overview of our responsibilities. DCCA is Illinois' economic development agency. Our mission is to encourage the creation and retention of jobs in the state. In doing this, we offer a broad range of services.

Our assistance ranges from working with officials of Bloomington and Normal to help locate the Chrysler and Mitsubishi Diamond Star automobile plant in Illinois to providing a small town mayor a low-interest loan to help a local industry expand its operation and create new jobs. We actively seek the investment of foreign capital into the state through our International Business Office and promote tourism within the state through our Tourism Office. We run numerous business financing programs to help create or retain jobs in communities. We also run other economic development programs — including the Enterprise Zone Program and the Certified Cities Program that many cities are participating in.

Our department's Marketing staff serves as the "frontline" and works with communities on a day-today basis. They bring the full array of departmental offerings and services to communities. Marketing staff are assigned throughout the state. If you haven't had a chance to meet your DCCA marketing representative, I encourage you to. They can be reached at: 217-782-6861 (Springfield), 312-917-6306 (Chicago) or 618-997-4371, ext. 328 (Marion).

DCCA recognizes the importance of local governments to overall community and economic development. As such, we also offer many specialized assistance programs for local governments. Most operate through our Office of Local Government Management Services. Services include:

• Financial Management: Staff regularly advise local governments on budgeting procedures and accounting practices. The Office can recommend budget formats, monthly budgetary reports, and monthly treasurer report formats. These formats can either be for manual systems or formats that can operate on an electronic spreadsheet using a microcomputer. The Office also has prepared a booklet entitled Financial Health Analysis Handbook for Illinois Municipalities which allows local officials to analyze their current financial situation, using 34 different financial health indicators. During the latter part of 1985, we will have this program available on an electronic spreadsheet to run on a microcomputer.

• General Government Information: Staff regularly help local officials with a broad range of other matters. Typical topics include: local revenue sources, financing of public services, Truth-In-Taxation, Federal Revenue Sharing program requirements. Personal Property Replacement Tax, Freedom of Information Act, tax increment financing, etc. Our department also conducts numerous training workshops throughout the year covering these and other topics.

• Project Financing: Staff regularly work with municipalities to review the various revenue sources available to finance needed capital projects — such as street improvements, water and sewer facilities, etc.

• Water Rate Reviews: Through a brand new program, our staff works with communities to help review their water rates to ensure that sufficient revenue is available to provide adequate maintenance to the system, meet debt service and operation expenses, and create reserves for future improvements. We developed a new computerized format to help municipalities in this area.

• Capital Improvement Planning and Capital Budgeting: We can help communities establish a capital improvement plan and capital budget. A capital improvement plan and budget are essential to adequately prepare for a community's infrastructure needs. During late 1985, a new department publication will be available entitled Capital Improvement Planning and Rudgeting — A Guide for Illinois Governments.

• Grants Information: Our department regularly provides local officials information about state and federal grant and loan programs. Although the number of grant programs has declined over the last several years, there are still programs administered by the federal government and the State of Illinois which are of interest to local officials. We regularly provide Information on eligibility, application procedures, and deadlines. Also, each month, DCCA's Illinois Economic Report contains a special section called "Grants Corner" which focuses on specific grant and loan programs.

• Certified Cities: Our Illinois Certified Cities

November 1985 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 25

program formally recognizes communities that have prepared themselves for economic development. A municipality must document that it is prepared in five major economic development categories — to be designated as a Certified City. The categories are Business Climate and Services, Community Development, Employment and Training, Financial Assistance and Marketing. Each Certified City receives a plaque and a road sign designating its achievement. So far, 82 municipalities have passed resolutions to participate in this program. We have formally designated 12 cities as "Illinois Certified Cities."

• TEL-DCCA: The Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs operates a Teltape Information System ("TEL-DCCA") which enables the caller to listen to recorded messages on more than 100 local government, business, and community-related topics. The topics range from state business financing programs, to local government revenue sources, to the latest tourism events in Illinois. The recorded messages are regularly updated to provide the most current information. Simply call the toll-free number 800-835-3222 ("TEL-DCCA").

• Local Government Hotline: During the latter part of 1985, our department will implement a new toll-free local government hotline, to make it even easier for local officials to call and obtain information on a variety of matters — ranging from the availability of grants to procedures to comply with the Truth-In-Taxation Act.

• Annual Legislative Report: Each February, our department prepares a legislative reference report identifying all legislation of the preceding session which affects local government. The report lists the bill number, prime sponsor, public act number, statutory citation, and a narrative of the intent and requirements of the legislation. The report is sent to each of the mayors in the state. We work closely with the Illinois Municipal League on this.

• Mandates program: Last but certainly not least, we run the Mandates program. Most of you are aware of this program. It was enacted by the General Assembly in 1979. It is designed to help reduce state mandated costs on local governments. Under the Mandates Act, our department prepares fiscal notes on the estimated costs of proposed legislation that would affect local governments and processes any reimbursement claims.

To obtain assistance in any of these program areas, simply contact your marketing representative or the Office of Local Government Management Services nearest you:

Springfield
620 East Adams Street
Springfield, Illinois 62701
(217) 782-5884

Chicago
State of Illinois Center
100 W. Randolph, Suite 3-400
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 917-6696

Marion
State Regional Office
2209 West Main Street
Marion, Illinois 62959
(618) 997-4371/Ext. 328

We look forward to continuing to work with municipalities throughout the State of Illinois. I would like to thank the Illinois Municipal League for making this monthly column available to the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs.

Page 26 / Illinois Municipal Review / November 1985