A special word of welcome to those state and federal officials who are receiving the IPR magazine for the first time. Over the years some park districts have provided copies for their elected officials. IAPD and IPRA has now joined them by seeing that all elected state and federal legislators, and selected executive officials, receive a copy of the magazine. We trust that you will enjoy keeping up with the leisure services and opportunities provided by local governments in Illinois.

IAPD/IPRA JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT

by Don Prindle, Chairman, and
David F. Phillips, Co-Chairman

1980 PLATFORM

The 10 point program, published in the March/April 1980 magazine, clearly defines the major thrust of the Joint Legislative Committee. Bills or issues that have seen movement include the Working Cash Fund (SB 297), Replacement of Lost Revenues with the Abolishment of the Corporate Personal Property Tax (HB 2569-PA 81SS1-1), Bond Rate Adjustments to reflect the loss of the Corporate Personal Property Tax (HB 2730), Community Education Legislation (HB 2604/SB 1022) and Consolidated Election Legislation (PA80-1469 and PA80-936).

The following movement has occurred in these bills:

Working Cash Fund (SB 297)—This bill as amended, changes the wording in the Park Code (Chapter 105 11.2-2). Existing wording allows the Working Cash Levy "for not more than four of the years, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1980 only." New wording proposed in SB 297, as amended, changes this to "not more than four years." The effect of this change will be that districts that do not need the Working Cash Levy for 1980 will not be forced to "levy it or lose it." Illinois park districts' conservative fiscal history does reflect that unnecessary levies are not made. The change will also affect newer districts and districts that did not need and did not levy in earlier years. The Joint Legislative Committee is confident that the change in wording will be made in time to allow districts to react accordingly for the 1980 levy.

Replacement of the Lost Revenues With the Abolishment of the Corporate Personal Property Tax (HB 2569-PA 81SS1-1)—Representative Daniel Pierce (D-32), Chairman of the House Revenue Committee and Representative Harold Katz (D-l), member of the House Rules Committee, have been contacted and have volunteered to work with the Joint Legislative Committee to alleviate the problems created by an oversight in wording. Bills are being drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau and will be introduced by Representative Pierce. The problem encountered concerns primarily Cook County units of local government and school districts that have low collections from the Corporate Personal Property Tax. In Cook County, collections averaged 34%, while in the other 58 counties, collections were comparable to real estate tax collections of 95% plus. HB 2569 mandates the County Clerk to reduce the Bond Fund, which is the first lien on the replacement revenues, by the percent of Corporate Personal Property Tax "extended." The County Clerk is also instructed to reduce the Retirement Fund, the second lien, in the same manner. This mandate, based on "extensions," rather than on "collections," creates situations where replacement revenues will not meet the amount of the levy reductions and results in bond payments and retirement obligations not able to be met by units of local government faced with high debt retirement and low Corporate Personal Property Tax collections. The bills being drafted will change the wording from "extended" to "collected" and alleivate the problem. Representative Pierce and Representative Katz are to be commended for their leadership role in this matter.

Bond Rate Adjustments to Reflect the Loss of the Corporate Personal Property Tax (HB 2730)—The abolishment of the Corporate Personal Property Tax eliminated approximately 15% of the tax base of local governments in Illinois. IAPD General Counsel Fawell has worked closely with the Department of Revenue and the House Speaker's office to make them aware that all bonding capabilities of Illinois Park Districts should be increased by the 15% that was lost. This problem, with a number of other changes, will be incorporated in a legislative package that will be sponsored by Speaker Redmond.

Community Education Legislation (HB 2604-SB 1022)—In 1979 the Illinois Community Education Association (ICEA) sponsored HB 2604, which for a number of reasons was opposed by the IPRA Board of Directors and the IPRA Community Education Committee. In response to this bill, SB 1022 was offered by IPRA and the Joint Legislative Committee as an alternative. In response to the need for acceptable Community Education legislation, and to insure that the limited federal funds available would not be spent to duplicate existing services offered, the Joint Legislative Committee and IPRA's Community Education Committee initiated meetings with ICEA to resolve any differences of opinion. Two meetings have been held and it appears that difficulties have been worked out between ICEA, IPRA and the Joint Legislative Committee. HB 2604 and SB 1022 will be redrafted and re-introduced. They will insure that the park and recreation interests are satisfactorily addressed and that leisure service programs will not be needlessly duplicated.

Consolidated Election (PA 1469 and PA 80-936)—The issue involved revolves around whether elections of park district commissioners will take place in April of the odd numbered years along with cities, villages and townships, or in November of the odd numbered years along with school districts. The State Board of Elections and the Ad Hoc Committee of the State Board of Elections supported the position of the IAPD Board of Directors and the Joint Legislative Committee and recommends the November election date. The Illinois Elections Law Commission (IELC), made up of five State Senators, five State

Illinois Parks and Recreation 10 May/June, 1980

Representatives and four public members, did not concur with this recommendation and voted to move park elections to April. They will be offering legislation to the House Elections Committee, including park elections on the April date. After IELC, chaired by Representative Harry "Bus" Yourell (D-8) took this position, the IAPD Board of Directors reaffirmed their position favoring the November date. The Joint Legislative Committee's decision, favoring November, is felt to be crucial to Illinois park districts. The position is based on the following points that show the close working relationship of parks and schools, two non-partisan bodies.

1. Written school-park agreements.
2. Jointly operated facilities.
3. Joint recreational programming for the handicapped.
4. Chapter 13 mandates assets of Park Districts, upon dissolution, are transferred to schools.
5. Parks leasing/buying schools closing due to declining enrollments.
6. General programming cooperation.
7. Community Education

The Joint Legislative Committee and IAPD will be reviewing the options available and will continue to strongly emphasize the need for non-partisan elections of park district commissioners on the November election date.

PROPERTY TAX LIMITATION

It is difficult, if not impossible, to project what will have happened by mid-May of 1980 in the area of property tax limitation. The kaleidoscope changes of positions occur on a day-to-day and hour-to-hour basis as we experienced first hand in January during the HB 2563 process. It now appears that the additional $1,500 Homestead exemption did not satiate, but only whetted, the appetites of the legislators for property tax limitation legislation.

Governor Thompson's representatives met with park district representatives, library representatives, and urban county representatives on March 20 to review the governor's proposals for local government tax limitation legislation. This was a positive step for the Governor, who initiated the meeting, seeking our input prior to submission of his legislation, and has given local government an opportunity to comment on and be a part of the process in helping shape this legislation.

This is the first time in recent history that the Joint Legislative Committee and IAPD have had this opportunity, and is testimony to the growing voice of parks and recreation in Springfield.

It is unfortunate that partisan politcal posturing does not allow a bi-partisan property tax limitation measure to be drafted, reviewed by local government and submitted for committee hearings. A bi-partisan study panel with representatives from local government to study and make recommendations on property tax relief would be the ideal process, and IAPD will attempt to initiate this type of discussion.

LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION SURVEY

A Legislative Information Survey has been drafted and distributed to 332 Park Districts, Conservation Districts, Forest Preserve Districts and Special Recreation Associations. This data, which is being compiled now, will enable the Joint Legislative Committee to improve our effectiveness and will provide:

1. An accurate listing of which agency is in which legislative district.
2. A current listing of primary and secondary people in each agency responsible for responding to Hot Line calls. This includes home phone numbers for immediate access to each agency, seven days a week.
3. Information on which of us has a strong personal contact with state and federal legislators, and other officials.
4. Suggestions for improving the Hot Line.
5. Information on who can travel to Springfield within 24 hours, or within 48 hours, to assist in lobbying efforts. The Legislative Information Survey, by providing this and other data, will improve our systems and our awareness of the resources we have available to us. It is seen as crucial to the Joint Legislative Committee's current and future efforts.

REGIONAL MEETINGS

It is becoming more and more evident that the Joint Legislative Committee's ability to communicate specifically with commissioners and chief administrative officers about the legislative issues and concerns facing the Illinois leisure movement is at the core of our ability to be effective. We realize that for you to be effective, you must be informed. To be informed, we must begin to organize regional meetings, at which time written material can be disseminated and orally reviewed. Once you thoroughly understand the legislative issues and concerns, you are better prepared to hold local meetings with your legislators. The flow of information would follow the pattern below:

Not only has information flowed from the Joint Legislative Committee to the regional meeting participants, but feedback from them to the Joint Legislative Committee enables the committee to be more responsive to the concerns of your region and your district. This will be found to be even more valid as local legislative district meetings are organized.

While the Joint Legislative Committee is concerned about legislative matters, the opportunity for discussion at these regional meetings on other issues of local, regional or state-wide concern may prove to be as important as the discussion on legislative issues.

Regional meetings are an opportunity for you to be heard, and for you to hear from others. They are for your benefit to enable you to speak knowledgeably about legislative issues with your legislators.

In summary, Illinois leisure agencies must organize if we are to be effective. Park, recreation and conservation interests and concerns must be heard in Springfield in order for our state legislators to be asked to support our legislative interests. If you do not know what these concerns are, you cannot expect your legislator to represent your interests.

YOUR LEGISLATORS AND YOU

It cannot be overemphasized that each of your agency's three State Representatives and one State Senator must know you and the services your agency provides in order to represent you and your constituents' interests in Springfield.

The Joint Legislative Committee suggests the following actions to help you develop and/or strengthen your legislators' awareness of the leisure services your agency provides:

1. Send each legislator a complimentry copy of your activity brochure each time it is printed.
2. Invite your legislators to your a) open house, b) dedications, c) Arbor Day activities, d) Earth Day Activities,

Illinois Parks and Recreation 11 May/June, 1980

e) community special events such as 4th of July festivities.
f) board and committee meetings.
3. Send your legislators copies of agendas and board minutes to keep them abreast of the activities of your board.
4. Keep in phone contact with your legislator and their staff, visit their local offices and above all, go to Springfield.
5. Attend and bring your legislators to the Legislative Awareness Day Golf Outing and Dinner scheduled for August 1, 1980 in Bensenville.

Just as you must be informed about the issues and concerns of your agency, so must you keep your legislator informed. We in parks, recreation and conservation cannot expect our legislators to represent our interests if they are unaware of us, the services our agency provides, and the important function our agency serves in our community. Make a conscious decision to keep them informed of who you are and what you do.

Reserve August 1 for the Commissioner-Legislator Golf Outing and Banquet. The White Pines Golf Course in Bensenville will be the host. Bensenville is the home of Speaker of the House Bill Redmond. In 1960 Bill was the attorney who founded the Bensenville Park District.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 12 May/June, 1980