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REPORT TO THE MEMBERSHIP

PAST PRESIDENT, ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, WILLIAM F. MURPHY

It is timely to revisit the words of Andrew Young, the former Mayor of Atlanta, when he wrote in a paper entitled, "Thinking About Cities In The 1990s":

"Cities are exciting. Cities are fun. Cities are frightening. They are the most challenging political entity because they are where the action is."

In Illinois, this past year has certainly brought the IML and those of us serving as elected officials exciting times, fun times, and yes, frightening times.

The purpose of my remarks is to review with you some of the exciting accomplishments of the IML since we last convened and review some of the challenges still before us. In essence, I want to share with you the fun and exciting times along with the frightening times.

Let me begin by sharing with you eleven initiatives embarked upon during this past year that are a continuation of our proud legacy. These can be placed in the fun and exciting times category:

(1) A National League of Cities Conference Planning Committee was established to plan and coordinate joint Illinois Municipal League and Local Councils of Governments' activities at NLC meetings. Under the leadership of our co-chairpersons. President Sonya Crawshaw of Hanover Park, and Mayor John Guzzardo of Lincoln, along with the assistance of the IML Staff and Executive Directors of the Local Councils of Government, the IML-sponsored activities were very successful. The committee will continue to plan League activities associated with NLC meetings.

(2) An Illinois Municipal League Annual Conference Planning Committee was established to provide recommendations that would enhance this annual conference. Under the leadership of co-chairpersons President Sheila Schultz of Wheeling, and Mayor Neil Dillard of Carbondale, along with the assistance of IML Staff and the Illinois City Managers Association, this annual conference will be very successful.

(3) Our goal of increasing more direct involvement of the executive board in the legislative lobbying process was achieved with the executive board scheduling individual meetings with the Governor and the legislative leaders, at which time we presented our legislative agenda and priorities. It is imperative that we continue such pro-active meetings.

(4) Our goal of re-focusing on identified priorities from the strategic plan was successful. The Board of Directors prioritized our goals and, as a result, the board and staff focused on those identified priorities. With the advent of a new Executive Director, the reprioritization should serve as a road map for the new director and the springboard to a newly developed strategic plan in the near future.

(5) Our goal to continue to encourage the IML's involvement and cooperative working relationships with regional associations was successful. In January, the first ever statewide meeting between representatives of regional municipal associations and the IML was held. Regular meetings are now scheduled to take place between these respective groups with the realization that the continued strength of municipalities in Illinois lies within the IML and regional associations working together.

(6) The Legislative Committee, with the leadership of chairperson George Longmeyer, the Village Manager of Schaumburg, has been restructured with a resulting more timely and ambitious meeting schedule and a refined system of analysis and prioritization of legislative proposals.

(7) A Non-Home Rule Committee was established, with the leadership of co-chairpersons John Geils, the President of Bensenville, and Thomas Carper, the Mayor of Macomb, who diligently worked toward formulating a legislative agenda that responds to the needs of non-home rule municipalities. Those legislative proposals will be pursued during the next legislative session.

(8) An IML Public Safety Committee, chaired by Past President James Kingston, the Mayor of Paxton, was established with representation from mayors and chiefs of police from urban, suburban, and rural Illinois. The committee, which recently held its first meetings will identify legislative proposals to assist us in continuing to provide for safer communities in Illinois.

(9) The IML Local Government Investment Trust, initiated by our Immediate Past President, James Kingston, was established. The fund will provide another investment vehicle for Illinois cities and hopefully an enhanced yield.

(10) The IML Municipal Managers Committee, through the leadership of Chairperson Greg Bielawski, the Village Manager of Carol Stream, has been of invaluable service to the League. In particular, as a result of their work, our linkages with regional associations have been enhanced, informative sessions have been added to this conference, a revised compensation survey is being formulated, and additional educational workshops have been offered elected officials. Our partnerships with the ICMA have resulted in a strengthened municipal presence and impact in Springfield.

(11) Another partnership has been reached with the Centralized Management Services Department of the State of Illinois that will allow municipalities to join with the state in taking advantage of the state rate for hotels and substantial discounts on air fare.

That is but a partial list of some of the exciting accomplishments of the IML during the past twelve months.

Let us now turn to the frightening times from the

Page 14 / Illinois Municipal Review / October 1994


past year, that is when the legislature was in session.

The 1994 legislative year was full of surprises and turmoil. The General Assembly approved only 135 bills during the regular session — an historically low number.

The most important issue for local governments was the passage of a constitutional amendment limiting or prohibiting the passage of unfunded state mandates. The Municipal League wholeheartedly supported House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 14. That amendment would have required a 4/5 vote in each chamber to pass an unfunded state mandate, or a simple majority if the state was providing funding for the mandate.

All municipal officials worked diligently to convince state senators to vote "Yes" on HJRCA 14. The House in 1993 had overwhelmingly approved the measure (113 "Yes", 3 "No"). The Senate took two votes on the bill, and unfortunately both times it fell a few 7 votes short. The bill needed 36 votes. The first time it received 34 "Yes" votes, the second time 32 "Yes" votes. When analyzing the vote totals and rationale given for senators' votes, one point was obvious. Several senators did not keep their commitments to mayors, and yes, they ignored over 3 million votes of Illinois who in the advisory referendum voted to have a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot. But the defeat of HJRCA 14 should not weaken the spirit or drive of municipal officials to make the state accountable for passage of unfunded state mandates. For too long the federal and state governments have passed the responsibilities to local governments and not the revenue.

Where do we go from here?

The Municipal League Legislative Committee will be working with the IML Board of Directors to fashion another two pronged attempt to convince the General Assembly to stop unfunded mandates. In the first year of the program, legislation will be drafted and introduced to strengthen the State Mandates Act. In the second year, another attempt will be made to pass a constitutional amendment stopping unfunded state mandates. The membership is extremely vital and will be kept informed as progress develops. Both of these goals can only be accomplished with strong municipal support from throughout Illinois.

I would be remiss if I didn't take a moment to express the deep gratitude of the Municipal League for Governor Edgar's strong stance on unfunded state mandates. Governor Edgar promises to continue his anti-unfunded state mandate stance. This year, with great fortitude, the governor vetoed two bills that would have provided a senior citizen property tax freeze. Not a politically popular thing to do. As a statewide tax policy the taking of revenue sources out of the local base, the senior citizen assessment freeze was an extremely bad concept. The governor showed his conviction to stopping unfunded state mandates and did so by vetoing HB 410 and SB 1369. Municipal officials throughout Illinois need to communicate with their senators and representatives not to override the governor's veto.

1995 will bring us some additional exciting times. One important issue set to transpire in 1995 is the final conversion in the income tax revenue sharing. For four years, the Illinois income tax was temporarily increased. In 1993, the tax rate was permanently established at 3%. In that final agreement, the surcharge formula would expire and the local government distributive fund would be increased from l/12th to 1/11th. Next year in July the percentage for municipalities is to be increased from 1/11th to 1/l0th of the income tax.

The important long term commitment is that 1/l0th means 1/l0th of any future tax increases. Municipalities must work to assure that statewide elected officials and the General Assembly make a solid commitment to the 1/l0th distribution of all income tax proceeds.

In conclusion the 1994-95 Municipal League must continue to be a strong advocate for local government and with your continued efforts and support our responsibilities as elected officials will be less frightening and instead more fun and exciting. Thank you!

October 1994 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 15


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