Last week South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association President Ron Gardiner (Mayor, Village of Glenwood) and Legislative Chairman Rick Reinbold (Mayor, Village of Richton Park) issued a call for action to mayors urging them to make crucial calls to their state legislators, encouraging continued strong engagement with elected officials, advocating on issues of importance to SSMMA municipalities.
Restoration of Local Government Distributive Funds (LGDF) remains a high priority for municipal leaders. Since 2011, the General Assembly reduced the percentage of income tax revenue that is allocated to local governments, promising that these cuts would be a temporary shared sacrifice. Over a decade later, LGDF is still not restored. The amount withheld from local governments statewide amounts to over $10 billion—and for SSMMA municipalities that loss now tops over $500 million, resources that could have gone to local infrastructure projects, pension payments or to hold the line on property tax levies.
President Gardiner reminded officials, “Cities, villages, and counties utilize LGDF revenue to foster community growth by funding infrastructure, community services, public safety, and economic development. Increasing LGDF not only benefits our local economy but also boosts state revenues, all while strengthening our businesses and improving quality of life for our residents”.
Another major concern of south suburban leaders is Governor JB Pritzker’s proposed elimination of the Grocery Tax. The cancellation of the 1% sales tax on groceries would amount to an estimated loss of about $325 million statewide that directly impacts municipalities. Across the south suburbs, it amounts to more than $20 million dollars that no longer comes to SSMMA municipalities that use those locally raised funds to route back to services provided to residents and businesses.
In a recent meeting with Governor Pritzker, Mayor Reinbold stated, “For many south suburban communities, if you eliminate the 1% Grocery Tax, we’ll no longer have the sales tax sharing tool to attract a grocery store or, potentially keep them if sales tax agreements cannot be me. As Governor, you’ve championed the elimination of food deserts and last year pledged $20 million with your Illinois Grocery Initiative, but this policy decision could exacerbate the already too numerous food deserts within our region”.
Other issues of concern to SSMMA leaders are the mounting threats to Tier 2 public safety pensions that would escalate pension costs and create unnecessary financial burdens on municipalities and taxpayers; and preemption efforts that preempt local leaders from making decisions about their own community. For example, ordinances enacted to protect the health and safety of tenants and the community, known as Crime Free Housing ordinances, are at risk of being eliminated by the general Assembly. These have been enacted to keep our communities safe, maintain our housing, and ensure properties are code-compliant and safe for human habitation. Both of these issues have significant repercussions on local communities that should be recognized by Southland delegation and Springfield leaders.
President Gardiner and Legislative Chairman Reinbold’s message to SSMMA mayors: Make sure your voices are heard and continue the calls to area legislators! Springfield leaders need to hear from our mayors, and together, we can make a difference!
