HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS-2015-032-R-153/5/2015
3118/2015
32-R-15
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Governor and General Assembly to Protect Funding of Local
Government Distributive Fund Revenues
WHEREAS, municipalities are front-line providers of government services
to citizens and these services include police and fire protection, parks, infrastructure,
water, sewer and utility services, and snow removal; and
WHEREAS, the Local Government Distributive Fund ("LGDF") is a state
fund into which a portion of state income tax revenue is deposited annually for cities and
counties throughout the State; and
WHEREAS, since 1969, Illinois municipalities have partnered with the
State to fund core municipal services such as police, fire, public works, roads and
sidewalks and this funding partnership is made possible by revenue from the LGDF;
and
WHEREAS, in addition to funding core everyday services, LGDF
distributions play a role in keeping the local tax burden low; and
WHEREAS, a reduction to the LGDF would place an undue burden on the
City to address the State's budget challenges; and
WHEREAS, municipalities have fewer options to raise significant revenue
and rely on the full amount of revenue that the State collects on their behalf in order to
fund the essential quality -of -life services expected and relied upon by community
residents; and
32-R-15
WHEREAS, the General Assembly increased the State income tax without
providing any of the new revenues to municipalities and this loss of revenue has left the
municipal share at levels collected during the Great Recession; and
WHEREAS, the percentage of income tax collections deposited in the
LGDF was reduced in 2011 from 10% to 6% and was then increased to 8% as of
January 2015; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and the City Council are concerned that without
LGDF, the City may have to explore an increase in local taxes, and
WHEREAS, the Governor proposed a 50 percent reduction in the local
share of the income tax during his FY2016 Budget Address, reducing local revenues by
over $600 million; and
WHEREAS, the City of Evanston could lose $3,750,228 which would
result in elimination of jobs, local tax increases, program and service cuts, and could
increase debt burdens that would be felt by all citizens.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
SECTION 1: The foregoing recitals are hereby found as fact and
incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 2: That the City of Evanston urges the Governor and the
General Assembly to protect funding of the Local Government Distributive Fund and
other revenue sources that allow local governments to provide for the health, safety and
general welfare of their residents.
32-R-15
SECTION 3: Copies of this resolution shall be transmitted to the
Governor of the State of Illinois and the General Assembly.
SECTION 4: This Resolution 32-R-15 shall be in full force and effect
from and after its passage and approval in the manner provided by law.
2s
ElikAeth B. Tisdahl, Mayor
Attest:
Rdney Gr e, City Clerk
Adopted: VWO ` `�O , 2015