OTTAWA, Ill. – State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, is highlighting the new Open Illinois Checkbook Act that will increase transparency and accountability on Illinois’ finances, by asking the Illinois Comptroller’s Office to publish reports on where tax dollars go.

“Illinois is long overdue for fiscal accountability, and this new law will help lawmakers keep track of where tax dollars are going,” Yednock said. “Investments into education, job training and health care are vital to building a stronger Illinois, and now that we will have a better understanding of where the money is going, smart spending cuts and wiser investments can be made.” 

Yednock is hailing the passage of the Open Illinois Checkbook Act, or House Bill 313, which asks the Illinois Comptroller’s Office to create and maintain a publicly accessible database within six months of the passage of this law that will detail the amounts of the expenditures made to vendors by which state department or agency that issued those payment.

Yednock also supported Illinois’ balanced budget this year to help put the state on sound financial footing. His budget plan invests an additional $375 million into public schools while eliminating $1 billion in old bills.

“By February next year, lawmakers will have more information on where payments are going and we will be able to determine the efficacy of such payments,” Yednock said. “Government needs to judiciously invest its finite resources into the areas that matter, and having a clearer picture on Illinois’ finances will help lawmakers make those choices and ultimately help taxpayers.”

BERWYN, Ill. – In an effort to address increased property taxes in Berwyn and ensure taxing bodies are being fully transparent, state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, passed legislation that would require new referendums to clearly state the specific dollar amount taxing bodies are seeking from local taxpayers.

“I understand the frustration of the Berwyn South School District when it comes to the funding they desperately need. That’s why I’ve worked to provide an additional five million dollars in funding for our local public schools over the last two years,” Hernandez said. “However, this referendum has hurt working families in our community who simply cannot afford higher taxes.”

The Berwyn South School District requested a levy of $17 million beginning in the 2017 property tax year, which required a referendum approved tax increase of 0.6%. A majority of voters approved the referendum, establishing a new levy of the school district’s taxable property. However, due to general reassessments, the total equalized assessed value (EAV) increased by more than 20%, which means the school district is set to receive about $2.5 million more than what they anticipated. As a result, local homeowners are seeing substantially higher property taxes than what they believed they were voting on.

Hernandez’s Senate Bill 3430 is an essential government reform that will prevent crises like these from ever happening again. By requiring taxing bodies to be clear about how much money they are asking for in future referendums, local taxpayers will be empowered to make fully informed decisions at the ballot box.

“There are ways in the new funding formula for school districts to apply for more funding from the state to prevent local property tax increases,” Hernandez said. “I look forward to working with Berwyn South to ensure they get the resources they need and making sure property taxes are reigned in.”

DES PLAINES, Ill. – In response to former Superintendent Floyd Williams Jr. of Des Plaines Elementary School district 62 receiving more than $127,000 in a separation agreement with the school board amid several confidential complaints alleging inappropriate or offensive comments made to colleagues, state Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, has co-sponsored legislation to require taxing bodies to provide more transparency to the public.

“I am outraged by the lack of transparency at the local levels,” Moylan said. “The people need to be notified when our tax money is going to pay severance agreements to individuals accused of terrible wrongdoings.”

Moylan-sponsored House Bill 4242 would require any unit of local government, school district, community college district, or other local taxing bodies to provide notice to the public if they have entered a severance agreement with an employee or contractor accused of sexual harassment or discrimination.

Under this legislation, local taxing bodies would be required to publish the name of the person receiving the payment, the amount of the payment and the fact that the person receiving the payment has been accused of sexual harassment or sexual discrimination, on their website and in the newspaper within 72 hours after the taxing body makes the severance payment to the individual.

“We need to know if any of our tax money is going to dangerous individuals and not being used for public purposes,” Moylan said. “We need more transparency so we can hold these taxing bodies accountable.”

For more information about this legislation, or any questions or concerns, please contact Moylan’s full-time constituent office at 847-635-9821 or emailStateRepMoylan@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, that transforms the way state agencies manage their finances and reveals the full extent of the state’s debt obligations has gone into effect as of Jan. 1, 2018.

“As policymakers, we need up-to-date financial information when making decisions that will affect the lives of millions of people,” Crespo said. “Under the governor’s watch, the backlog of unpaid bills increased to over $15 billion. The Debt Transparency Act is a necessary step in the right direction as we work to restore stability to the state’s finances.”

Crespo’s House Bill 3649 will require agencies to report monthly to the Comptroller the liabilities they are holding, plus an estimate of the amount of late interest penalties that will be paid on those bills. According to the Comptroller’s Office, liabilities are not being reported quickly enough, and as a result, millions of dollars in penalty fees are accruing on the state’s overdue bills. Crespo’s House Bill 3649 was rated as the Better Government Association’s top rated reform of the year.

“The governor’s veto of this legislation communicated to taxpayers that in contrast to popular belief, he’s actually opposed to transparent, fiscally responsible government,” Crespo said. “Taxpayers deserve better, so I am thankful for the overwhelming bipartisan support that helped enact this crucial legislation into law.”

CHICAGO – State Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, is urging members of the Illinois General Assembly to override Gov. Rauner’s veto of a proposal to require more transparent and open reporting of spending at state agencies.

“Shining a brighter light on how the state is spending taxpayer dollars is not something that should be a partisan issue,” D’Amico said. “Under the governor’s watch the backlog of bills increased more than three-fold, such a staggering amount that it made it difficult for the legislature and taxpayers to keep track of how much each agency owed.”

The state’s unpaid bill backlog more than tripled in the past two years since Gov. Rauner was elected, reaching a record high point of more than $15 billion. The D’Amico-backed House Bill 3649, the Debt Transparency Act, is an initiative of Comptroller Susana Mendoza and would require state agencies to disclose bills they are holding to the Comptroller monthly, as well as estimate the amount of late payment interest penalties that will be paid on those liabilities.

According to the Comptroller’s Office, liabilities are not being reported quickly enough, and as a result, Illinois owes at least $800 million in penalty fees on the state’s overdue bills. By reforming how state agencies report their liabilities, D’Amico’s legislation would ensure that hard-earned, taxpayer dollars are protected from financial mismanagement

“The governor’s veto of this bipartisan bill is absolutely unacceptable,” D’Amico said. “I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to stand with Illinois taxpayers and vote to override the governor’s veto.”

CHICAGO – State Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, is calling on members of the Illinois General Assembly to override Gov. Rauner’s veto of a proposal to require more transparent and open reporting of spending at state agencies.

“As the bill backlog increased during Gov. Rauner’s budget impasse, one of the difficulties that we faced in the legislature was determining exactly how much money state agencies actually owed,” Andrade said. “This bipartisan proposal will require agencies to be more transparent and help paint a clearer picture for legislators, citizens, the media and businesses of the state’s finances.”

The state’s unpaid bill backlog more than tripled in the past two years since Gov. Rauner was elected, reaching a record high point of more than $15 billion. The Andrade-backed House Bill 3659, the Debt Transparency Act, is an initiative of Comptroller Susana Mendoza and would require state agencies to disclose bills they are holding to the Comptroller monthly, as well as estimate the amount of late payment interest penalties that will be paid on those liabilities.

According to the Comptroller’s Office, liabilities are not being reported quickly enough, and as a result, Illinois owes at least $800 million in penalty fees on the state’s overdue bills. By reforming how state agencies report their liabilities, Andrade’s legislation would ensure that hard-earned, taxpayer dollars are protected from financial mismanagement

“I am disappointed that the governor would attempt to block this good-government proposal that makes it easier for residents to hold the state accountable for wasteful spending,” Andrade said. “I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to reaffirm their support for government transparency and Illinois taxpayers by voting to override the governor’s misguided veto.”

JOLIET, Ill. – State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, is urging lawmakers to override the governor’s veto of a measure that would make Illinois state finances more transparent by requiring agencies to disclose any bills that have not yet gone to the Office of the Illinois Comptroller.

“One of the most pressing challenges that the state faces right now is the growing mountain of past due bills,” Manley said. “Currently the Comptroller’s Office has a backlog of $14 billion, however, no one knows how many bills are sitting in state agencies waiting to be sent to the comptroller. This legislation would have ensured that all elected officials and the public would have a full understanding of the state’s fiscal condition.”

Gov. Rauner recently vetoed House Bill 3649, which would require state agencies to report monthly to the Comptroller the liabilities they are holding, plus an estimate of the amount of late interest penalties that will be paid on those bills. According to the Comptroller’s Office, liabilities are not being reported quickly enough, and as a result, millions of dollars in penalty fees are accruing on the state’s overdue bills. The governor reported he vetoed the measure because reporting these numbers monthly would be too hard for state agencies to manage.  By reforming how state agencies report their liabilities, Manley’s legislation would ensure that hard-earned, taxpayer dollars are protected from financial mismanagement.

“Everyone has a right to know what the state’s financial liabilities are and that requires making as much information about our finances public as possible,” Manley said. “Knowing exactly what bills are outstanding is critical when making decisions about cash flow. As a certified public accountant, I know that having open and transparent finances will help elected officials make better decisions in an effort to get Illinois back on track.”

For more information, please contact Manley’s constituent service office at 815-725-2741 or RepManley@gmail.com.

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. – To increase government transparency and require more frequent debt disclosure by state agencies, state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, is calling on legislators to override the governor’s attempt to block the bipartisan Debt Transparency Act.

“I am disappointed in the governor’s veto of a measure that would make Illinois government more transparent for the taxpayers,” said Stuart. “By requiring state agencies to disclose their overdue bills, late payments and penalties they hold each month, the Debt Transparency Act alerts taxpayers and lawmakers to exactly how much debt the state owes and how much that debt will cost.”

The Debt Transparency Act would require state agencies to disclose the bills they are holding each month, along with the estimated amount of late payment interest penalties that will be paid on the bills. Agencies already have the ability to compile and report data and are required to report annually to the State Comptroller, but the data is outdated by the time it is reported, preventing taxpayers and policymakers from having a clear understanding of the state’s debts.

By requiring more frequent reporting and greater transparency, Stuart’s House Bill 3649 gives taxpayers a clearer picture of how their money is spent, and would allow them to know the true extent of the state’s debt, instead of being kept in the dark by the governor. In addition to receiving bipartisan support in the legislature, the bill is listed by the Better Government Association as one of their “15 good government reforms.”

“Transparency and accountability cross all party lines and serve the best interest of taxpayers,” Stuart continued. “I was a co-sponsor of the Debt Transparency Act to give taxpayers all the information they deserve and ensure that the state’s debts aren’t costing taxpayers more in the long run.”

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – To increase government transparency and require more frequent debt disclosure by state agencies, state Rep. John Connor, D-Lockport, is calling on legislators to override the governor’s attempt to block the bipartisan Debt Transparency Act.

“When I took office earlier this summer, I made a promise to my constituents to do my part to clean up state government and tackle the state’s problems head-on,” said Connor. “The governor’s veto is a step in the wrong direction. We need initiatives like the Debt Transparency Act to increase transparency in state government and shed light on the state’s debts, which have tripled during the governor’s tenure.”

The Debt Transparency Act requires state agencies to disclose the bills they are holding each month, along with the estimated amount of late payment interest penalties that will be paid on the bills, informing taxpayers and lawmakers of exactly how much debt the state owes and how much that debt will cost taxpayers. While agencies are currently required to report this data annually to the State Comptroller, it is outdated by the time it is reported, preventing taxpayers and policymakers from having a clear understanding of the state’s debts.

By requiring more frequent reporting and greater transparency, House Bill 3649 gives taxpayers a clearer picture of how their money is spent, and would allow them to know the true extent of the state’s debt. In addition to receiving bipartisan support in the legislature, the bill is listed by the Better Government Association as one of their “15 good government reforms.”

“I urge my colleagues to join me in standing with taxpayers and voting to override the governor’s veto of the Debt Transparency Act,” Connor added. “This is a commonsense good government measure that will not only provide greater transparency, but also give state officials and policymakers the information needed to meaningfully reduce the backlog of bills and pay down the state’s debts.”

DECATUR, Ill. – As leaders consider revenue-raising measures to solve Illinois’ now twenty-month-long budget crisis, state Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, has passed legislation this week to protect taxpayers and increase transparency by requiring a fiscal impact statement for every executive order.

“Our state is in a dire financial situation, and we need to be cutting unnecessary spending of taxpayer dollars, not asking working families to pay more,” said Scherer.  “This legislation helps hold state government accountable by ensuring that lawmakers and the public know how much executive orders cost.”

House Bill 2379 requires the filing and publication of a fiscal impact statement estimating the cost to taxpayers of every executive order. Scherer is stressing the importance of spending taxpayer dollars efficiently, particularly in light of recent actions such as the hiring of former Comptroller Leslie Munger for a $135,000-a-year deputy governor position.

“Families who are struggling to make ends meet deserve to know how their tax dollars are being spent,” said Scherer. “My goal with this legislation is to provide transparent fiscal data to protect hardworking families and ensure that the state lives within its means.”

For more information, please contact Scherer’s constituent service office at 217-877-9636 or by email at StateRepSue@gmail.com. Scherer represents the 96^th District, which includes portions of Christian, Macon and Sangamon counties.