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VOL. 13 • NO. 26
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THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017
Republicans propose budget compromise to slow residents fleeing state But are GOP reforms enough to justify $5.4 billion tax hike?
ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK Illinois’ House and Senate Republicans have introduced their vision of a budget compromise that includes reforms they say will slow the exodus of taxpayers fed up with high costs for ineffective government. But do the reforms go far enough to justify the cost of more than $5 billion in tax hikes? A day before Gov. Bruce Rauner announced he would call lawmakers to Springfield for a special session, members of the GOP filed a series of budget bills. House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, said the Republican plan would balance the state’s budget as well as help make Illinois’ business climate more competitive. “We are calling upon our Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate to join us in passing a balanced budget with reforms,” he said. “If you respect our legislative priorities, we will respect yours and we will find a common ground.” Some of the proposed reforms look to be new, such as a property tax freeze for home-rule communities where 8 million Illinoisans reside that would be more expansive than what was considered in the Senate’s set of grand bargain bills. The measure contains a number of loopholes, however, that still would allow municipalities to increase property taxes and result in homeowners actually having to pay more. Illinoisans already pay the second highest property taxes in the country, and have the highest overall local and state tax burden. Other reforms are retreads of plans already introduced. The GOP pen-
sion reform bill, for example, is similar to one that both Durkin and Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, have introduced in the past. It would create a hybrid, Tier 3 pension
plan for new hires that combines elements of a traditional, defined benefit pension with a 401(k)-style, defined contribution plan. It does not give current employees the option of entering the Tier 3 plan. Instead, it includes a “consideration” model initially proposed by Cullerton in which state workers who are enrolled in any of the five
public employee pension systems could exchange annual three-percent cost of living increases that are currently built into retirees’ pensions for the right to have future raises be counted as pensionable, “or keep their COLA and sacrifice future raises as pensionable.” Critics say this provision is unconstitutional because it violates the constitution’s
diminishment clause. Illinois Manufacturers Association Vice President Mark Denzler says the proposed reforms don’t go as far as they would like, but they are a good start. “It’s important that Illinois pass a
See BUDGET, Page 7
PUAL DELGUIDICE PHOTO Villa Park Independent
Despite a few showers, Summerfest deemed successful in 12th year
There was a huge crowd at the 12th annual Summerfest Friday night ‘date night’ featuring classic cars, food, music and fun. The event continued through Saturday with kids activities, bands on the main stage, booths and much more. More photos inside this issue.
Inside:
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