City of Naperville, 2011
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Legislative Priorities
Position Statements
What You Can Do
Legislative Priorities
Legislative Priorities Brochure (PDF 110 KB)
- Current Public Pension System Reform
In 2010, the State of Illinois passed significant public employee pension reforms for new hires. Now the General Assembly needs to address the mounting debt and tremendous financial liabilities remaining in the current public pension systems. The City of Naperville supports a fair approach to existing employees by phasing any changes to existing pension plans and offering choice to existing employees for their future investment. Changes should include offering a defined contribution plan to reduce the market risk that currently lies solely on the taxpayer.
- Public Safety Interest Arbitration Reform
The Illinois Labor Relations Act should be amended to require arbitrators to consider the economic condition of the municipality as a primary factor in public safety interest arbitration. The financial ability to meet costs should be determined based upon current tax levels and budget considerations. The City of Naperville supports limiting the wage increases awarded in arbitration to more closely mirror the municipality’s ability to pay.
- Maintain Municipal Emergency 9-1-1 Funding
Extend the sunset provision of the Wireless Emergency Telephone Safety Act beyond April 1, 2013, to continue funding municipal emergency telephone assistance through cellular telephones.
Position Statements
Workers’ Compensation Reform
Among states, Illinois is ranked 48th in economic performance and 44th in economic outlook1. Contributing to these dismal rankings is the fact that Illinois is ranked the single worst state in terms of workers’ compensation for employers2. The result is businesses locating to neighboring states rather than Illinois. The current system in Illinois seeks to reward claimants for any injuries occurring at work rather than justly compensating employees for injuries caused by the workplace. In the case of municipal governments, the burden of paying these exorbitant claims is held by the taxpayers. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act needs to be reformed in order to reduce the burden on taxpayers and improve the business climate in Illinois.
1 Rich States, Poor States, ALEC-Laffer State Competitiveness Index, Second Edition (2009)
2 Work Loss Data Institute 2009 State Report Card, based on OSHA recordable injury and illness data
Protect Municipal Revenues
- Oppose Unfunded State Mandates
In response to fiscal difficulties faced by the State of Illinois, the Legislature has imposed requirements on municipalities without allocating the proper funding for these activities. All state mandates on municipalities should include a corresponding revenue source.
- Oppose any Withholding of Local Government Distributive Fund Payments
As the state finds ways to fill their budget deficit, they should not siphon money they owe to municipalities.
- Charge Interest and Penalties on Late Income Tax Payments to Municipalities
During the recession, the state has often been late remitting the local government share of the income tax. When payments are more than 90 days late, municipalities should receive interest and penalties with the late payments.
Transportation Funding
- Transit
Continue to support and pursue transportation funding for new and innovative transit projects such as the STAR Line.
- Canadian National
Continue to pursue funding for Ogden Avenue grade separation and other forms of mitigation based on the Canadian National purchase of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern (EJ&E) Railroad.
- North Aurora Road Underpass Widening
Aong with Aurora and Naperville Township, pursue the necessary $32 million of funding through the Illinois Commerce Commission, Federal Surface Transportation Funding, Canadian National and other sources for widening the North Aurora Road underpass.
Real Estate Tax Relief for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities
Currently, the State of Illinois offers limited assessment freezes and tax deferral programs for seniors and limited homestead exemptions for seniors and persons with disabilities. The City of Naperville supports expanding the existing legislation to provide more real estate tax relief for seniors and persons with disabilities.
Streamlined Sales Tax Project
The Streamlined Sales Tax Project was created by participating states across the nation and, if enacted, would enable the State of Illinois to collect sales tax on internet and catalog sales by businesses outside Illinois. The concept of a Streamlined Sales Tax should continue to be pursued by the State of Illinois and Federal Government. However, due to the significant impact the change from “point of sale” to “destination” sourcing could have on municipalities, a well-thought-out mitigation plan needs to be developed. Since sales tax revenues are so critical to every municipality throughout the state, the mitigation plan needs to fairly address the impacts on all towns.
Forward NPDES Fees to Local Water Quality Control Projects
The City of Naperville supports the request of the DuPage River/Salt Creek Working Group (DRSCWG) to act as a pilot agency on having annual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) fees forwarded from the state to the DRSCWG to be used for water quality improvements in the local watersheds. Currently the fees are deposited into the state’s general fund with no accountability of the funds being used for stormwater quality improvements.
Live Broadcasts of Illinois General Assembly
Illinoisians can watch meetings of their local government on cable television, but the same transparency does not exist for the Illinois General Assembly. While live feeds from the floor of the Illinois House and Senate are available for online consumption, citizens without or with limited internet access cannot view policymaking in Springfield and must rely on other means for this information. The City of Naperville supports embracing technology that would allow live broadcasts of the Illinois General Assembly floor and committee meetings to be viewed on local cable access channels in order to make state government more transparent.
What You Can Do
The City of Naperville encourages the public to contact both Naperville State and Federal Representatives regarding any or all of these issues. Please view the spreadsheets listed below which provide all of their names, addresses, e-mail addresses and phone numbers. In addition, please contact Dan Di Santo at (630) 420-6043 or disantod@naperville.il.us for additional contact information for other State Legislators, or simply visit www.ilga.gov. Your opinion does make a difference!
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