Bill to Allow Additional County Cutbacks Passes General Assembly

The Illinois House of Representatives Wednesday passed legislation that will allow DuPage County Chairman Dan Cronin authority to reduce the size of local government.

“For the first time, county leaders will have the ability to redesign how public services are delivered to our citizens and to eliminate the red tape that prevents consolidation and shared services among government entities,” Cronin said in a statement. “It will allow DuPage County to act as a laboratory to thoughtfully evaluate opportunities for consolidation of specific county-appointed agencies when it has been determined cost savings can be achieved.”

Sponsored by Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) and Representative Deb Conroy (D-Elmhurst), Senate Bill 494 provides DuPage County the authority to dissolve, by ordinance, outdated or defunct County appointed agencies, according to a press release from DuPage County. The legislation would potentially impact appointed governmental agencies that provide public services such as sanitary, mosquito abatement, fire protection (without full-time employees) and street lighting. 

“A number of special interest groups emerged early on to attempt to defeat the legislation in order to preserve the status quo. Similar consolidation measures have failed in the past," Cronin said. "This is clearly precedent-setting legislation that will lead to further consolidation efforts statewide.”

Before a government entity can be dissolved, SB 494 would require the issue to be vetted through an audit and the option of a backdoor referendum, according to the release.

Following a DuPage County Board recently assessment of the county's finances and operations that account for nearly $300 million in taxpayer money and employ approximately 900 people, Cronin launched the DuPage ACT Initiative (Accountability, Consolidation and Transparency) to serve as a roadmap for agencies in an effort to comply with DuPage County policies.

To date, the County has achieved more than $5 million in taxpayer savings and enhanced the accountability and transparency of these non-elected government entities, according to the release.

SB 494 now advances to Governor Pat Quinn’s office to be signed into law.

Information courtesy of a press release from DuPage County.

Related:

• Letter: Bill Would Allow Counties to Cut 'Wasteful and Redundant' Layers of Government
  

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