(Broadview, IL) ­– Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson is backing bipartisan legislation that would increase state funding for Illinois cities, towns, and village and is applauding House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) and Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) for their efforts to advance the funding measure.

"We are lobbying Springfield for additional revenue for the Village of Broadview to increase funding for municipalities from 6 percent to eight percent of state income tax revenue, which, at one time we had received 10 percent," said Thompson at a recent Village Board of Trustees meeting. "I am happy and grateful that Speaker Chris Welch is a sponsor of House Bill 4169 and that Senate Majority Leader Kim Lightford is a sponsor of Senate Bill 3010, legislation which would mandate increased money for Illinois cities, town, and villages."

When Illinois created a state income tax in 1969, the law stipulated that 10 percent of Illinois’ total income tax collections would be shared with local governments through the Local Government Distributive Fund. Since January 2011, however, the amount of tax money returned to local governments has dropped from 10 percent to just six percent.

Currently, Broadview receives $520,569 annually from the Local Government Distributive Fund which is down from $839,628 in 2011.

Governor J.B. Pritzker announced earlier in February that Illinois will a have a $1.7 billion projected surplus by June 30, 2022, and Thompson thinks a portion of that surplus should be returned to local communities to help fund local infrastructure projects and police and fire pensions.

"If the state has a $1.7 billion surplus, more income tax money should be returned to Broadview so we can repair more streets, sidewalks, and alleys as well fund our police and fire pension systems" said Thompson. "Providing municipalities with an increased share of tax money would also help us reduce our reliance on property taxes."

The legislature has until April 8 to act on the legislation before it adjourns for the summer.

davidormsby@davidormsby.com