Politics & Government

Mayor Pens Letter Opposing Cutoff of Income Tax Dollars to Municipalities

Michael Collins says the amount that would be taken from the village is equal to the combined budgets of the planning and building inspection departments.

Plainfield Mayor Michael Collins wrote this letter in opposition to Gov. Pat Quinn's proposal that about $1 billion in state income tax earmarked for Illinois municipalities be diverted to state coffers if the General Assembly refuses to approve Quinn's plan to borrow $4.75 billion to pay off some of the state's $8 billion debt.

 

Representative Michael Madigan

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Speaker of the House

300 Capitol Building

Find out what's happening in Plainfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Springfield, IL 62706

 

Dear Speaker Madigan:

I am writing to voice the Village of Plainfield's opposition to recent proposals that reduce or suspend payment of revenues that are collected by the State on behalf of local municipalities. The argument of shared sacrifice rings hollow. I can assure you we have already been to that altar.

As the economy has suffered, so have we. Not only have state and local revenues decreased with the decline in the economy but we have also seen a decrease in property values which has led to decreased revenues. We have already made deep cuts in our workforce, services, and expenditures in response to reduced revenues. We continue to struggle to contain costs in an effort to balance the budget. In addition, local municipalities receive no benefit from the increased income taxes. A further reduction in the Village's share of revenues would have dire consequences on the community.

One of the proposals being discussed is a 30 percent cut in the share of income tax receipts going to municipalities. This translates to the Village of Plainfield losing over $925,000 in revenues. On a local level, these dollars translate to:

  • The entire Planning and Building Inspection Department budgets (combined) are $913,160.
  • The entire roadway resurfacing budget is $800,000.
  • The entire Police Pension levy is $900,000.

Speaking on behalf of communities throughout Illinois, both large and small, we strongly encourage you to OPPOSE reductions to revenues that are collected by the State on behalf of local governments.

Sincerely yours,

Michael P. Collins

Village President


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