THE METROPOLITAN MAYORS CAUCUS IN THE NEWS

Pension Reform Urged, ED COLLINS Special to The News-Sun, Mayor Rhett Taylor said local contributions to the Police Pension Fund have increased nearly 40 percent during the past two tax levy years. Grayslake is not unusual, he said.

DeKalb City Council to consider November referendum on pension reform, Elena Grimm, Daily Chronicle. From 2007 to 2009, city contributions to the firefighter pension fund increased 32 percent and contributions to the police pension fund increased 56 percent, according to city documents.

Lisle to ask voters if they want to reform public pensions. Dennis Byrne, Reporter, editor and columnist for Tribune, Sun-Times and Daily News. " And Lisle is not alone as the state and local governments struggle to deal with skyrocketing pension costs. The problem is partly of their making and partially the states, but it is no irony that now they're in this fix together.  Lisle's referendum makes clear that it is talking about more than the pension "reform" passed last spring by the Legislature that basically covers only new employees "

Mayor Jerry Bennett This week Political Update Paul Lisnek is joined by Palos Hills Mayor Jerry Bennett on Wednesday, July 28th. During Mayor Bennett’s 28 years in office, he has been an outspoken advocate for uniting cities and villages to speak as one voice in legislative action with both congressional and state legislators. He has worked behind the scenes in forming and creating multi-governmental organizations that have benefited cities and villages not only in the southwest suburban area but, in metro and state regions.

Fire study could mean changes ahead for Oak Lawn and neighbors, Southtown Star, "The study, commissioned by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, is looking at ways for the Oak Lawn, Alsip and Chicago Ridge fire departments to pool their resources to save money and eliminate any redundancies".

Mayor Gerald Bennett discusses local tax share, pensions, and challenges for local governments on Political Update. The interview will be made available the week of July 25th on CN100, channel 100 on Comcast digital cable. To locate it "On Demand", go to "Get Local" then "CN100" then "Political Update" tabs to get to the program.

Chicagoland Suburbs Consider Merger, FireChief.com. The adjoining Chicagoland suburbs of Alsip, Chicago Ridge and Oak Lawn have signed on to a feasibility study by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus that explores merging some function of their fire departments or consolidating them into a single fire protection district.

Suburbs consider merging firefighting forces Measure looks to keep budgets from going up in smoke, Chicago Tribune, Increasingly tight budgets have some south suburban municipalities looking into sharing or merging their fire protection and emergency medical services as a way to save money.

How to Overhaul Local Governments, WSJ Online, "the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus meets regularly to develop consensus on shared, cross-border challenges such as air quality, transportation funding and workforce development. The Chicago model of city/suburban collaboration has been exported successfully to the Denver metropolis..."

Two Dundees, Sleepy Hollow may explore merging police forces, Daily Herald, The study, which the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus will conduct, would determine how compatible the three communities are in areas such as organization, operations and community. The study would also provide a preliminary recommendation and assessment, including a financial impact forecast.

Income Tax Local Share Threatened

Towns brace for financial holes if state cuts funding: $300M | Essential services would be delayed, municipalities would face raising taxes, Chicago Suntimes, article quotes Schaumburg Village President Al Larson, whose community would lose $1.79 million from Springfield under Quinn's plan; Elgin Mayor Edward Schock whose community would lose $2.5 million; and David Bennett, Executivie Director for the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.

Cutback plan for towns not well received, Southtown Star, If the plan does go through, cities and counties would have to make even more cuts to their budgets.

Cullerton: State won't cut city revenue, PJStar.com, Area municipalities shouldn't fear losing their local portion of the state's income tax revenue, according to a top state official.

Wauconda fears state budget cuts, Daily Herald, Wauconda village officials say they are crossing their fingers in hope the General Assembly does not reduce the share of income tax revenue the state gives municipalities.

La Grange president to Quinn: ‘Don’t cut municipal share’, My Suburban Life, The financial impact as a result of this unforeseen reduction in state shared revenues would be catastrophic.

Communities Respond to Quinn's Budget Cuts, My Suburban Life, City officials are criticizing Gov. Pat Quinn’s recently proposed budget cuts, which could mean a loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars in income tax revenue each for Geneva and Batavia.

Officials to fight state cutback, Evanston Review, Evanston officials are hoping to dissuade Illinois lawmakers from taking a $1.7-million bite from some local revenue the city relies on to balance its own budget.

Gov's tax plan would dent local coffers, Villages estimate losses in hundreds of thousands, Riverside Brookfield Landmark, Brookfield Village President Michael Garvey said. "I realize the state has problems too, but to balance the state's budget on our backs ... to pass it on to us, a non-home rule community, we have no way of regaining that $440,000."

Suburbs protest plan to cut their share of income tax, Daily Herald, Several Northwest suburban communities and their Springfield representatives voiced strong opposition Monday to Gov. Pat Quinn's plan to cut municipalities' share of state income tax from 10 percent to 7 percent.

Village, school officials respond to governor's budget proposal, Franklin Park Herald Tribune,“It's pain on top of injury,” Pedersen said. “We've eliminated 21 positions. The state is trying to avoid the cuts they need to make or the tax increases they need to make by requiring municipalities to make there cuts. We're providing core services like police, fire, street repair, plowing.”

Mayors say cut to income tax money would devastate local budgets, Daily Herald, "It would have a dire effect as our budget is concerned," Schaumburg Mayor Al Larson said. "It really would." Mayors: Legislature caused pension problems Chicago Suntimes Tinley Park Mayor Edward Zabrocki talks about the budget and pension problems

Quinn unfairly targeting local share of income tax, Chicago Tribune, Mayor Daley and Village President David Pope sound off on tax shift.

Representative LaShawn K. Ford (8th District)Very Worried About Impact of Tax Shift on Municipalities, Fox News Chicago, In an interview with Anna Devlantes, Representative Ford echoes concerns for municipalities.

Mayor Daley: Gov. Quinn backed off promise on tax share, Chicago Sun-Times, Before the February 2 primary, Quinn went before the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and pledged that the cities' share would remain at 10 percent. Now, David Vaught, the governor's

Daley says Quinn wrong to target local share of income tax, Chicago Tribune, “He did come before the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and say, 'I am with you, I support you.' Nothing has changed from prior to the primary to after the ...

Daley accuses Quinn of double cross, Southtown Star, Before the February 2 primary election, Quinn went before the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and pledged that the towns' share would remain at 10 percent. ...

Daley Slams Quinn Over Budget Proposal, MyFox Chicago, “Right before the election, he came to the Metropolitan Mayors' Caucus and what did he say Dave? It will not be cut, told the mayors at this meeting because ...

Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Celebrates Two Years of JERSEY BOYS

More than 80 mayors were on hand for a special reception co-hosted by Mayor Richard M. Daley (City of Chicago) and Jeffery T. Sherwin (City of Northlake and Chair, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus). They were able to have a special meet and greet with the Chicago's Four Seasons (Michael Cunio as Tommy DeVito, Michael Ingersoll as Nick Massi, Dominic Scaglione Jr. as Frankie Valli and Shonn Wiley as Bob Gaudio).