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Volume 3, Issue: # 16
| May 27, 2010
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Illinois General Assembly Adjourns 2010 Spring Session
| The Illinois General Assembly adjourned the Spring 2010 legislative session today by passing what can best be described as a partial fiscal 2011 State budget. House Bill 859 passed both chambers and contains the vast majority of State appropriations. This bill authorizes spending at essentially the same level as fiscal 2010 with a 5% reduction in State agency operations.
More importantly, both chambers passed Senate Bill 3660 and Senate Bill 3662 which are budget implementation acts. These bills grant incredible discretion to the Governor to manage State appropriations. The Governor would be empowered to transfer funds, sell future tobacco litigation settlement proceeds, require up to $2 billion in budget reserves, and exercise "emergency powers" to make programmatic changes that can save the State money. The full extent of how these new powers may be used will not be known for some time. Also, the "lapsed appropriation" period for fiscal 2010 will be extended from two months to six months. Typically, the State allows itself up to two months after a fiscal year to make payments that should have been made in that fiscal year. Now the State can withhold payments for up to six months after the June 30, 2010 fiscal year end.
Two key provisions of the overall budget proposal failed to pass. The House failed to pass Senate Bill 44 which would have increased cigarette taxes by $1 per pack. As a result, approximately $300 million in K-12 education categorical spending is at risk. Also, the Senate failed to act on Senate Bill 3514 which would have allowed the State to borrow to pay State pension obligations. Without these two bills, the State budget as passed has a $4 billion operating deficit. This operating deficit is on top of the $6 billion in vendor services that the State expects to receive in fiscal 2011 that would not be paid until fiscal 2012. This is a structural deficit that is simply being pushed off into future budget years.
It is possible that the General Assembly may return to Springfield in the coming days, weeks, or months to revisit the issue of pension borrowing. It is also possible they will not return until after the November 2010 election.
Other Major Bills Passed this Session:
Senate Bill 375 amends the Illinois Procurement Code to require review prior to renewal of every State contract exceeding $250,000.
Senate Bill 377 creates a tax amnesty program that is expected to bring in approximately $250 million in new revenue.
Senate Bill 1946 creates an entirely new pension benefits system for all State and most local government employees hired after January 1, 2011. This new second tier system will dramatically reduce State and local pension costs over the coming years.
Senate Bill 28 completely restructures the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority ("McPier") in Chicago. McPier operates McCormick Place Convention Center. It changes the management and operation of the Authority and changes work rules to address concerns by trade show operators.
Senate Bill 326 is a substantial overhaul of the State's regulation of nursing homes.
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Future of Library Cooperation (FILC)
Message from the Steering Committee
| All of us are very concerned about the negative effect
of the current economy on the state's ability to fulfill its financial
obligations, particularly to library-related organizations. Illinois Library Systems and library
services to the blind and physically handicapped have been especially hard
hit -- devastated. There is no question that
these are difficult times for the Illinois library community. It is also, however, a time for a
potentially positive transformation of not only statewide services but also of
methods of delivering services, restructuring, and reallocations of funding.
Most of the regional systems have worked hard to reduce
costs while maintaining what are now considered primary services --- materials
delivery and support of LLSAPS. Several are working towards the possibility of service and structural
reorganizations, with concepts including cooperation, collaboration, and
consolidation. While the new
models developed will be different from the current one, there is certainly
hope that these processes will result in functioning, viable, and supportive
library-related agencies.
At the same time, the Illinois Library Association (ILA) has
embarked on an ambitious and evolving statewide initiative concerning the
"Future of Illinois Library Cooperation" (FILC). There are currently three Task Forces separately addressing
funding, services, and structure by analyzing the current situation, gathering
data, reviewing or developing potential models, and making recommendations in
the areas of concern --- all plan to continue their work and develop a plan that can be operationalized by the ILA Executive Board in the coming weeks and months. As with the
efforts of the regional systems, there is hope that the ILA/FLIC initiative
will assist providers of library service at all levels to maintain, at a
minimum, current levels of materials and LLSAP support. Optimally, the FILC recommendations
will also provide transformative concepts and models to help direct and develop
cooperation among library related organizations in the state.
It is true that the current situation is and feels
bleak. But it is the potentially
terminal nature of current conditions that means the Illinois library community
must continue to take the leadership role in planning for the near and longer
term so that library service to Illinois residents can maintain its high
quality, high volume, and contribution to the high quality of life in the state.
Donna Dziedzic & Dee Brennan
FILC Steering Committee Co-chairs
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In the News |
Wheaton Library to Close on Fridays to SaveTo continue reading about this story, click here.Charges Dropped Against Elgin Library TrusteeTo continue reading about
this story, click here. Will Residents Back St. Charles Library Expansion?To continue reading about
this story, click here. Police Report Latest Twist in Library StorylineTo continue reading about this story, please click here. Shawnee Library System Could Close Due to State ShortfallTo continue reading about this story, please click here. Life of Early Glencoe Community Leader Highlighted at LibraryTo continue reading about this story, please click here. Vernon Authors Gets Book Distributed in Boxes of CheeriosTo continue reading about this story, please click here. Lewis & Clark Library System Cuts Services to Save MoneyTo continue reading about this story, please click here. Shawnee Library System Prepares for Big Changes and Even Bigger CutsTo
continue reading about this story, please click here. Library System in for Bad Ending?To
continue reading about this story, please click here. Park Forest Library Receives Additional Funding to Complete RemodelingTo
continue reading about this story, please click here. If your library has a newspaper story with link, send it to us at doyle@ila.org for possible inclusion in the next ILA E-News. Thanks. |
Sincerely,
Robert P. Doyle
Illinois Library Association |
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