Budget:
Several bills make up the FY2011 budget. HB0859 provides 90% of the FY2011 operating
and capital appropriations. Please note
that capital projects in the bill reflect re-appropriations from FY2010, monies
that have not been spent. Key amendments
include #3 which reduces operations by 5% for agencies under the Governor's
Office, and amendment #7 reflects capital projects and member initiatives. Amendment#3
provides some transportation related projects.
Amendment #8 changes the effective date to July 1 with some provisions
effective immediately.
Senate Bill 1215 is the cleanup bill for HB0859, with some
minor technical changes. HB0859 and
SB1215 passed out of both Houses on May 25 and May 27, respectively. These bills have not been sent to the
Governor's office as of June 16. The
General Assembly is required to submit the documents within 30 days.
During the last week of special session in May, House members
submitted amendments to SB1211 to provide cuts to the budget. However, these amendments never made it out
of the House Appropriation Committees with a favorable vote. It is likely that it will not reappear this
summer.
The Senate is expected to return to Springfield for one day
to tackle the pension borrowing bill. At
this time, a notice has not been posted on the Illinois legislative website. I
am hearing they will return by the end of June. 
Finally, SB3662 is the budget implementation (BIMP) language
and SB3660 is the Emergency Budget Act. A synopsis of the Emergency Budget Act was provided on May 7th and can be viewed
here. It is still widely predicted that the General Assembly will not consider any revenue increase proposals until after the General Election.
Legislation:
The MPO website has been updated to reflect the status of legislation that I am following. Bills which still sit in the House Rules or Senate Assignments Committee have also been listed. Nearly a dozen bills that I am monitoring made it through the General Assembly and is awaiting signature by the Governor.
A few key pieces of legislation is awaiting signature by the Governor, include the Housing & Transportation Affordability Index, Downstate Transit Expenses, and Township Road District Review. To view the legislation,
please click here to be taken directly to the MPO Legislation webpage. Other legislation will be listed in the coming weeks, as I review association related lists. |
