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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Illinois has more units of local government than
3any state in the country, numbered at over 7,000; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds that consolidation of
5units of local government will result in cost-saving for the
6taxpayers; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds that consolidation of
8units of local government shall only occur with no reduction in
9the quality of service to taxpayers; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Lake County and the 31st Legislative District
11would benefit from a study assessing how specific units of
12local government may be consolidated or dissolved; therefore,
13be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Working Group on
16Local Government Consolidation is created to identify ways to
17eliminate barriers to consolidation and resolve certain
18discrepancies in the Illinois statutes governing local
19governments and special districts in Lake County and the 31st
20Legislative District; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, The Working Group shall consist of the following
2members:
3        (1) one member of the Senate appointed by the President
4    of the Senate, who shall serve as chair;
5        (2) one member of the Senate appointed by the Senate
6    Minority Leader;
7        (3) one member selected from recommendations provided
8    by the Lake County Board appointed by the Governor;
9        (4) one member selected from recommendations provided
10    by the Lake County Forest Preserve District appointed by
11    the Governor;
12        (5) three members selected from recommendations
13    provided by an association representing local townships
14    appointed by the Governor;
15        (6) two members selected from recommendations provided
16    by an association representing local fire protection
17    districts appointed by the Governor;
18        (7) two members selected from recommendations provided
19    by an association representing local park districts
20    appointed by the Governor;
21        (8) one member selected by the College of Lake County
22    appointed by the Governor;
23        (9) two members from local elementary school districts
24    selected from recommendations provided by the
25    Superintendent of Schools appointed by the Governor; and
26        (10) two members from local high school districts

 

 

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1    selected from recommendations provided by the
2    Superintendent of Schools appointed by the Governor; and be
3    it further
 
4    RESOLVED, The Working Group shall meet periodically but no
5less than once every 3 months; the group shall meet in
6accordance with the requirements of the Open Meetings Act; and
7be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Revenue shall
9provide administrative support and technical assistance to the
10Working Group; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, The Working Group shall accept testimony and
12evidence from third parties, including comments from the public
13at large, in crafting their report to the General Assembly; and
14be it further
 
15    RESOLVED, That Working Group shall submit their report to
16the General Assembly no later than October 1, 2016; the report
17shall include findings including, but not limited to, the
18following issues as they occur in Lake County:
19        (1) an assessment of the number of units of local
20    government and the costs associated with each unit,
21    including salaries, expenses, and operating costs;
22        (2) an assessment of the units of local government are

 

 

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1    engaged in intergovernmental cooperation efforts and what,
2    if any, cost savings such partnerships have resulted in;
3        (3) recommendations for the elimination of barriers to
4    consolidation;
5        (4) recommendations for the streamlining or
6    consolidation of units of local government; and
7        (5) recommendations for intergovernmental cooperation
8    potential.