HR0132 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0132 LRB099 05948 RJF 25997 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Downstate mass transit districts as created under the Local Mass Transit Act are a critical part of the State's infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, A well-developed and maintained downstate mass transit system is important for the commuting public and is an essential element in the State's economic development activities; and

WHEREAS, The Downstate Operating Assistance Program (DOAP), as a grant program to help develop and operate downstate public transportation services, provides up to 65% of eligible costs with each participant getting an annual appropriation; and

WHEREAS, In addition to DOAP, funding sources for the downstate mass transit districts come from federal grants, state grants, and tax revenue; and

WHEREAS, According to summaries of the downstate mass transit districts' revenue for Fiscal Year 2013, the districts had a collective revenue of approximately $248.6 million and expenditures of $197.4 million; and

WHEREAS, There is interest concerning funding sources, appointing authority, and contractual authority of each of Illinois' downstate mass transit districts; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Auditor General is directed to conduct an audit of downstate mass transit districts; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the audit include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) an examination of the sources of funding for the downstate mass transit districts in Fiscal Year 2016, and a determination of whether the funding sources have significantly changed over the past 10 years;

(2) an examination of the board of trustees governing each downstate mass transit district, and the authority to appoint those trustees to the governing board; and

(3) an examination of the contractual authority held by each downstate mass transit district; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Transportation and any other State agency or other entity having information relevant to this audit cooperate fully and promptly with the Auditor General's Office in the conduct of this Audit; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Auditor General commence this audit as soon as possible and report its findings and recommendations upon completion in accordance with the provisions of Section 3-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution shall be presented to the Auditor General, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.