Last Thursday was the deadline to move bills out of the House's nearly 70 committees and sub-committees.  This part of the process makes for long days responding to constituents, meeting with lobbyists, presenting bills, and attending committee hearings.

Hundreds of bills received committee approval over the last few weeks, and now they await discussion in front of the entire House.  If you have concerns about specific bills, I encourage you to visit www.ilga.gov to view the status of those pieces of legislation.  Please contact my office if you have comments or would like to discuss your concerns.

Hotel Use Tax Assures Honesty in Taxation

I was joined in Springfield last week by Rochelle Mayor Chet Olson and City Clerk Bruce McKinney to testify in committee about a bill which allows non-home rule municipalities to collect either a use tax or an occupation tax from motel/hotels.  Such communities currently can only collect an occupation tax from such businesses.

With either tax, the motel/hotel collects a city tax from its patrons to support municipal visitor and tourism programs.  Since occupation taxes are not segregated from motel/hotel receivables, financially troubled motel/hotels in non-home rule municipalities have been using the occupation tax to pay their operating expenses.  As a result, cities like Rochelle have been unable to collect tens of thousands of dollars in taxes and have had to fund budgeted tourism programs from other funds or cut the programs. 

To combat this deceptive practice, a use tax, which is segregated at the time of collection, would ensure that municipalities receive the funds collected for tourism promotion.  Some legislators object to giving local communities flexibility or making certain that tourism taxes are used for the intended purposes.  These same legislators also don't have a problem with the Governor sweeping special fund balances to pay general state bills. 

For me this is a moral issue and deception of why a tax is collected.  I will continue to build support for this legislation and re-introduce it next year. 

Funds Held for Soil and Water Conservation Activities

In the past, I have mentioned how the Governor is holding payments to health care providers, but now he is also holding payments to 98 county Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) as well.  I joined my House Republican colleagues in urging the governor to release the full $7.4 million in the FY08 budget for the 98 Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) in Illinois.

The SWCDs are the primary local contact for groups such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Chicago Climate Exchange.  They protect Illinois rivers, streams, and lakes from a number of contamination sources such as urban storm water, agriculture chemicals, and sediment.  The districts also fight erosion of Illinois' rich soil, and they enhance our environment for wildlife and future generations to enjoy.

This is another example of how the Governor cannot manage the budget approved by the legislature and instead spends funding for his pet programs.  Districts will be forced to lay off workers and close their doors – losing the protection for our environment and important jobs.

Property Tax Forum Reveals Ways to Check Assessment

Thanks to the panel of experts who shared information and tips at the Property Tax Assessment Forum sponsored by Representative Ron Wait and my office last week.  Nearly 75 citizens who attended heard tips that will help assure their assessments are fair and equitable. 

Property values have been rising significantly in recent years, but some properties are incorrectly assessed for various reasons.  Citizens are encouraged to review their property record card with the township assessor to see if the information is accurate, and compare the assessment with the cost you paid for the property – especially if the house was recently purchased or built. 

Property owners should compare the appraisal of their property with similar property in the area.  If you feel the assessment is out of line, you might consider hiring a private appraiser or conducting a detailed comparison of similar properties on your own.  Gather facts about several comparable properties, take pictures of them, and organize your information.

Discuss your findings with the township assessor.  If you still aren't satisfied with the assessment, appeal your case to the County Board of Review using their forms and appeal deadlines.  If you make a good case, appeals generally result in lower assessments.

The assessment should represent a third of the market value of non-farm property.  The tax you pay will depend upon the budgets of each unit of local government serving your property.  The total of those budgets divided by the property assessment will determine your taxes.

Call the Supervisor of Assessment or my office if you want to know more about the assessment process, state mandated exemptions, and tax deferral programs.

Analysis Identifies Higher Education Needs

Last spring the General Assembly challenged the Board of Higher Education to conduct a serious evaluation of higher education, the state's workforce, and funding for higher education and student financial aid.

The board engaged the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) to develop a public agenda for higher education.  The firm completed the first phase of the work and shared findings with legislators and stakeholders last week.  The full report is available at the IBHE website.

According to the analysis, Illinois is losing its long-time advantage over other states in terms of the level of educational attainment, wage earnings, and graduation rates.  The consultant identified five higher education needs of Illinois:

· Eliminating disparities between whites and minorities in the areas of high school completion, college participation, and college completion

· Reducing geographic disparities in worker college preparation

· Encouraging community college students to complete four-year degrees at universities

· Creating a stronger link between university research innovation and economic development, particularly in rural areas

· Making a college education more affordable

The next phase of the work, which will be complete by late April, will review current college and university policies to achieve these needs. 

General Assembly Scholarship Deadline Approaching

The application deadline for 2008 General Assembly College Scholarships is fast approaching.  Students have until March 31 to return applications to my district office and Senator Burzynski.

To be eligible for the scholarships valued at more than $6,000, students must live in the 70 th District, plan to attend a state university, and demonstrate financial need and good student characteristics.  The 8 scholarships I offer cover one year of tuition and some fees.  An independent panel will review the applications and select recipients in April.  Encourage a promising student to apply!

Break Time

With the General Assembly in recess over the next two weeks, I will be traveling throughout the district and meeting with local groups and constituents.  Contact my office if you would like to discuss an issue or have me address your group.