City Officials Cry Foul at State Senate GOP Proposal to Cut Off Local Tax Revenues

First Ward Alderman Sam Hill, Mayor Kevin Burns and city staff sounded the alarm Monday night on budget-cut proposals by state Senate Republicans and the Illinois Policy League that would prevent municipalities from collecting their local share of Motor Fuel Tax, sales tax and corporate taxes.

Such action would cut the city's General Fund revenue in half and cripple Geneva's ability to provide core services, from public works to police and fire, City Administrator Mary McKittrick said.

"That would be devastating, not only to our own community but every community (in the state of Illinois)," Hill said.

Hill called on City Council members and the public to talk to and write state representatives in protest. "We need to make phone calls, ladies and gentlemen," he said.

“Send a letter, send a fax, send something," Burns said.

Burns didn't mince words about the proposals that have been discussed in the General Assembly.

“This just shows that not one political party has cornered the market on stupidity,” he said.

Burns said he had recently visited Springfield and  expressed concern about freshmen state legislators who might vote without having had experience in local government.

"Sadly, I think when these documents are produced, a lot of people vote the party line," he said. “If they have no context, they have no caring, and we suffer because of it."

For additional background, here's a story from the Chicago Tribune with the headline, "GOP senators propose $6.7B in cuts to Ill. budget."