| The Illinois Constitution: Should it be rewritten?
This issue promises to be contentious. Hear both sides of the issue at the June 19, Lake County Municipal League meeting. Lake County Municipal League members will be joined by Northwest Municipal Conference members at this meeting.
Rep. John Fritchey will present the Pro point of view and former State Rep. Nancy Kaszak will present the Con point of view on an Illinois Constitutional Convention. Rep. Fritchey represents the 11th District and has served since 1996. Ms. Kaszak is the Executive Director of the Coalition for the Illinois Constitution. She served as State Representative for the 34th District from 1992-1996.
- Place: Vernon Hills Golf Course, 291 Evergreen (at Route 45)
- Time: 6:00 pm with a social hour and hors d'oeuvres. Program begins at 6:45 pm.
- Cost: $20 for LCML and NWMC members, non-members $25.
- RSVP to or by phone to (847) 270-3126. No-shows will be billed if a cancellation has not been made.
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Plan ahead for street lighting price change
Recently ComEd customers over 400 kW were declared competitive, which means they will no longer receive fixed-rate service. This change impacts streetlights of all types.
In 2010 municipalities in the 100 kW to 400 kW will be declared competitive. Approximately 130 municipalities will be affected. Now is the time to think about how to budget for this change.
Illinois Street Light Consortium is offering two options to municipalities: Day Ahead and Fixed Price.
- Day Ahead pricing is a floating rate, approximately $0.002 to $0.003 less expensive and less volatile than hourly pricing. With Day Ahead pricing, a municipality has the ability to later convert to a fixed price contract.
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Fixed price is a two-year fixed price contract. Many municipalities prefer the security of an electricity buying group. The Consortium's fixed price is a traditional electricity buying group that will price service with those alternative energy suppliers able to write a contract for street lighting load. Currently, fixed prices range from $0.055 to $0.06.
For more information, contact
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| Taking Action: Local Government Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of Foreclosures on Communities
A recent conference sponsored by CMAP, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, and Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago offered some tips for communities facing foreclosures.
Foreclosures affect more than just those who do lose their homes. The ramifications can be felt in the surrounding neighborhood, the community as a whole, and even the larger metropolitan region.
Municipalities can base how they address foreclosures through their property maintenance codes, which allow communities to regulate landscaping, weeds, trash and debris, building materials, and dilapidated and unsafe conditions, among others. When it comes to vacant building ordinances and registries, there is no express statutory authority in Illinois to enact these, but they may be incorporated through the property maintenance code.
For handouts and a recap of the conference go to CMAP. |
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Vallejo, California files for Chapter Nine bankruptcy; other municipalities take note
Vallejo, Calif., "filed for bankruptcy protection Friday to deal with a ballooning budget deficit caused by soaring employee costs and declining tax revenue," according to an Associated Press article.
In Vallejo's case, the "cash-strapped city...paid little heed to warnings it was offering its employees more than it could afford." Other cities also are "saddled with labor contracts that offer salaries, overtime pay, pensions, and health benefits they say they can't afford." In addition, the "expenses are expected to balloon as healthcare costs soar and employees retire earlier and live longer."
Associated Press reported that municipal officials in U.S. cities and towns are watching how Vallejo handles its bankruptcy, and it "may very well be a model for other cities facing similar fiscal challenges," according to an executive with the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility. Vallejo city officials "hope a bankruptcy judge will allow the city to rewrite its labor contracts and bring compensation down." | |