From red-light cameras to pension relief: Here are 10 ways Rockford wants help from Springfield in ’23
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
Get our mobile app
ROCKFORD — City Council members want Rockford to have the authority to decide for itself whether to install red-light cameras.
They also want more funding from the state for police training, lead line replacement and for Goodwill’s Excel Center, a tuition-free adult charter school.
Those requests are part of a packet of priorities City Council members have for lawmakers in Springfield.
Related: Red-light cameras in Rockford? Mayor wants the authority, but not necessarily the devices
Each year, the council approves its legislative priorities to send a message to Springfield. The council approved the annual list at its last meeting of 2022 in December.
The city pays Zephyr Government Strategies to lobby on its behalf on state issues. Council members will be considering renewing that contract in the coming weeks. In the past, the city has paid $120,000 annually for the service.
Here are the council’s legislative priorities:
Red-light camera authority
We first told you in June about Mayor Tom McNamara’s desire for the city to have local control over whether it can install the cameras.
State law limits red-light and speed cameras to eight counties: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair and Will.
McNamara and the City Council say they want the authority to decide for themselves whether to add the devices. First they need the state law to change.
“The city of Rockford has seen an increase in traffic-related fatalities. One major contributing factor is excessive speeds on our streets,” city legal director Nick Meyer said in a memorandum to council members about the priorities. “Red-light cameras and speed cameras have proven to reduce speeds and traffic accidents when implemented correctly.”
More news: City Council rejects proposal to allow backyard hens in Rockford
There were more than 6,000 traffic crashes, including 47 fatal crashes in Winnebago County in 2021, according to Illinois Department of Transportation data.
The cameras, however, remain unpopular. When we spoke to local lawmakers in June they weren’t ready to commit to bringing legislation forward that would pave the way for Rockford to install the devices.
“It’s probably one of the most unpopular things I’ve ever seen,” state Rep. Dave Vella said at the time. “I can tell you they’re extremely unpopular where they’re at, and I’m not sure they’re very effective.”
City leaders say they don’t necessarily want the devices, but they want the ability to decide for themselves whether its a good move.
“This is a decision that should be made at the local level,” Meyer’s memo reads.
Funding for police training
The state’s massive police reform bill, portions of which are in limbo until an Illinois Supreme Court decision is made, created new standards for use of force and responding to mental health crises, among other changes.
The city wants the state to pay the costs of training police officers for the new rules it set in place.
“The (Rockford Police Department) has long called for additional training for its officers, especially related to mental health response (Critical Incident Training) and field training,” Meyer’s memo reads. “However, training can be incredibly expensive. The city advocates that any training mandated by the state also include funding from the state so that the burden is not passed on to property taxpayers.”
More news: Galaxy Hair Studio to move from Roscoe to downtown Rockford
Pension reform
The city’s pension obligations are slated to increase from $22 million in 2022 to $26.7 million this year. Without action in Springfield, Rockford’s pension obligation will be $64.2 million by 2040, according to Meyer’s memo.
“Like all Illinois municipalities, Rockford is under increased pressure to meet its pension obligations, with pension payments forecast to account for 100 percent of the city’s operating tax levy within 20 years,” the memo reads.
The city wants the state to extend the amortization schedule for public pensions from 2040 to 2050. It also wants the required funding ratio lowered from 90% to 80%.
“City Council continues to advocate for pension reform aimed at relieving the taxpayers’ burden without negatively impacting the retirement benefits earned by our city retirees,” the memo reads.
More news: Learn more about Rockford’s ‘Jeopardy!’ champion: From how he practices to what he reads
Funding for capital projects, broadband
This component of the city’s list is essentially a request for local lawmakers to make sure Rockford gets its fair share of federal money coming from the massive new infrastructure bill.
It also wants Rockford to be included in the next round of Connect Illinois, a $420 million statewide program to expand broadband access with a focus on public schools and health care.
Related: Rockford’s construction season is about to get bigger. Here’s a look at the largest capital plan ever
Preserve local government funds
The Local Government Distributive Fund is a percentage of the total state income taxes collected that goes to cities and counties across Illinois.
That fund, which local officials say is key to providing services without increasing the property tax burden, has been reduced over the years. It went from roughly 10% until 2011 to about 6% today. Rockford has lost about $120 million due to the reductions in the distributive fund, according to the city.
More news: From a ban on latex gloves to an official state snake: Nearly 200 new laws take effect Jan. 1
If the rate is restored to 8% it would lead to an additional $5 million annually for the city.
“We often hear legislators talk about rising property taxes in the state of Illinois. Understanding the state of Illinois does not impose property taxes, fully funding LGDF is truly one direct way that the state can ensure we keep our property taxes competitive,” Meyer’s memo reads. “While we understand the state is facing significant budget challenges of its own, reducing the local share of distributive funds will cause significant harm to the cities and villages providing core services.”
Economic development resources
The city has long advocated for the state to provide opportunities to help grow the economy here.
“Legislation and opportunities for job training, workforce development, and state/federal resources to boost investment in our community must remain a top priority as we seek to attract and retain businesses,” the memo reads.
That includes support for the River Edge Tax Credit, which was extended to Jan. 1 2027, and has helped the city spur numerous projects such as the Prairie Street Brewhouse, the Rockford Riverfront Hotel and Conference Center and the Burnham Lofts.
Tools for fighting blight
The city’s legal department and the Community and Economic Development Department are working together with a coalition of other municipalities to propose legislation that would give local governments more authority to address neighborhood blight.
The city also also wants additional funding for demolition and home-repair programs.
“The city has increased its efforts to combat blighted properties,” the city’s memo reads. “However, existing statutes cost municipalities hundreds of thousands of dollar per year with limited ability to recoup those costs.”
Prohibit unfunded mandates
City and municipal leaders across the state often decry unfunded mandates, which is the name given to laws passed in Springfield that require significant new spending at the local level.
Last year, Illinois lawmakers passed 129 such mandates, according to the city.
“These unfunded mandates strain municipal budgets and often lead to increased property taxes,” the memo reads. “Passing bills and then pushing off the obligation to pay for them onto taxpayers is unfair.”
More news: New Loves Park chief aims to ‘raise the bar’ for professional service
Funding for lead line replacement
There are roughly 670,000 lead service lines across the state, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
The lines, which run water to residences and other buildings, can cause lead being introduced into the drinking water supply, according to the IEPA.
A law that went into effect Jan. 1, 2022, requires that all lead service lines be replaced by the owner or operator of any community water supply.
“The city of Rockford has been a leader in replacing lead service lines throughout the city. However, cost of replacing lead service lines can be burdensome on city resources and private homeowners,” the city says in its memo. “The Illinois General Assembly is encouraged to provide sufficient funding to reduce the burden of complying with mandates for service line replacement.”
Funding for Goodwill Excel Center
The city is encouraging the state to provide funding for Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois‘ Excel Center, an adult high school that provides a state-recognized diploma and on-site child care.
“This evidence-based model serves an underresourced population that has few options for advancing their education due to complex needs, including academic remediation,” the city’s memo reads. “The Excel Center also serves as a workforce and economic development tool, providing a return to the community through increased employment rate/earnings and reductions in public assistance.”
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.
