On Thursday, February 24th, representatives of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association testified in the House Revenue and Finance Committee in support of House Bill 1842, House Amendment 1.

Representative Anthony DeLuca (D - Chicago Heights), lead sponsor and Chairman of the House Cities and Villages Committee, has been a champion of this legislation known as the Southland Reactivation Act due to its potential to “reactivate” or revitalize blighted or underperforming tax-exempt commercial and industrial property in partnership with the South Suburban Land Bank and Development Authority and Cook County Land Bank. 

DeLuca, introducing his bill to Committee members said, “This innovative legislation is proposed as a pilot program for the south suburbs and establishes a Southland Reactivation property designation which is a means to lower effective property tax bills for qualifying sites for a 12 year period."

“This legislation seeks to bring back on the tax rolls municipal-held tax-exempt parcels in areas ripe for redevelopment within Chicago’s southern suburbs," said DeLuca.

Mayor Rick Reinbold, Village of Richton Park, testified that the legislation is a high priority for SSMMA, a council of government with 45 member municipalities representing nearly 750,000 residents.

“We believe that House Bill 1842 creates an economic development tool that has the potential—at no cost to the State— to address blight and replace and expand the tax base and local jobs through the re-establishment of strong industrial and commercial properties throughout the south suburbs, something sorely needed,” declared Mayor Rick Reinbold who also serves as SSMMA's Legislative Committee Chairman.

Read the full Press Release here.

Local leaders from surrounding suburban communities are continuing to advocate for the advancement of the 2022 Legislative Priorities.

A broad-based coalition of local governments statewide is joining Illinois lawmakers in calling for the State to increase local revenue funds to lessen the property tax burden on homeowners.

Mayors representing regional councils of governments held a news conference on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, asking lawmakers to pass legislation to increase Local Government Distributive Fund allocations to local governments up from its current level of 6.06 percent to 8 percent.

Village President Vernard Alsberry, Jr., representing SSMMA said, “Here in Hazel Crest, we simply cannot look to taxpayers to pay more because local income taxes aren’t making it back home as LGDF distribution at the level that was promised. An increase in LGDF would relieve the financial pressure we face, and prevent the need to rely as much on property taxes and other cost increases. The time is right for restoring LGDF.”

A group of suburban mayors also testified during a recent hearing for House Bill 308 about the need for taxpayer relief from growing public safety pension contributions.

“Extending the amortization schedule of downstate public safety pension funds to 2050 would ensure municipalities across the state are able to meet their pension obligations,” said Richton Park Mayor Richard Reinbold, SSMMA's Legislative Committee Chairman, during the House Personnel and Pensions Committee held on Thursday, February 18, 2022.

Representatives from the Illinois Municipal League (IML) mentioned that some communities currently have 100% of the property tax levy going into pension funds to meet the obligations of police and firefighter amortization deadlines. According to IML, House Bill 308 would provide immediate relief for these communities.

Find more information on SSMMA's Legislative Priorities here.

• LGDF Press Conference Broadcast and News Articles

• Mayors Testify in Support of Pension Relief for Tax Payers

Mark your calendars for SSMMA's Annual Vendor Fair

This event will be held on March 17th at 4:30pm the at Tinley Park Convention Center.

For more information contact Melissa Doud.