Suburban mayors relieved by state budget

SPRINGFIELD — Suburban mayors who lobbied lawmakers for months to try to keep the state from cutting their share of income taxes are breathing a sigh of relief.

The state budget lawmakers have sent to Gov. Pat Quinn doesn’t touch the 6 percent of income taxes that are sent to local mayors for their own budgets.

“We’re thrilled,” said Christine Gentes, executive director of the Lake County Municipal League.

“It was very worrisome to us,” she said.

Some Republicans and Quinn had suggested cutting up to $300 million from towns, leading mayors to suggest the state try to cut its own budget before reaching into their pockets.

Schaumburg Mayor Al Larson said it was a “pretty anxious time.”

“Certainly, local mayors felt threatened by a drastic reduction in revenue,” he said.

Still, Larson said, it was “gratifying” that local lawmakers apparently heard mayors’ opposition and declined to cut their share.

In their relief, mayors said they understand that the state’s facing big budget problems.

“We recognize the tough fiscal situation that we find ourselves in and the tremendous challenge our elected representatives are facing,” said Naperville Mayor George Pradel.

Quinn hasn’t yet signed the state budget into law. And in a meeting with reporters Wednesday, the governor suggested he might make some changes to the budget lawmakers sent him.

Quinn focused on money for schools and human services, so it’s unclear if he’d make changes that would affect suburban mayors. But for now, they say they’re relieved.

St. Charles Mayor Donald DeWitte said his city avoided roughly $900,000 in cuts that would have caused immediate layoffs.

“I think every municipality in the state had their radar ears on right up until Tuesday evening,” DeWitte said. “I think the end result, where the issue was not even brought up for debate, speaks volumes for the messages that were delivered to all our legislators.”

Ÿ Daily Herald staff writer Jeff Engelhardt contributed.