Could suburbs get more in transportation cash?

The state Senate's two leaders are open to changes in the way the government divides transportation funding, which now sends the lion's share to downstate Illinois.

Speaking at a Metropolitan Planning Council event Friday, Senate President John Cullerton and Republican Leader Christine Radogno gave their spin on Gov. Pat Quinn's recent proposal to raise personal income taxes to 4.5 percent to plug an $11.6 billion deficit.

Chicago Democrat Cullerton appealed to Republicans to bring real solutions to the table and said he'd consider any ideas. For example, if someone proposed borrowing money now and raising taxes to pay it back two years later based on the premise that the economy will have rebounded, "I'm open to that," he said.

Radogno of Lemont wants to see more efficiencies before passing any tax hikes, citing as an example 27 percent of the state's budget is spent on Medicaid and it's growing by 7 percent a year.

The Metropolitan Planning Council is backing legislation proposed by Vernon Hills Democrat Kathy Ryg to divvy up transportation dollars based on objective criteria - such as population, safety, pollution prevention and job creation rather than political horse-trading in the General Assembly.

"It makes sense to set up a program with clear criteria rather than a lump sum handed out to the caucuses," Radogno said.

Currently, there's a major debate on formulas going on in Springfield, Cullerton said. "District 1 has 80 percent of the population and receives 45 percent of the money," he added, referring to Chicago, Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.

The two senators also talked municipal issues. Cullerton noted Quinn's budget would raise income taxes but doesn't include a proportional increase of the share that local governments get.

Radogno was wary of adding on more to the budget, saying "everyone has to live within their means."

Both lawmakers sympathized with municipal concerns that the General Assembly sets contribution rates to police and firefighter pensions.

"Now because the General Assembly is aware how expensive pensions and benefits are, we're more reluctant to pass pension and benefit increases on to the locals," Radogno said.

Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins told the two that increases in pension contributions is "breaking the backs of the municipalities."

Cullerton responded that he'd consider "going one step further and give the responsibility back to you."

Friday marked the planning council's release of its new "Planning for Prosperity" 2009 policy agenda.

In addition to endorsing Ryg's bill, MPC advocates: better regional planning and cooperation between towns; finding new revenues to upgrade transportation and infrastructure, such as a tax based on miles driven not gas consumed; develop a statewide plan to conserve water; and encourage private/public partnerships for goals such as new roads or train lines.