Mayors prepare for potential Rauner budget hit

Suburban mayors are preparing in case Gov. Bruce Rauner proposes cutting how much money cities and towns get from state income taxes.

Rauner has been tight-lipped about what's in the budget proposal he's set to deliver to lawmakers Wednesday.

But local mayors already have had to fight for the share of Illinois' income tax money they've historically received, after former Gov. Pat Quinn proposed freezing or lowering that amount.

Schaumburg Mayor Al Larson said suburban mayors participated in a conference call Tuesday to talk about what would happen if Rauner looks to do something similar.

“Every year, it's scary,” Larson said.

Rauner spokesman Lance Trover declined to comment.

The state's finances are troubled and Republican lawmakers have predicted Rauner's budget proposal could be tough to swallow.

Communities now divide a pool of money that makes up 8 percent of Illinois income taxes. Losing some of that money could send mayors looking for funds elsewhere.

“We don't want to increase property taxes,” Larson said. “But this might force some communities to do that.”