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Rauner signs plans aimed at curbing local government costs

Gov. Bruce Rauner on Friday signed legislation from a bipartisan duo of suburban lawmakers geared toward cutting local government costs.

One new law was sparked by the reporting of Daily Herald columnist Jake Griffin and would limit spending on travel for local officials and prohibit using taxpayer money for entertainment costs.

"Illinois has the highest property taxes in the nation," state Rep. David McSweeney, a Barrington Hills Republican, said of the plan he sponsored. "We need to make sure our tax dollars are being used wisely and we need to reduce property taxes."

Another new law signed Friday would require counties to write a report for state lawmakers about what local governments they make appointments for. The idea is to try to identify unnecessary local agencies.

"Through our bipartisan work, we have made DuPage County a leader in government consolidation," state Sen. Tom Cullerton, a Villa Park Democrat, said of his plan. "We know the government needs to evolve with the needs of the people."

Cullerton and McSweeney carried each others' legislation through the Illinois House and Senate.

Tom Cullerton
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