Hartstein uses final Buffalo Grove meeting to rip state plan

It was Buffalo Grove Village President Elliott Hartstein's swan song Monday as he presided over his final village board meeting.

But in many ways it was a typical appearance for the three-term village president, with Hartstein touting his community but also looking beyond it as he connected local issues with larger events affecting the state.

In this case, Hartstein expressed his concern about the possible loss of nearly $1 million in revenue if state legislators go ahead with a proposal reducing the amount local governments receive from state income taxes.

Under the proposal, the state would take an additional $300 million from cities and counties, lowering local revenues by $23.40 per capita. In Buffalo Grove, that would mean an annual loss of $930,000.

Before the village board passed a resolution Monday opposing the measure, Hartstein, as has been his custom, used his bully pulpit to outline the proposal's consequences.

“That's a lot of (village) jobs, or a lot of really important services,” he said. “One way or the other, this is really serious business.”

The village previously sent letters April 14 opposing the measure to state representatives Sidney Mathias, Carol Sente, Ed Sullivan, Jr. and senators Terry Link, Matt Murphy and Dan Duffy.

More important than the board's action, however, is that the citizens contact their legislators, Hartstein said.

“What we're talking about here is in effect a second tax increase. This one is, however, a back door increase,” he said.

Hartstein said the village would try to make it easy for citizens to contact legislators through the village's website.

“But don't hesitate,” he added. “Do it on your own. Get on the phone. Get on the email and let the members of our legislature know this is simply unacceptable.”