Mundelein formally demands $770,000 from state lawmakers
Illinois owes Mundelein more than $770,000 in fuel-tax dollars and other revenue, and village leaders say they want their money - now.
Trustees on Monday unanimously approved a resolution requesting Illinois lawmakers release money that's been held up by the lack of a state budget for the 2016 fiscal year.
"We've been patient for months," Mayor Steve Lentz told the Daily Herald. "It's time for action and for this nonsense to end."
The standoff between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Democrats who control the state House and state Senate has meant communities have been shorted more than $150 million in taxes on gasoline, video gambling and wireless communications, and other revenue, Mundelein officials said. Some state grants haven't been paid out properly, either.
A state budget was due July 1.
State Rep. Marty Moylan, a Des Plaines Democrat, has proposed legislation to send gasoline and gambling tax money to communities, but the plan hasn't yet been approved.
Mundelein Trustee Holly Kim is fed up with the state's inaction.
"Show me anywhere else where someone doesn't do their job for four months and not get fired," Kim said. "It doesn't matter what political party you support, they both need to get working for the people. Do your job or move over and let someone else do it."
The resolution Kim and the other Mundelein trustees adopted was based on a draft crafted by the Illinois Municipal League, a statewide group that lobbies for villages and cities in Springfield.
Carol Stream approved a similar resolution last week. Other suburban boards are considering adopting versions, too.
The impact of the budget stalemate differs from town to town.
In Mount Prospect, officials have discussed reducing spending on street and sidewalk repairs, tree replacement and vehicle purchases, among other changes. In Wauconda, the state's budget woes and threatened cutbacks contributed to the village board's controversial decision to close its 911 dispatch center and outsource the service as a money-saving move.
In Mundelein, the lack of gasoline tax dollars means road construction and repair projects may have to be scaled back because of a lack of funds, officials said.
"The program would be reduced, but not eliminated," Trustee Ray Semple said.
Semple isn't optimistic state lawmakers are going to settle the matter soon.
"It doesn't appear there's any light at the end of the tunnel in Springfield. And we all have to be cognizant of that as we start budgets for next year," he said.
Mundelein's fiscal year begins May 1. Public budget discussions typically are held in April.
The roughly $770,000 owed by the state is less than 2 percent of the village's $56.5 million budget.
Mundelein's new resolution will be sent to Rauner, House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton and other officials.
Semple suggested updating the resolution every month with revised debt figures until a budget is approved or Mundelein receives the money it's due.
"The tab is going to change," Semple said. "By the end of the year, we could be around $1 million in the hole."
Although he didn't vote on the measure, Lentz strongly supports Mundelein's resolution.
"It's important that elected officials in Springfield know that their prolonged impasse is not acceptable," he said. "They need to get their act together, stop the political gotcha games, pass a budget and fix our state."