DPOE Board Calls For Fiscal Reform in Illinois

On Tuesday, April 20, the DPOE board passed, by unanimous vote, a resolution calling for Illinois to enact "Comprehensive, Fair and Sustainable Fiscal Reform.".  Board members present included President Adam Finlayson, Secretary Brian Miller, Treasurer Christopher Hart, Daniel Biss, David Carson, Ellen Collar, Ginny Holbert, Michelle Kavoosi, Patrick Keenan-Devlin, Bob Kreisman, Ted Loda, Dan Lowman, Samantha Reed, Rene Rivera, Shannon Seiberling, Kay Shannon, John Welch, and John Zbesko.  Click below to read the full text of the resolution. 

RESOLUTION CALLING UPON THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO PASS AND THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN INTO LAW COMPREHENSIVE, FAIR AND SUSTAINABLE FISCAL REFORM.

             WHEREAS, Illinois is the fifth most populated state in the nation, but ranks 42^nd in total state and local tax burden as a percentage of income, and 45^th in state spending on services; and

            WHEREAS, despite being one of the lowest taxing and spending states in the nation, the State of Illinois possesses a flawed fiscal system, which for decades has created ongoing structural deficits for state government; and

            WHEREAS, because of its long-term structural fiscal inadequacies, Illinois has become over-reliant on local property taxes to fund services generally and education specifically; and

            WHEREAS, the net results of Illinois' flawed fiscal system include

•     shifting the primary obligation to fund schools to local property taxes, thereby creating educational disparities from community to community,

•     a backlog of unpaid bills the state owes to hard working healthcare and human service providers that approaches $4 billion, including $7.5 million owed to Evanston’s public schools,

•     the state frequently resorting to unsustainable, one-time revenue sources and debt to support ongoing public spending on essential services like education, healthcare and human services; and

            WHEREAS, the current recession has worsened the state's fiscal plight, to the point that Illinois state government faces an over $12 billion revenue shortfall for the upcoming 2011 fiscal year; and

            WHEREAS, if the state were to rely solely on budget cuts to eliminate this deficit, it would result in an unconscionable loss of essential public sector healthcare, education, public safety and environmental services at a time when they are in greatest demand, as well as a critical loss of private sector jobs, harming communities and families across Illinois; and

            WHEREAS, cutting or eliminating community youth, education, healthcare, mental health and substance abuse programs produce short run cost savings, but result in increased crime and violence, domestic abuse, poor quality of life and simply defer expenditures to out years in high cost public safety services, acute care hospitalizations and high priced interventions; and

            WHEREAS, temporary, band-aid solutions will not be adequate to address the significant problems caused by the state's flawed fiscal system; and

            WHEREAS, to resolve its fundamental structural problems, Illinois must enact comprehensive fiscal reforms that are fair, responsive, stable and efficient; and

            WHEREAS, these four key principles of sound tax policy would constitute a major step forward in reforming the flawed structure of the state's fiscal system,

•     Provide a significant property tax reduction for homeowners and senior citizens living on a fixed income by doubling the state income tax credit taxpayers may claim for property taxes paid on their principal residence,

•     Create tax fairness for low income, working families by increasing the value of the Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit,

•     Generate significant, recurring revenue through a more progressive, elevated income tax to fund priorities like education, health, public safety and human services, and save and create thousands of private sector jobs to shorten the recession.

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED That we, the Democratic Party of Evanston, hereby urge the Illinois General Assembly and Governor to support a fair, responsive, sustainable and meaningful approach to resolving the long-term fiscal problems that have plagued Illinois state government for decades; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That we, the Democratic Party of Evanston, hereby urge State Representatives Robyn Gabel and Beth Coulson and State Senator Jeff Schoenberg to pursue an active course of action to obtain enactment of the aforementioned four principles; and

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That we, the Democratic Party of Evanston, officially join the Responsible Budget Coalition – a campaign committed to building the support needed to solve Illinois' budget crisis, prevent harmful cuts to essential public services, save jobs, eliminate the state's long-term structural deficit, and make taxes fairer; and

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn, Speaker of the Illinois House Michael Madigan, and Illinois Senate President John Cullerton.