Written by Link Staff Tuesday, 03 May 2011 16:24
SPRINGFIELD— Legislation, sponsored by Senator Terry Link (D-Waukegan), failed in the Senate Chamber today that would take a closer look at consolidation among the near 7,000 individual government bodies in Illinois.
"Our state ranks number one in units of local government, followed second by Pennsylvania, Senator Link said. "As long as local government lobbying organizations refuse to take this issue seriously, it's not going to change anytime soon."
Senate Bill 173 would have created the Local Government Consolidation Commission, an independent board charged with reviewing the effectiveness and impact of local units of government and, ultimately, slate potentially hundreds of inefficient, unnecessary units for consolidation or elimination. The Commission would work much like the federal government's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) commission. BRAC is an independent board that evaluates the effectiveness and need of military bases and installations.
"I'm not opposed to good, efficient government that provides service to the community," Link said. "But Illinois has too many units of government many of which can levy taxes on their citizens. Today, local government lobbyists won in their effort to ensure that Illinois has more government than any other state in the union. While they celebrate, I intend on going back to the drawing board to continue my efforts in reducing inefficiencies."
Senator Link Menu
30th District
Majority Caucus Whip
Years served: 1997 - Present
Committee assignments: Committee of the Whole; Financial Institutions; Gaming (Chairperson); Local Government; Elections (Vice-Chairperson); Judiciary; Subcommittee on Payday Loans; Subcommittee on Amendments; Subcomm. on Civil Process&Procedure; Subcomm. on Property & Environment.
Biography: Partner, Lake County Industrial Equipment business; born March 20, 1947, in Waukegan; attended Stout State University; married (wife, Susan McCall Link), has four children.