SPRINGFIELD – It is not uncommon for local governmental officials to have access to taxpayer-purchased vehicles or receive vehicle allowances for use in conducting city business. But several suburban officials have the ability of using their vehicle allowance perk to boost their pension payments when they retire – a practice State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) thinks should be ended.

“Why should taxpayers be expected to pay for an increased pension for a mayor or other local official because they received a vehicle allowance?” Morrison said. “It doesn’t make sense and it needs to end.”

Current Illinois law allows certain allowances received by public officials to be counted as pensionable earnings. Morrison passed Senate Bill 701 out of the Senate this week, which would exclude vehicle allowances from the definition of earnings, prohibiting the perk from increasing a future pension.

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD – For many homeowners or commercial property owners who appeal their property tax assessments, the complexity of the overall process can be daunting. 

State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) passed a plan out of the Senate today that would streamline the appeals process and lower the often excessive wait times faced by many who file appeals.

“Rising property taxes continue to be one of the biggest concerns facing residents in my district,” Morrison said. “Instead of making appeals more burdensome and difficult to utilize, we must simplify the process and make it easy to navigate for homeowners.”

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) joined other members of the Special Needs Caucus from both the Senate and House yesterday in touring the Sparc Work Center in Springfield. The non-profit facility operates as a day program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“Whether it is employment in the community or employment in a structured day program setting like the Sparc Work Center, it is vitally important for individuals with disabilities to have options that will enable them to lead independent lives with purpose.”

Morrison was recently named Chairwoman of the Senate Human Services Committee and used the experience to see firsthand the importance of day programs in Illinois.

Sparc is a non-profit organization committed to enriching the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization operates 14 group homes and a work center and provides job placement services, family respite care and a host of other programs and services tailored to individuals with disabilities.

SPRINGFIELD – A plan that would eliminate state restrictions on local government consolidation efforts passed the Illinois Senate today. State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) helped craft the proposal, which includes several initiatives aimed at making it easier for the consolidation of townships and the services they provide.

“For too long, the state of Illinois has stood in the way of common-sense efforts to bring more efficiencies to local government,” Morrison said. “Local governmental bodies and the residents they serve must have the ability to make decisions that are in the best interests of taxpayers.”

Senate Bill 3 expands the ability of townships to consolidate and create greater efficiencies for taxpayers. The plan allows adjacent townships to merge, allows townships to take over the duties of smaller township road districts, removes the current cap on township size and allows voters to approve for the dissolution of townships that are coterminous with a municipality.

Read more ...