The following alert comes from Catholic Charities - DuPage County. The Illinois House Revenue Committee will take action on this tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 14.

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Following you will see the action alerts being sent out concerning the cigarette tax DuPage County is looking for to help with its budget.  As a reminder, DuPage County has supported the various social service programs in the County (Catholic Charities included) to the tune of $750,000 through the years.  This year, the slashed budget has $270,000 in this line item for social services.  With these kinds of cuts projected, many of us will be in a clear predicament of how we will be able to continue programs.  We use the funds for transitional housing and our shelter in Villa Park.  Legislation is being sponsored by Dan Cronin in the Senate to pass a cigarette tax for the Counties, excluding Cook since they already can impose such a tax since they are home-ruled.  We need your help!  Please contact your legislators, especially the Democratic members, and ask them to support SB716.  It will be presented to the House Revenue Committee on November 14.  The effort is to try to pass this bill during the Veto session which will end on November 30.  We really need your help!  Please call with any questions.

Kathleen

  

The following information comes from DuPage County:

 Action Alert

 The Illinois General Assembly will be calling a bill, during the upcoming veto session, to pass legislation to allow counties to pass a cigarette tax within their own counties.  Counties, with the exception of Cook County, do not have the ability to impose such a tax without legislative approval. 

 We know increased cigarette taxes will help in the cessation of smoking, especially among teens.

 Additionally, counties have stated that they need this additional source of revenue to support critical public health and safety programs. 

 The bill, SB716 will be considered by the House Revenue Committee on Tuesday, November 14 at 1:30 pm in Room 115 of the State Capitol.

 Additionally, a coalition of concerned health and human services groups are tentatively scheduled to hold a news conference in the Blue Room of the Capitol Building at 10:00 am on the morning of November 14.

 It is imperative that we demonstrate state-wide, bi-partisan support for this important legislation.  

 Please call, e-mail and phone legislators, especially members of the House Revenue Committee, with your support for this bill.  Also, please organize volunteers to attend the Committee hearing and sign witness slips of support.

 In-district visits to legislators is highly effective and we are encouraging visits to legislators offices in Springfield next week as well.

  The veto session runs November 14, 15 and 16^th and re-convenes November 28 through November 30.

 This is a short timetable and we need to ACT NOW!

   Thank you.

Veto Session Request

Permissive Cigarette Tax 

• Counties are facing critical budget shortfalls due to declining revenues, flattened sales and income tax growth, changing demographics, including new immigrants and seniors, who require expanded services, as well as a reduction of reduced state and federal funding.   

• County Governments, unlike municipalities, have few options besides the property tax to raise significant sources of revenue.  Citizens across the state want local governments to reduce their reliance on the property tax.  

• County Governments should have greater flexibility and more options to determine for themselves appropriate levels of funding.  Counties across the state are facing similar challenges and are quickly becoming a safety net for many programs and services the State of Illinois no longer funds.  

• By statute, counties must go to the General Assembly for the authority to raise revenue.  

• All counties would benefit by having an additional revenue tool they could utilize as they see fit.  

• Counties are only asking for permissive authority from the legislature, they are asking only for the legislature to give them the tools to fulfill their responsibilities.  

• Because of budget cycles, and because of the many serious issues facing the General Assembly in the 2007 session, the veto session is the optimum time to pass this important legislation.  

• As an example, without a new revenue source, DuPage County is facing 20% reductions in county services that would have a dramatic impact on the delivery of services and the quality of life.    

• Metro Counties and the DuPage Mayors & Managers have endorsed counties having the ability to pass a cigarette tax.  

• It is projected that a $1.00 per pack cigarette tax in DuPage County would generate an additional $25- 40 million per year, which would be sufficient over the next ten years to meet foreseeable needs and emerging issues.

Candace King, Executive Director 

DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform
146 W. Roosevelt Road
Villa Park, IL 60181
Telephone: 630-782-4782
Fax: 630-516-1306
cking@dupagefederation.org