This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter provides background on today's election, reminds county officials about the upcoming Veto Session, shares information about wastewater and drinking water project loans, announces a human services capital grant program, links to upcoming National Association of Counties (NACo) webinar opportunities, highlights ISACo's partnership with the Illinois Public Reserves Investment Management Trust™ (IPRIME™) and invites counties to join ISACo.

Election Day

Today Illinois voters will elect a Governor (and Lt. Governor), Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller and Treasurer. Currently, Democrats control each of these statewide constitutional offices. 

First-term Democrat Governor JB Pritzker is seeking reelection and faces Republican State Senator Darren Bailey. Democrat Attorney General Kwame Raoul is also seeking reelection and faces Republican Thomas DeVore. The race for Secretary of State features Democrat former Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias against Republican State Representative Dan Brady to replace retiring Democrat Secretary of State Jesse White.  Democrat Comptroller Susana Mendoza faces a challenge from Republican McHenry County Auditor Shannon Teresi while Democrat Treasurer Michael Frerichs faces Republican State Representative Tom Demmer.

Both of Illinois' United States Senators are Democrats. In today's election, incumbent Democrat Senator Tammy Duckworth faces a challenge from Republican Kathy Salvi. 

All 17 Illinois congressional seats and all 177 state legislative seats are up for election today. This is the first election under the new congressional and legislative districts. Democrats presently hold a 13-5 majority within Illinois’ Congressional delegation. Illinois lost one congressional seat following the decennial census, reducing the total to 17 seats. Democrats currently hold super-majorities in both the Illinois House and Senate. 

Illinois voters will also decide on an amendment to the Illinois Constitution that would guarantee workers the right to organize. A proposed amendment becomes effective if approved by either three-fifths of those voting on the question or a majority of those voting in the election. ISACo included information about this proposed constitutional amendment in our September 6 News and Views e-newsletter.

There are two contested elections for seats on the Illinois Supreme Court. In the Second District, Democrat Elizabeth Rochford faces Republican Mark Curran, Jr. and in the Third District Democrat Mary K. O’Brien faces Republican Justice Michael Burke.

Veto Session 

As previously reported, the 2022 Fall Veto Session is scheduled for November 15–17 and November 29–December 1. It remains possible that some of these days will be cancelled.

Changes to the SAFE-T Act are among the issues likely to be addressed during the Veto Session. As reported in our October 31, 2022, News and Views e-newsletter, ISACo Executive Director Joe McCoy sent a letter to Governor Pritzker and the four Legislative Leaders identifying issues in need of rectification prior to the January 1, 2023, effective date for provisions included within the SAFE-T Act. The issues identified within the letter are the result of feedback from ISACo's SAFE-T Act working group as well as a general call for input issued in our October 3 News and Views e-newsletter.

ISACo encourages counties to contact their legislators to raise these issues and/or any other issues for which there may be a concern.

We have created a resource page with information about the SAFE-T Act that includes a compilation of media stories and other resources about the Act. Please feel welcome to contact ISACo at info@isacoil.org with any questions.

Wastewater and Drinking Water Project Loans

On November 1, 2022, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) announced the issuance of over $70 million in water infrastructure loans to local governments and sanitary districts for the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2023 (July – September 2022). The IEPA State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program provides low-interest loans which fund wastewater, stormwater and drinking water projects. Eleven (11) of the thirteen (13) loans qualified for a total of $11,465,025 in Disadvantaged Community Principal Forgiveness, providing additional benefits to those recipients meeting the loan rules for either the Small Community Rate or Hardship Rate.

Additional information is available via this link.

Human Services Capital Grant Program

On November 2, 2022, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced a partnership to launch a first-of-its-kind, $15 million capital improvement project grant program for facilities of eligible not-for-profit human services providers located in Illinois. This is a competitive program that will make at least 60 grant awards ranging from $50,000 up to $250,000 to eligible organizations.

Additional information is available via this link.

Upcoming NACo Webinars

NACo has announced the following upcoming webinar opportunities. ISACo is a proud partner with NACo and encourages counties to participate in NACo membership and activities.

Clean Energy Tax Credits: Opportunities for Counties in the Inflation Reduction Act

(Thursday, November 10, 2022, 2:00pm-3:00pm CDT)

On August 16, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. The IRA aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. It does so by making significant investments in climate and environment programs and providing tax incentives to boost the development and deployment of clean energy. Several of these incentives are now available to local governments under a ‘direct pay’ option, meaning that counties could elect to receive a direct payment from the federal government in lieu of the tax credit.

Click on this link to register for the event.

Why Counties Are Central in the Effort to Deploy High-Speed Internet

(Thursday, November 10, 2022, 2:00pm-4:00pm CDT)

The county role is pivotal to deploying high-speed internet. Join us for the second installment in the Broadband Boot Camp for Counties series to discover why counties play an essential role as partners, data aggregators, and organizers in the deployment of high-speed internet that is accessible and affordable for all.

This Boot Camp webinar series is provided free of charge. Registration is reserved exclusively for NACo members. To learn more about a NACo membership, please click here. To register for Broadband Boot Camp for Counties Part One or Three, click here.

Click on this link to register for the event.

Corporate Partner Spotlight

This week's corporate partner spotlight highlights ISACo's partnership with Illinois Public Reserves Investment Management Trust™ (IPRIME™), is an investment pool for Municipal Treasurers acting on behalf of counties, townships, cities, towns, villages, libraries, park districts, water supply districts, fire protection districts, sanitary districts, housing authorities and other subdivisions of the State of Illinois.

The IPRIME Investment Shares Series is rated AAAm by Standard & Poor’s.

The Investment Shares Series is comprised of money market instruments having a maximum remaining maturity of one year (except U.S. government obligations that may have remaining maturities of up to two years).

The primary objectives of the Investment Shares Series are to offer the highest possible investment yield, protect principal, preserve liquidity and maintain Standard & Poor’s highest local government investment pool rating of AAAm. In addition, the Fund offers access to PMA Financial Network, LLC’s Fixed Income and Deposit Programs. With the experience and expertise of PMA, the Investment Shares Series grants investors access to a powerful investment management team that functions with a high standard of vision, synergy, and quality.

Click here to visit their website.

Click on this link to learn more about the benefits and opportunities available through ISACo's Corporate Partner Program.

Become an ISACo Member!