This week's Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) News and Views e-newsletter includes a link to ISACo's 2023 Public Acts Report, invites counties to submit legislative proposal ideas and amendments to ISACo's County Platform, shares a funding opportunity to offset the cost impact to local governments for asylum seekers, conveys a federal announcement about Illinois counties subject to disaster designations for drought, shares an announcement about water infrastructure loans awarded to local governments, makes counties aware of the recipients of a Megasites Investment Program, identifies legislators serving on a newly-created Sustainable Fuels Caucus, highlights corporate partner Nationwide and invites counties to join ISACo.
ISACo Public Acts Report
ISACo published a report of tracked bills enacted into law in 2023. The report is available by clicking on the image below and will be updated to include any legislation approved during the fall Veto Session (October 24-26 and November 7-9) and subsequently enacted into law.
* An ISACo tracked bill includes bills that directly or tangentially impact county finances and operations, bills that may be of interest to county officials for the performance of their duties and legislation presented "for your information."
Please click on the image for our most updated comprehensive report on bills approved by both chambers of interest to counties.
ISACo Accepting Legislative Proposals for 2024 - INPUT REQUESTED!
Does your county have a problem in need of a legislative solution? If so, please e-mail it to ISACo at info@isacoil.org. Submitted proposals will be considered by the Legislative Committee. Proposals ultimately approved by the ISACo Board of Directors will be included within our 2024 Illinois County Action Program (ICAP).
Additionally, ISACo will be considering amendments to our County Platform for 2024. Please review the 2023 County Platform and send any suggestions for additions/changes to info@isacoil.org. Proposed changes will be considered by the Legislative Committee and Board of Directors.
Asylum Seeker Support Funding
ISACo has been asked to make counties aware that $42.5 million was appropriated to the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to assist eligible local governments with defraying costs associated with providing services to asylum seekers. Eligible counties are encouraged to apply for this funding. Additional information is available via this link.
USDA Secretary Vilsack Issues Additional Drought Disaster Designations In Illinois
On August 23, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack issued disaster designations for additional Illinois counties for the drought that occurred during the 2023 Illinois growing season. The primary additional counties include: McDonough, McHenry, and Mercer Counties. The contiguous counties include: Boone, Cook, DeKalb, Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Kane, Knox, Lake, Rock Island, Schuyler and Warren Counties. Additional information is available via this link.
Illinois EPA Invests Over a Half Billion Dollars in Drinking Water and Wastewater Projects in Fourth Quarter of FY23
On August 21, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director John J. Kim announced the issuance of more than $571 million in water infrastructure loans to local governments and water districts for the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2023 (April - June 2023). The Illinois EPA State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program provides low-interest loans which fund wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water projects. More than $53 million in loan forgiveness was also provided to those recipients meeting the loan rules for either the Small Community Rate or Hardship Rate. In total for fiscal year 2023, Illinois EPA issued over $803 million in low-interest loans for water infrastructure. In addition to the SRF loans, Illinois provided nearly $54 million in funding for lead service line replacement over the last 12 months. Additional information is available via this link.
Governor Pritzker Announces Recipients of Megasites Investment Program
On August 17, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced the recipients of the Megasites Investment Program funded through Rebuild Illinois Capital Funds. Through the program, the state will leverage $23 million in grants to generate $144 million total investments in 9 projects across the state. Additional information is available via this link.
State Legislators Form Sustainable Fuels Caucus
Illinois legislative Democrats formed the Sustainable Fuels Caucus to address domestic energy supply needs, offer policy solutions to air and environmental quality issues and explore alternative energies. Members of the new caucus include Representatives Terra Cost Howard, Eva Dina Delgado, Dave Vella, Ann Williams and Dagmara Avelar and Senator Patrick Joyce.
Illinois County Officials and Staff in NACo Leadership Positions
Illinois counties are well-represented in the National Association of Counties (NACo) governance and policy-making structure. ISACo maintains a dedicated webpage listing Illinois members of the NACo Board of Directors, standing committees, policy steering committees and advisory boards. This page is updated to reflect changes.
County officials and staff from NACo member counties interested in serving on a NACo committee/advisory board can apply using this form.
CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
This week's corporate partner spotlight highlights ISACo's partnership with Nationwide.
Over the past 85 years, focusing on customers and valuing people have helped Nationwide become one of the largest insurance and financial services companies in the world.
Even though Nationwide has dozens of affiliated companies, people are its biggest resource – and its greatest asset in providing excellent customer service to its customers. That's why its Supply Management Services group makes sure agents and associates get the best quality products and services, at the best possible cost. It's also why Nationwide has an Office of Customer Advocacy.
More information about the services provided by Nationwide is available via this link.
Click on this link to learn more about the benefits and opportunities available through ISACo's Corporate Partner Program.
Become an ISACo Member!
Is your county a member of ISACo? If not, why not?
ISACo is a statewide association whose mission is to empower county officials to provide excellent service to their residents.
ISACo member counties are comprised of forward-thinking public servants who recognize that the challenges confronting county governments require new and innovative ideas, collaborative solutions and collective advocacy at the state and federal levels of government.
Members of the association will benefit from education and training opportunities, peer-to-peer networking, shared resources and robust representation before policymakers at various levels of government. ISACo creates and connects county officials to these opportunities and successfully equips them to make counties ideal places to live, work and play.
If your county is interested in discussing membership in ISACo, please contact Executive Director Joe McCoy at (217) 679-3368 or jmccoy@isacoil.org. ISACo member counties are listed here. Thank you for your consideration.