Title
Resolution seeking an amendatory veto to Senate Bill (SB) 2544.
Staff Summary
* During the final days of the 2018 legislative session, SB 2544 was introduced through multiple maneuvers that circumvented a thorough and transparent process which would require a binding referendum question be placed on the November general election ballot asking voters if the Chief County Assessment Official (CCAO) should be an elected rather than appointed position starting with the 2020 election.
* Following public input at both the June 27 Ad Hoc Legislative Committee (3-2 vote) and Financial and Administrative Committee (unanimous vote) meetings, respectively, both bodies moved to support a County Board resolution requesting that Governor Rauner exercise his amendatory veto power on SB 2544.
* While the County Board supports and values the power of ballot referenda enabling voters to direct its government, the request for an amendatory veto is based on a number of concerns including:
o SB 2544 is the third effort in five years in which special legislation targeted Lake County.
o Currently approximately 60 of 102 counties in Illinois select its County Board Chairman and appoint the CCAO in the same manner as Lake County. However, SB 2544 applies only to Lake County in violation of the state constitutional prohibition against special legislation.
o Similar to the positions of County Engineer and County Auditor, the CCAO is one of the most technical in county government that requires significant qualifications and subject matter expertise.
o SB2544 does not adequately or responsibly communicate that property assessment and property tax processes are dictated by Illinois Property Tax Code and related state laws. As a result, voters will incorrectly believe that an elected CCAO has the ability to lower property tax burdens.
* The resolution seeks a gubernatorial amendatory veto which places a referendum question on the next possible election ballot for all counties that ha...
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