Fiscal Accountability Agenda

Water Commission Reform

Create a Reporting Protocol: Water Commission General Manager and Board Chairman present a fiscal overview and capital plan report to a joint DuPage County Board and Mayors/Managers group on a bi-annual basis.

Establish Criteria for Board Members: Develop a list of preferred qualifications for new Board Members. This list would include professional experience in finance, accounting, law, business operations and engineering.

Improve Communication between Commission and County: Identify County Department or Committee responsible for communication with the Water Commission.

Budget Reform

Formulate Budget Crisis Management Plan: County needs an alternative budget plan in the event revenue projections are not realized in fiscal year.

Require Departments and Elected Officials to Submit Expense Reductions: County departments and elected officials would submit a list of potential reductions in services and/or headcount that could be immediately implemented if revenues fall short.

Develop Comprehensive Long-term Financial Plan: Prepare a formal document that specifically outlines a three-year financial plan based on economic certainties to project revenues and expenditures. This plan would be available online to taxpayers and updated as needed.

Fiscal Management Reform

Establish a Performance Measuring System: Use benchmarking to measure the efficacy of every county program. Move to an outcome-based system rather than revenue-based system.

Encourage Consolidation of Services: Convene working committee of county, township and municipal officials to ascertain duplication of services and how dollars and personnel can be consolidated to save money and improve service.

2009 – Advanced proposals intended to save up to $3.4 billion in the first year alone, through cutting waste and overspending in the state budget, Medicaid and pension reforms and limited education mandates.

2009 – Introduced SB 2270 which requires administrators to make public salaries so taxpayers know how their tax dollars are being spent.

2009/2008 – Sponsored HB 35/HB 4765 creating the Illinois Accountability Portal so Illinois residents can access information on how their tax dollars are being spent.

2008 – Sponsored HJR 132 to reject Compensation Review Board raises.

2007– Sponsored SR 167 in opposition to Gov. Blagojevich proposed Gross Receipts Tax on state businesses.

2007 – Sponsored SB 621 to require new state employees to participate in a defined-contribution plan, and allow current state employees to switch from the defined benefit plan as a way to save taxpayers money and protect the pension systems from fund raids and political influence.

2007 – Concerned over sale of half of the state’s $3.4 billion student-loan portfolio to finance other state programs.

2006 – Sponsored SB 3180, the “Returning Veterans’ Homestead Exemption,” to allow returning veterans to receive a one-time $5000 reduction in the Equalized Assessed Valuation of their homes.

2006 – Sponsored SB 3086 to ensure property owners have more rights in eminent domain proceedings, and ensure property owners are fairly reimbursed for relocations and legal expenses (sponsored with Garrett).

2006 – Voted for HB 4789 to restore the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption to ensure that qualified senior citizens will have their assessments on their homes frozen as long as they own their home.

2005 – Voted for HB 551 which provided active duty guards and reservists an extended interest-free grace period for paying their property taxes.

2004 – Sponsored SB 2868 to roll back excessive education regulations on Illinois school districts. (NOTE: The legislation was introduced and contains no actual language other than the short title provision).

2004 – Worked with state leaders to finalize a compromise to preserve the State Board of Education as an independent entity, while allowing the governor to replace seven of the nine board members. (NOTE: Cronin voted against SB 3000 prior to it being amended, and did NOT vote on the floor on the concurrence to the amendment. However, he DID vote in favor of the bill in committee).

2004 – Helped advance a debt responsibility initiative to force responsible management of state debt.

2003 – Voted against SB 1903 that increased approximately 300 fees.

2003 – Voted against SB 1725 which created the state death tax, an estate tax applying to over $2 million estates in Illinois.

2003 – Voted against SB 1634 which eliminated corporate tax exemptions totally approximately $57 milion.

2003 – Voted against SB 814 which narrows the scope of the rolling stock exemption for trucks that cross the state line on more than half of their trips and increases fees by 30 percent—hurt trucking industry.

2003 – Opposed plans to divert road funds for general state expenses.