Advance orders taken online for the Park district license plate

ELECTION RESULTS ARE IN and as always Illinois proves to be one of the most interesting states politically. As predicted, control of state government has shifted solidly to the Democratic party. Take time to congratulate those who represent you and continue to build on your past relationships. Elections during a reapportionment year always are stressful on candidates.

OSLAD FUNDING

The veto session promises to be action-packed as solutions to the state's continuing budget crisis are likely to be proposed. On the parks and recreation front the veto session will be the first opportunity to advocate for a restoration of the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) funding formula. As previously reported the fund was a victim of the end of session search for monies to balance the General Revenue Fund.

Monies in the OSLAD program are generated from a portion of the Real Estate Transfer Tax. During fiscal years 1991 through 2002 the OSLAD program received 35 percent of the proceeds from the Real Estate Transfer Tax, which in FY02 generated more than $21.5 million. Beginning in FY03, the percentage of the Real Estate Transfer Tax allocated to the OSLAD program was reduced from 35 to 20 percent by Public Act 92-536. This represents a cut of more than $9 million—from $21.5 million to $12 million.

If the change to the formula allocating the Real Estate Transfer Tax remains in place, the OSLAD fund will lose approximately $10 million every year and the cumulative effect will be devastating. Since OSLAD requires 50 percent in local matching funds, this investment has had an impressive multiplying effect having stimulated more than $323 million in public expenditures for public outdoor recreation and open space. Currently, HB 6294 (sponsored by representatives Hamos-May-Winters-Slone-Garrett, et al.) is the legislative vehicle to restore this critical funding. For more information, see the public policy section at www.ILparks.org.

STATE REVENUES STILL FLAT

The Legislative Research Unit reports that state revenues are flat in FY03 so far. The Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission recently compared revenues from state taxes in July and August of 2002 to those in the same months last year. There was essentially no change overall.

A look at individual taxes gives some insight into what is happening in the Illinois (and nationally) economy. Proceeds of most major Illinois taxes fell by percentages ranging from -0.9 percent (personal income) to -15.4 percent (inheritance tax, gross receipts). Among the few taxes that rose were sales, up about 1.5 percent to $1.054 billion, and liquor, up 15.8 percent to $22 million. None of these numbers are adjusted for inflation.

This is consistent with the observation that the economy so far has been kept afloat by spending for personal consumption, which in turn is being supported by increased borrowing, such as low- or zero-interest automobile loans and many mortgage refinancings. Corporate income tax revenues also rose 11.4% to $49 million. The report noted that substantial increases in tax collections in the remainder of FY03 would be needed to meet its projections for FY03 revenue.

EARLY RETIREMENT UPDATE

By late September the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) had sent out 11,000 information packets requested by employees considering early retirement and had received back some 4,600 applications to do so. About 1,200 state employees retired on August 1 (the first possible date) and 900 on September 1. So far about 1,000 persons have applied to retire January 1 (the last possible date unless their agencies extend them to next spring). SERS executive secretary Michael. L. Morey expects many more to retire January 1. He suspects that the total number of early retirees will at least equal, if not exceed, SERS's previous projection of 7,500.

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94% of residents who live in a community with a park district have visited a park or participated in a program or event in the past year. These districts receive very strong ratings for the safety and cleanliness of their sites, staff assistance and range of facilities offered. Source: "Statewide Attitudes Toward Open Space Preservation and Recreation," Richard Day Research, Inc. 2002.

INVITE YOUR LEGISLATOR TO THESE EVENTS Friday, January 24 noon to 2:15 p.m. Hyatt Regency Chicago Invite your legislator to lunch with you and your agency leaders at the LAPD/IPRA Conference Luncheon and Awards Program, attended by more than 2,000 park professionals and elected officials. Legislators will be introduced to the audience. Free valet service and an escort to the luncheon room are provided, and be sure to extend an invitation to your legislator to tour the exhibit hall after the luncheon. NOTE: IAPD sends every legislator a formal invitation to this luncheon in early December. Tuesday, April 29 Parks Day at the Capitol The Statehouse rotunda, Springfield In conjunction with the IAPD Legislative Conference (April 29 and 30), IAPD has reserved the first floor rotunda for park district and forest preserve displays. Bring your agency exhibit or create one! It's an opportunity for parks and recreation to gain exposure with legislators and staffers. Tuesday, April 29 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. IAPD Legislative Reception, Springfield Invite your legislator to the annual IAPD Legislative Reception. It's always a good time and an excellent way to get to know your legislator in an informal, festive setting. NOTE: Many agencies invite their legislators to dinner following the reception. This is another way to foster a good working relationship with legislative leaders. Wednesday, April 30 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. IAPD Legislative Conference, Springfield Attend the IAPD Legislative Conference to get the inside scoop on the new administration in Springfield and the IAPD legislative platform. After the conference, plan to head to the State Capitol to meet with your legislators.

FY03 FEDERAL FUNDS FOR PARKS, RECREATION

On October 18, the U.S. House and Senate passed the sixth Continuing Resolution, which will temporarily fund the federal government and its programs until November 22. All current House members and a third of the Senate members are using this time to campaign for re-election and will return to Washington November 12 for a "lame duck" session.

During the second session of the 107th Congress the FY03 appropriations process stalled over contentious debate on foreign policy, homeland security as well as wildfire and drought debate. The Defense and Military Construction spending bills are the only appropriations bills that have passed both chambers of Congress and been approved by House and Senate conferees.

The National Park and Recreation Association's public

PARK DISTRICT PLATES AVAILABLE TO ORDER This newly created "Park Districts Benefit Youth" plate will generate money for park district youth programs statewide. The Illinois Secretary of State's Office will print the plate once it receives 850 advance orders. To place an advance order, go to the IAPD Web site, www.ILparks.org. There is a $40 original issuance fee in addition to the $78 basic license fee; $25 of the $40 issuance fee is donated to a Park District Youth Programming Fund managed by the Illinois Association of Park Districts. There is also a $27 additional fee at renewal, with $25 of this fee being donated to the Park District Youth Programming Fund. Marketing the plate at your registration counters and information desks are great ways to make the fund successful. Contact IAPD for a marketing packet that you can use at your agency, 217/523-4554.

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policy staff expects some progress in the passage of the following spending bills, key to parks and recreation assistance, when members arrive back in Washington.

Interior Spending Bill

In October, the House passed its FY03 Interior Appropriations bill while the Senate's version stalled on the floor after passing the Appropriations Committee. Both the House and Senate committee fully funded the Title VIII Conservation Trust at its $1.44 billion level.

The House-passed bill contains $531 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund ($377 million federal, $154 million stateside) and $30 million for the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program (UPARR). The Senate Committee's recommendation included $523 million for LWCF ($377 million federal, $144 stateside) and $10 million for UPARR. Clearly the House-passed bill does better for LWCF and UPARR than the Senate's version. To see a line-item breakdown of this funding please go to the following link courtesy of Americans for our Heritage and Recreation, www.ahrinfo.org/capitolhill.html.

What You Can Do

While your member of Congress is at home, call them at their district office to let them know that funding for national, state, and community parks and open spaces as well federal assistance in recreation programming are top priorities for you. Ask them what they intend to do about LWCF and UPARR when they return to Capitol Hill in November. And let them know that you will be tracking the funding progress of the programs during this time. When Congress reconvenes, IAPD will update you and suggest appropriate action.

www.policyalmanac.org You know what the hot issues are—capital punishment, abortion, national security— but on which side of the debate do you stand? To help you decide, The Almanac of Policy Issues, put out by Policy News Publishing, provides comprehensive background information and statistics to support each side of 69 issues, from health care to handguns, global warming to ballistic missile policy.

OPENING DAY ACTIVITY FOR THE NEW GENERAL ASSEMBLY - JAN. 8, 2003 The opening day of a new legislative session marks a new beginning. A festive mood pervades each house. Families and friends of legislators fill the galleries. Flowers are on the legislators' desks. The governor presides in the Senate, and the secretary of state in the House, as the roll call of members of the new General Assembly is taken, and justices of the Supreme Court administer the oath of office. The taking of the oath is the final triumph in a successful political campaign,, and the ceremony begins a legislator's actual-term in office. Election of Officers The first order of businessis organization of each house. First are the elections of the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House. In normal circumstances these elections are routine matters, disposed of on one ballot. The members-elect meet in party caucuses sometime before inauguration of the new General Assembly and elect their candidates for Speaker or president. Then, after nominating and seconding speeches on opening day, the candidate of the majority party in each house is elected. The leader of the second most numerous party in each house, under the Constitution, is then designated the minority leader. After installation of the presiding officers, the next order of business is adoption of a resolution naming the other permanent officers of the legislative body: in the Senate, the secretary and assistant secretary sergeant at arms, and assistant sergeant at arms; in the House, the clerk, assistant clerk, and doorkeeper. (These officers are not legislators.) Upon the naming officers, each house notifies the other that it is organized and ready for business. The four elected leaders also designate their assistants in the leadership. The president of the Senate names six assistant majority leaders and a majority caucus chairman. The Senate minority leader names five assistant minority leaders and a minority caucus chairman. The speaker of the House names a majority leader, two deputy majority leaders, six assistant majority leaders, and a majority conference chairman. The House minority leader names two deputy minority leaders, six assistant minority leaders, and a minority conference chairman. Selection of Seats Before the opening-day ceremonies are concluded, members select their permanent seats in their house. Usually the party leaders get the first choice of seats, and then other legislators choose by seniority of service. Where two or more members have equal seniority, the order of choice is determined by lot. Offices within the Statehouse complex are assigned on a similar basis. — Excerpted from "Preface to Lawmaking," the Illinois General Assembly Legislative Research Unit

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