State Legislative Program

The Northwest Municipal Conference stands ready to partner with state lawmakers to address the issues that are important to our shared constituents. The following are the Northwest Municipal Conference (NWMC) legislative priorities in 2025:

Preserve Public Safety Pension Stability

State lawmakers must resist calls from public safety unions to rollback critical pension reforms. Reverting to more expensive pension plans would dramatically increase costs for municipalities and taxpayers.

Tier 2 Provides Police and Firefighters with Generous, Stable and Protected Benefits	Unlike teachers and state employees, police officers and firefighters under Tier 2 can retire at age 55. For Tier 2 public safety personnel with 30 years of service, this would translate into a starting annual pension exceeding $80,000. This not only provides financial security in retirement but is also constitutionally protected.
No “Safe Harbor” Problem for Police and Firefighters	According to a June 2024 analysis produced for the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, unlike other state pension systems, Tier 2 fire and police pensions are compliant with Social Security “Safe Harbor” requirements.
Severe Financial Impact on Taxpayers	Pension enhancements would have a destabilizing effect on local government finances and the health of the public safety pension system. Struggling local governments would need to impose substantial property tax hikes, find alternative revenue streams or defund services to meet this added financial burden.
Recruitment and Retention Challenges Are Unrelated to Pensions	Recruitment and retention challenges in public safety are complex and influenced by factors far beyond pension benefits.

Ensure Local Revenues Meet the Needs of Our Shared Constituents

Local governments need suﬃcient ﬁscal resources to provide the critical services that resident rely upon. The NWMC encourages lawmakers to take a holistic approach to local government resources and partner in finding opportunities for revenue restoration and enhancement. With adequate resources, communities are better equipped to address state-initiated priorities, public safety, infrastructure investment and legacy pension costs.

Lawmakers should continue to work towards the full restoration of the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) and bring stability to the Personal Property Replacement Tax (PPRT). Beyond broad revenue sources, lawmakers should consider targeting revenue opportunities to modernize the revenue structure to account for shifting consumption and telecommunication patterns. For instance, lawmakers should review the 911 wireless surcharge fee to ensure its ability to support 911 services.

Address the Transit Crisis

With the looming transit fiscal cliff, northeastern Illinois faces an inflection point. With major repercussions for the economic vitality of the region, dramatic legislative proposals affecting transit governance have emerged. Changes to the region’s transit system must be guided by thorough fiscal analysis and operational best practices.

Consolidation Will Not Cure the Issues Facing the Region’s Transit System	Consolidation proponents have touted significant cost savings through consolidation while providing scant details. The challenges of merging agencies, each with its own labor agreements, procedures and legacy costs, could consume limited resources and shift costs to the detriment of our communities. Consolidation misdirects attention from the hard conversations that must occur regarding revenue sources, legacy costs and ensuring a regional 21^st century transit system.
Sustainable Transit Funding Is the Primary Component in Addressing the Crisis	As highlighted in the Plan of Action for Regional Transit (PART), transit service providers are already more cost-efficient than most peer agencies. Transit requires sustainable funding that reflects an investment in the region’s ongoing economic success. Lawmakers should ensure funding that accommodates the evolving needs of system users and the region.
An Empowered Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Best Serves the Region	A nationally and internationally successful model, a strong regional coordinating agency with fair representation will foster and compel collaboration and coordination among service providers. Any governance or organizational changes should represent the region. Critical votes representing suburban Cook County and the collar counties on the governing board(s) must be preserved.