The Decennial Committees on Local Government Efficiency Act adds to the “To Do” list for many units of local government

On June 10, 2022, the Decennial Committees on Local Government Efficiency Act (the “Act”) was signed into law by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (P.A. 102-1088). The Act requires all units of local government that may levy a tax, except municipalities and counties, to convene a committee to “study local efficiencies and report recommendations regarding efficiencies and increased accountability.”  Since school districts are not “units of local government” under the Illinois Constitution (See Article VII, Sec. 1) and the Illinois Statute on Statutes (5 ILCS 70/1.28), the part of the Act requiring committee formation is not applicable to them.

The committee must be comprised of: (1) the elected/appointed members of the unit of local government’s governing board; (2) at least two individuals who reside in the unit of local government’s district; and (3) the unit of local government’s chief executive officer (or another officer). Importantly, the committee must be formed by the unit of local government by June 10, 2023. 

The Act requires the committee to meet at least three times. The committee may meet during a regularly scheduled board meeting, so long as: (1) a separate notice for the committee meeting is given in accordance with the Open Meetings Act; (2) the committee meeting is listed as part of the board’s agenda; and (3) at least a majority of the members of the committee are present at the meeting. In addition, the Act requires the committee to allow for public comment lasting at least three minutes per speaker. Furthermore, the Act requires the committee to survey the residents who attended the meeting and request their input regarding the issues discussed at the meeting.

Finally, the committee must summarize its findings in a written report and provide the report to the county board for the county in which the unit of local government is located within eighteen months of the formation of the committee.  In the report, the committee must include its recommendations regarding increased accountability and efficiency. Once the committee has written the required report and sent it to the county board, the committee is dissolved. However, the Act requires the unit of local government to appoint a new committee and repeat the process outlined above every ten years.

Public Act 102-1088 also amended Section 17-1-1 of the School Code to require each school district to approve the annual State Board of Education report regarding improving fiscal efficiency through shared services or outsourcing at an open meeting with an opportunity for public comment, in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. In addition, the school district must also publish the report on the school district’s website.

If you have any questions about the Act or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact a Robbins Schwartz attorney.

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