Senator Tom Cullerton’s Plan Helps Suburban Park Districts

SPRINGFIELD – Park districts throughout the suburbs would gain needed flexibility in their budgeting under legislation State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) advanced Thursday in the Illinois State Senate.

Cullerton’s proposal gives park boards the ability to adjust their budget plan if they receive new funds during the fiscal year that were unanticipated at the time the budget was approved. Currently this process is difficult and confusing for those involved.

“I was very pleased today to pass another measure that streamlines government to make local governments more effective,” Cullerton said. “It’s important to make sure these local governments, like the park districts, have the ability to run efficiently.”

Park districts approve their annual operating budget at the beginning of the fiscal year. Revenues that are not anticipated at that time would not be included in the park district’s budget. 

For example, if a park district applies for and receives a grant after its budget is approved, those new revenues would not be appropriated in the budget, meaning that the park district would not be able to use that money that fiscal year.

By having this authority, park district boards can access these unexpected revenues more quickly and without incurring additional expenses by approving the expenditure of those grant funds through a supplemental appropriation ordinance approved by the park board at a regular meeting in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.

Cities and villages already have this authority. Cullerton’s plan extends it to park districts.

The measure is Senate bill 1410 and is waiting to be heard in the House.