Politics & Government

Topinka Appoints Elmhurst Mayor to State Government Advisory Board

Thirty-one member panel to examine local finances.

Illinois State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka announced Tuesday that Elmhurst Mayor Pete DiCianni will be part of a 31-member advisory board to consult with her on issues related to local government finances and develop an overview of the spending practices of the more than 8,000 units of government in the state.

"I'm honored to be chosen to be a member of the team selected by the state of Illinois, in particular Comptroller Topinka. It's important to have both a business perspective as well as a mayor perspective when it comes to local government finances. I look forward to diving in and doing my best to represent local cities and villages that often bear the burden when our state is struggling financially," DiCianni said.

Required by Illinois statute, the Local Government Advisory Board also will serve as a resource for local officials. Previous boards have assisted the office in developing fiscal stress indicators, creating a fiscal responsibility report card, and in making modifications to the annual finance report that local governments file with the comptroller.

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"These leaders bring a unique perspective to the board, and his insight will be invaluable in further strengthening local government spending practices," Topinka said. "I am grateful that he is willing to serve, and I look forward to working closely with him to ensure sound fiscal management of public tax dollars."

The complete advisory board will be meeting for the first time this spring, and then in smaller groups on a regular basis. Topinka will divide the larger group into four subcommittees—finance, legislation, technology and training—to encourage greater participation and discussion among board members.

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Members of the board serve in an advisory capacity and may submit recommendations to the comptroller regarding local government finances at any time. Board positions are non-paid, though members are reimbursed for reasonable expenses tied to the role.

In the coming year, Topinka will work with the group to encourage entities to file their annual financial reports electronically and to provide specialized educational and training programs to assist in that effort.


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