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La Grange residents will get a chance Nov. 2 to let Springfield know how they feel about public safety pension reform.
An advisory referendum will be placed on the ballot for the upcoming general election.
The Village Board approved the resolution, based on the recommendation of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and other municipal associations, to urge the Illinois General Assembly to consider pension reform measures.
The resolution calls for the enactment of significant and progressive pension reform and to discontinue granting pension benefits as long as the responsibility of paying those benefits rests with municipalities.
Voters will be asked: "Shall the Illinois General Assembly and governor take immediate steps to implement meaningful public safety pension reform, which will relieve the extensive burden on local taxpayers now that the General Assembly and governor have reformed the pension systems for all other public employees?"
The question of pension benefits has become a concern for the village, like other communities, particularly as state officials appear clueless as to how to dig the state out of a bottomless pit of debt.
La Grange officials unveiled a proposed $11.78 million budget for 2010-11 in April that showed less than a 1 percent increase over last year's budget of about $11.67 million. The estimated actual revenue for 2009-10 is about $11.2 million.
In total for the general fund, about a 5 percent increase in revenue is anticipated for 2010-11.
Village Manager Robert Pilipiszyn said in March that general revenues "softened considerably" and pension obligations have soared as a result of big losses in pension fund investment portfolios.
A limited property tax increase of 0.1 percent resulted in a virtual tax freeze, he said.
Pilipiszyn added that conservative budgeting, a five-year financial plan and healthy operating reserves should "reasonably sustain the village through these difficult times without resorting to local service cuts, layoffs and unplanned tax increases."
Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Executive Director David Bennett said the purpose of the resolution was not solely aimed at shaking up Springfield.
"It's as much to educate the public about the need for pension reform," Bennett said. "There is a concern the average person is not aware of the problems that exist with the local pension systems in Illinois. The costs continue to escalate. And given the current economy, the funds aren't realizing the potential earnings as in the past."
La Grange residents will get a chance Nov. 2 to let Springfield know how they feel about public safety pension reform.
An advisory referendum will be placed on the ballot for the upcoming general election.
The Village Board approved the resolution, based on the recommendation of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and other municipal associations, to urge the Illinois General Assembly to consider pension reform measures.
The resolution calls for the enactment of significant and progressive pension reform and to discontinue granting pension benefits as long as the responsibility of paying those benefits rests with municipalities.
Voters will be asked: "Shall the Illinois General Assembly and governor take immediate steps to implement meaningful public safety pension reform, which will relieve the extensive burden on local taxpayers now that the General Assembly and governor have reformed the pension systems for all other public employees?"
The question of pension benefits has become a concern for the village, like other communities, particularly as state officials appear clueless as to how to dig the state out of a bottomless pit of debt.
La Grange officials unveiled a proposed $11.78 million budget for 2010-11 in April that showed less than a 1 percent increase over last year's budget of about $11.67 million. The estimated actual revenue for 2009-10 is about $11.2 million.
In total for the general fund, about a 5 percent increase in revenue is anticipated for 2010-11.
Village Manager Robert Pilipiszyn said in March that general revenues "softened considerably" and pension obligations have soared as a result of big losses in pension fund investment portfolios.
A limited property tax increase of 0.1 percent resulted in a virtual tax freeze, he said.
Pilipiszyn added that conservative budgeting, a five-year financial plan and healthy operating reserves should "reasonably sustain the village through these difficult times without resorting to local service cuts, layoffs and unplanned tax increases."
Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Executive Director David Bennett said the purpose of the resolution was not solely aimed at shaking up Springfield.
"It's as much to educate the public about the need for pension reform," Bennett said. "There is a concern the average person is not aware of the problems that exist with the local pension systems in Illinois. The costs continue to escalate. And given the current economy, the funds aren't realizing the potential earnings as in the past."
