SPRINGFIELD – Cities and counties would have a streamlined process to address vacant homes under two new measures sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford).

Senate bills 2052 and 2097 implement recommendations made by the Illinois Community Revitalization Task Force, a panel created to help reduce blighted properties and revitalize communities throughout Illinois.

“Blighted properties don’t just affect one or two neighbors, they can have a ripple effect on an entire block,” Stadelman said. “Getting our cities and counties the tools they need to fight this problem is the first step to rehabilitating our neighborhoods.

Stadelman partnered with Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara and the Illinois Housing Development Authority to work on a legislative fix that helps communities.

“Sen. Stadelman recognizes the impact that foreclosures have had in Rockford, and I appreciate all of his work in Springfield to help mitigate this issue, which has made it difficult for many of our homeowners to recover from the economic downtown,” McNamara said.

“My administration has taken aggressive action to strengthen our neighborhoods, including working with the city council to develop a vacant property registry and a land bank. Both these will reduce the impact of blighted and abandoned homes. And we will continue advocating for state-wide legislative tools that can help us in this work.”

Audra Hamernik, executive director of the Illinois Housing Development Authority, said local governments need more tools for dealing with vacant properties.

“When confronted with abandoned and deteriorating homes, it is often local governments that bear the cost of maintaining, administering and demolishing these properties,” Hamernik said. “This urban blight is siphoning off critical resources from other programs vital to these communities. I applaud Senator Stadelman’s leadership in identifying real solutions as to how the state can better advocate for neighborhood revitalization, ensuring Illinois’ cities and towns become safer and more stable.”

Senate Bill 2052 allows municipalities to transfer government-owned properties to a county or intergovernmental agency without triggering the formal statutory process that is imposed on non-home rule municipalities.

Senate Bill 2097 gives counties authority to purchase blighted properties to renovate them for resale to revitalize neighborhoods. The legislation also allows counties to keep the profits of the sale in order to renovate more homes.

Both measures passed out of committee this week and now head the Senate floor for a vote.

SPRINGFIELD – A legislative measure sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman that allows Rockford to raise license fees on video gaming machines passed a key hurdle yesterday.

“These video gaming machines rake in thousands of dollars a month,” Stadelman (D-Rockford) said. “I think it is only right that Rockford be allowed to raise the license fees in order to balance their budget without raising property taxes.”

Senate Bill 1558 was brought to Stadelman by Rockford Mayor Thomas McNamara due to Rockford’s status as a non-home rule municipality, meaning the city needs state approval to raise the fees unlike other downstate cities like Peoria or Springfield.

“I am incredibly thankful to our local ILBA Rockford Chapter for working with the City to institute what is a higher fee per machine, that without home rule we are unable to institute ourselves,” McNamara said. “This development would not be where it is today without the leadership of Senator Stadelman in Springfield.”

Currently, non-home rule cities cannot charge more than $25 annually for a video gaming machine license. SB 1558 would raise that limit to $250 for Rockford. In Peoria and Springfield, the license fee is $500 per year.

Having passed the Senate Executive Committee, the bill now goes before the whole Senate for a vote.

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois General Assembly heard Gov. JB Pritzker’s first budget address today.

State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) issued the following statement:

“I think the governor’s proposed budget places our values at the forefront by increasing funding for education from kindergarten all the way through college. I am also pleased with the increased funding for public safety and child care assistance.

“This isn’t the final product. We still have over three months to work on balancing the budget. I am confident however, that this new governor will bring a new way of doing things that will be a breath of fresh air after years of political gridlock.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman voted to raise Illinois’ minimum wage for the first time since 2010 today.

Senator Stadelman issued the following statement after the vote:

“Workers in Illinois have waited too long for a raise. This measure will put more money into people’s pockets and will help working families. However, this is not the silver bullet solution. We must continue our work funding higher education, infrastructure improvements and human service programs that will help the Rockford community.”

“I am also proud of the payroll refund that this measure includes that will help small businesses and non-profits adjust to the higher wages.”

The measure now goes to the Illinois House of Representatives.