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Governor Blagojevich Proposes Elimination of OSLAD Funding!

During his recent budget address, Governor Blagojevich proposed elimination of the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development program (OSLAD). In doing so he said:

“In addition, we’re proposing a holiday from the Open Space Lands Acquisition program. Acquiring open lands is important. Developing them is too. But in a year when the economy is struggling - a year where you have to make tough choices, to us, we think a holiday is reasonable, and it will save us $34 million.”

The Governor’s proposal is staggering in light of the fact that this program currently has a dedicated revenue stream and is a quality grant program which is matched at the local level in order to ensure the preservation of land into perpetuity.

The OSLAD program represents an infinitesimal amount of the State of Illinois’s budget and is the only available funding source for the acquisition of open space in Illinois. It is beyond belief that the Governor would target this particular program for elimination.

In Illinois we cannot afford to take a holiday from the preservation of open space and the development of recreational areas for Illinois citizens.

At a time when obesity is at an epidemic level and the elimination of after school sports programs throughout the public school system leaves the physical fitness of children throughout Illinois in serious question, reducing Illinois’ commitment to such a program is moving diametrically in the wrong direction.

At a time when the cost of Illinois’ remaining open space skyrockets at double digit increases every year can we afford to put this modest open space preservation program on “holiday”?

Please contact your legislators at their Springfield office immediately at 217/782-2000 to express your alarm over this aspect of the Governor’s budget. Please ask them to support you in protecting the OSLAD program which has such a rich history in funding the protection of open space and the development of recreational opportunities for your constituents and theirs. It is important that our response is overwhelming and immediate. Please share this alert with as many of your constituents as possible.

Click Here to download Sample Letter to Legislators  (MS Word File)

State Legislative Links
Illinois Governor's Website
Illinois State Government
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What is the IPRA/IAPD Joint Legislative Committee?

The JLC consists of 12 IAPD and 12 IPRA representatives. Its four subcommittees provide a variety of services:

• Hotline - provides current updates for immediate reaction to proposed legislative action.
• Research - provides background data and position papers for legislative platform proposals.
• Legislative Awareness - organizes and implements the Golf Outing, Annual Legislative Conference and legislative seminars and forums.
• Regional / National Issues - keeps members informed about all national issues affecting park, forest preserves and conservation districts in Illinois.

SB 83 Link
Support legislation to allow excluded districts to reinstate non-referendum bonding authority.

SB 1470 Sieben
Support park district efforts to clarify the use of specific referendum language when placing a question of an increase in the general or recreation fund.

HB 1425 Nekritz
Amends the Freedom of Information Act to exempt from inspection and copying the names, addresses, or other personal information of participants and registrants in park district, forest preserve district, or conservation district
programs.

HB 2471 Millner, Chappa-LaVia
Amends the Park District Code regarding criminal history background investigations of prospective park district job applicants, provides that these investigations are not required for minors under the age of 17 or previously investigated employees rehired within 18 months.

HB 3679 Parke
Amends the Park District Code. Allows a park district to use competitive selection and the pre-qualification of responsible bidders in connection with design/build projects. Sets the procedures that must be followed when awarding design/build contracts.

Special Recreation Funding
SB 337 Wojcik
Provides that after all other payments are made out of the State Gaming Fund, an amount equal to 3% of the adjusted gross receipts is deposited into the Special Recreation Fund.

HB 534 Hamos, et. al.
Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law. In each of the definitions of "aggregate extension" excludes extensions made to fund the district's expenses to provide recreational programs for the handicapped under the Park District and Municipal Code.

HB 1103 Daniels
Provides that the Department of Human Services, subject to appropriation, may make grants to special recreation associations for the operation of recreational programs for the handicapped and transportation to and from those programs. Provides that the Department must adopt rules to implement the grant program.

Tort Reform
Provide active support for initiatives providing tort reform for Illinois local governments.

State and Federal Funding
Support state and federal funding for park districts (LWCF and state funding such as the OSLAD, OLT and Bike Path programs).

State Legislative Links
Illinois Governor's Website
Illinois State Government
Illinois State Legislature

National Legislative Links
Congress - Find Your Congressmen; See How They Vote; Contact Them
House of Representatives - US
Senate - US
White House