In this issue:
- Remembering 9/11
- Upcoming emergency preparedness community days
- Shred event and canned food drive Saturday morning in Fairbury
- Positive state revenue report comes with some concerns
Remembering 9/11
Today we paused to mark the 25th anniversary of one of the darkest days in our country’s history, but also one of its most inspiring.
Each year on this anniversary we stop to remember those who were lost, and to recognize the incredible acts of courage and bravery which our whole nation witnessed. And every year we also stop to say thank you to all those who serve.
Twenty-five years ago we all knew our first responders were there – hard at work, but many of us didn’t truly understand or appreciate everything they do for us each and every day. One terrible morning changed all that.
We might have taken them for granted before, but not any longer. We are grateful for all those who serve – our first responders, our doctors and nurses, the men and women of our military and our veterans. They do what they do each and every day so that we can all live our lives and build futures for our children.
So, thank you to those who serve, those who have served, and those who will serve in the future.
On this tragic anniversary, we all express both our grief and our gratitude, and rededicate ourselves to preserving the memory of what happened that day 25 years ago.
Upcoming emergency preparedness community days
The Grundy County Emergency Management Agency and LaSalle County Emergency Management Agency have upcoming Community Days where you can learn more about how to be prepared before an emergency happens.
From severe weather to unexpected emergencies, taking a few simple steps now can make a big difference when it matters most.
Mark your calendars and take advantage of these great opportunities to learn, ask questions, and make sure you and your family are prepared!
The LaSalle County event is this Saturday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the east parking lot of the LaSalle County Emergency Management Agency in Ottawa.
Grundy County’s preparedness rally is on Saturday September 26 from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at 1320 Union Street in Morris.
Thank you to our local Emergency Management Agencies for helping keep our communities safe and prepared!
Shred event and canned food drive Saturday morning in Fairbury
I am hosting a FREE paper shredding event and canned food drive in Fairbury tomorrow morning, Saturday, September 12.
We will be at the corner of East Walnut and South 4th Street from 9 a.m. until noon. This is a good opportunity to protect yourself from identity theft by shredding old sensitive documents. It is also a chance to help neighbors in need by dropping off a donation of canned, non-perishable food items for a local pantry.
The shred truck will be there until noon, or until it reaches capacity, so plan to stop by early. For more information, contact my office at 779-218-3070.
I hope you will stop by!
Positive state revenue report comes with some concerns
The state got some good news from its fiscal watchdog agency, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, this month when it reported that revenue for the first two months of the new fiscal year was up by 7%. But, as always, this positive report expressed some concerns that such good news is not likely to continue through the entire year.
The positive revenue numbers were due to a strong start to the fiscal year for the state’s corporate and personal income taxes, as well as growth in the amount of sales tax collected.
Compared to the previous year, revenue in July and August was up by $515 million. Such positive early figures help pad the state’s bank accounts if the economy slows down later in the fiscal year, which runs through June 30, 2027.
CGFA cautioned state policymakers not to celebrate just yet, however, stating that “this level of growth is unlikely to continue at such an elevated rate,” during the remaining months of the fiscal year.
Our current bill backlog
When a vendor provides the state with goods and services, they submit the bill to the Illinois Comptroller for payment. The Comptroller processes the paperwork and pays the bill when funds are available in the state’s checking account. Currently the total amount of unpaid bills is $3,725,907,688. This figure changes daily. Last year at this time the state had $3.2 billion in bills awaiting payment. This only includes bills submitted to the Comptroller for payment, not unfunded debts like the state’s pension liability, which is well over $100 billion.
Illinois headlines
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Federal prosecutors warn of scam calls in Central Illinois
Ammons wants case delayed due to general election duties