Another important measure was advanced by the Senate to require the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to publish cost estimates highlighting the impact unfunded mandates have on local governments. Senate Bill 2066 is awaiting action by the Governor.

As part of the Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates Task Force chaired by the Lt. Governor, local government associations—including the Illinois Municipal League and the Illinois Association of School Boards—documented substantial growth in the number of unfunded state mandates restricting local control of local government activities over the years.

The Illinois Municipal League identified more than 266 new unfunded state mandates imposed on their members since 1982. And, the Illinois Association of School Boards documented the enactment of more than 145 state mandates imposed on schools since 1992.

With nearly 7,000 units of local government, Illinois has more than any other state in the nation. In response, the Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates Task Force has been seeking ways to reduce the costs associated with redundant or unnecessary units of local government—costs that are passed on to local taxpayers.