ETHICS
Last week, Governor Pritzker appointed his own brother-in-law to serve on the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. The Governor’s Office says this action does not violate the Illinois state employee code of personal conduct because the code “does not legally apply to a separate entity like the University of Illinois,” but it’s certainly not a good look in a state struggling with public corruption. Gov. JB Pritzker appoints brother-in-law to U. of I. board
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Democrats’ SAFE-T Act endangers communities, crime victims, and law enforcement officers. This ill-conceived law must be repealed to ensure public safety across Illinois. High number of police fatalities in Illinois prompts calls for policy changes | www.cities929.com
Operation Restore Justice resulted in the rescue of numerous children and the arrest of 205 offenders involved in child sexual abuse. Operation Restore Justice rescues children, arrests 205 offenders in national crackdown
This morning, the Judiciary Criminal Committee heard a controversial bill that would ban Illinois police officers from stopping or searching a vehicle based on the smell of cannabis. This is going to make law enforcement officers’ jobs so much harder to keep drug traffickers off our streets. View my reaction here: Facebook
ENERGY
Electric bills set to soar again this summer
Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the interstate grid operator that posts prices for peak-load electrical supplies bought by utilities and end-users throughout central and southern Illinois, has reported a massive increase in summer capacity prices.
These are the price levels charged by peak-load electrical generation suppliers that operate and supply electricity online during times of peak summer demand. In some cases, these peak-load electrical supply prices, which electric utilities are legally empowered to pass on to their customers, are 22 times higher than last summer’s prices. These price levels reflect the continued withdrawal of coal-fired and other carbon-based electric generation from the supply picture of the central U.S. states, coupled with improved use of mathematical algorithms by the remaining suppliers to maximize their prices and profits.
The largest utility serving central and southern Illinois, Ameren, warned customers this week that the utility expects to pay approximately 50% more this summer for the electricity it purchases. Ameren expects the overall prices will increase from 8 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) last summer to 12 cents/kWh this summer. After these supply prices are passed on to customers as allowed by law, the average summer 2025 consumer electric bill will be 18% to 22% higher in summer 2025 than during the comparable months of 2024. This price increase will apply to the four-month period beginning June 1, 2025, and ending on September 30, 2025.
Starting on October 1, 2025, and in line with expected end of summer temperatures and air-conditioning-related peak demand loads, the summer 2025 capacity price structure posted by MISO will expire, and the billing surcharges to be charged by Ameren and other Downstate Illinois electrical utility suppliers may be partly reduced. The Downstate Illinois summer 2025 electrical pricing picture was described to members of the General Assembly on Wednesday, April 30.
TAXES
Four Illinois cities rank among the highest property tax rates in the country
A new study reported by Crain’s reveals four out of the top five urban areas with the highest property tax are in Illinois. The report comes after a property information service, Attom, analyzed the property tax rates for 217 different urban areas.
The four cities listed were Rockford, Chicago, Peoria and Champaign-Urbana. The report detailed the percentage homeowners pay above market value for their home.
Here are the results:
Rockford: 2.06% above market value
Chicago: 1.91% above market value
Peoria: 1.89% above market value
Champaign-Urbana: 1.88% above market value
Attom’s analysis also said the effective property tax rate by homeowners in those cities was more than double the national average.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Happy Mother’s Day! Mothers are mentors, protectors, and guides throughout life. Sunday is a reminder to honor the care, strength, and sacrifices of mothers everywhere.