Peoria County, Illinois
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Peoria County is one of 102 counties in Illinois. The county has a population of 185,816.[1]
[edit] Website evaluation
- Main article: Evaluation of Illinois county websites
Last rated on Jan. 17, 2012
[edit] The good
- A full listing of County Board members and their contact information is provided.[2]
- Board meeting minutes and agendas are available,[3] with meetings listed on the calendar.[4]
- Information on building and zoning is available.[5]
- Audits are posted through 2010.[6]
- Includes an online property and tax information database.[7]
- The FOIA information is provided.[8]
- Has an archive of annual budgets for the county.[9]
- Bids and RFPs are posted.[10]
[edit] The bad
- County contracts are not online.
- Does not disclose if belongs to taxpayer-funded lobbying associations.
[edit] Lobbying
- Main article: Lobbying in Peoria County, Illinois
Peoria County has spent at least $266,568 since 1999 on taxpayer-funded lobbying.
Taxpayer-funded lobbying is the use of public funds by governments to influence other levels of government. Counties, for example, will pay lobbyists to influence the state or the federal government. This type of lobbying is often not disclosed to constituents. Counties hire lobbyists on a contractual basis, have lobbyists on staff, or join groups which promote or oppose legislation on their behalf. Lobbyists also help counties seeking specific projects or appropriations.
Peoria County's lobbying consists of two contracts with lobbyists, including Anderson Legislative Consulting. It belongs to 20 taxpayer-funded lobbying associations, including Illinois Association of County Officials.
For more on Peoria County lobbying, see the main article.
| $ lobbying total | $ Illinois | $ federal government | $ lobbying groups | # lobbying contracts | # lobbying groups |
| $442,014.90 | $128,000 | $135,568 | $178,446.90 | 2 | 20 |
[edit] Salaries
Peoria County salaries are salaries paid to county employees and elected officials. The Peoria County website does not include information about salaries paid to its employees or to its elected officials. The county website also does not include one area about the number of employees on the county payroll. Some county department websites include information about the number of employees in that section. For example, an organizational chart for the county auditor includes the names of employees and their positions within the department. [11]
[edit] Pensions
Main article: Illinois Public Pensions
Peoria County employees who work more than 1000 hours in a calendar year for at least eight years and are under the age of 70 qualify to participate in the county pension plan. The plan is provided by the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. Employees are eligible for full benefits after 35 years of county employment. [12] However, the Peoria County website does not include information about the county's pension liability.
In Peoria County some of the municipalities are facing pension troubles as well. The city of Peoria faces an unfunded pension liability of $120 million. Increased concerns over pension liabilities are forcing local governments like Peoria to cut service levels due to funding concerns. [13]
Illinois is facing a crisis with its publicly funded pensions. In 2010 state government was responsible for over $130 billion in pension payments, however they only had $46 billion set aside, which leaves an unfunded liability of about $85 billion. [14] Finding a way to fund that $85 billion will be the focus of the 2011 general assembly. The Pew Center for the States reported that as of 2008, Illinois is one of the worst states at contributing to its pension systems. State lawmakers will consider selling $4 billion of bonds to pay the state's annual payment on the five pension programs it runs. [15] In April, the state legislature created a two-tier system for all municipal and state employees—including teachers and state lawmakers—hired after Jan 1, 2011. Police and fire were included in an earlier draft but removed shortly before the vote. For the others, retirement was raised to 67. [16]
[edit] External links
- Peoria County official website
- Peoria County Treasurer's Website
- Peoria County on Epodunk
- Peoria County State's Attorney's Website
[edit] References
- ↑ Census Quick Facts - Peoria County, Illinois
- ↑ County Board
- ↑ Meeting Minutes/Agendas
- ↑ Calendar
- ↑ Planning and Zoning
- ↑ Annual Financial Reports
- ↑ Tax Database
- ↑ FOIA Request Form
- ↑ Budgets
- ↑ Finance - Current Bids
- ↑ 'Organizational Chart', Peoria County Auditor's Department
- ↑ '2009 County Benefits Book'
- ↑ 'Pension Pressure: Pensions Force Peoria to Consider Deeper Cuts', Peoria Journal Star, July 4, 2010]
- ↑ Illinois Issues, The Pension Chasm, November 15, 2010
- ↑ State House News, November 4, 2010
- ↑ 'Patch.com' Illinois Senate to Vote on Public Safety Pension Reforms Thursday Morning, Dec. 1, 2010
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