Business development tax credit extended into 2021

SPRINGFIELD -- Legislation that would increase business development opportunities in downtown Aurora was recently signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner. The governor approved a four-year extension of the River Edge Historic Preservation Tax Credit last Friday. State Sen. Linda Holmes (D- Aurora) was the bill’s chief co-sponsor.

“Through bipartisan cooperation, we passed a law that will improve the small business climate in Aurora,” Holmes said. “By extending this tax credit, we are helping job-creating projects to get off the ground while also incentivizing future business development in empty buildings downtown.”

The Historic River Edge Tax Credit was created in 2011 to provide projects with a tax credit for the redevelopment of historic structures in River Edge Redevelopment Zones.  The credit covers 25 percent of the rehabilitation costs for a business in a historic building. Friday’s bill signing preserves the tax credit through 2021.

In Aurora, the credit helped with the redevelopment of St. Charles Hospital into senior housing. Other proposals include transforming the Hotel Arthur and the Stanley Furniture buildings into a mix of residential and commercial properties.

“The River Edge Tax Credit is an important tool for creating jobs and revitalizing the community,” Holmes said. “I appreciate the local leadership and advocates who made the tax credit extension a reality.”

In addition to Aurora, the tax credit is available in Rockford, Peoria, Elgin and East St. Louis.

The legislation, Senate Bill 1783, is effective immediately.

Holmes votes to override Rauner’s veto of education funding reform legislation

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate voted today to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of the legislature’s school funding reform measure. State Sen. Linda Holmes, D- Aurora, was one of the senators to cast a vote against the changes put forth by the governor.

“Today, my colleagues and I voted against chaos, uncertainty and divisiveness by overturning Governor Rauner’s veto of an education funding reform effort,” Holmes said. “After 20 years of work toward a fairer funding model, we are closer than ever to an equitable system that gives millions of dollars in new funding to every school district in the state without creating winners and losers among schools.”

According to estimates from education funding reform advocates, schools in Holmes’ district would stand to gain millions of dollars under the Senate’s version of the proposed education funding law. Aurora East Unit School District 131 would gain over $13 million, Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204 would gain over $800,000 and Oswego Community Unit School District 308 and Aurora West Unit School District 129 would both receive over $4.7 million in new funding.

Another provision contained in Rauner’s veto would punish municipalities for using tax increment financing districts (TIFs), a tool commonly used by local governments to alleviate blight and create jobs. Rauner’s modifications would account for TIF revenue that is usually unavailable to school districts when dedicating funds, which would result in school districts in municipalities that use TIFs receiving less money from the state.

“The governor reached well beyond the scope of this legislation to include this harmful, anti-business provision in his veto, which makes little sense after all of his talk about bringing good jobs to Illinois,” Holmes said.

Illinois bans elephants in traveling exhibitions

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed into law a bill banning the use of elephants in traveling exhibitions including circuses. The measure was sponsored by State Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora.

“African and Asian elephants are endangered species,” Holmes said. “Traveling circuses are not able to properly care for elephants and as a result, elephant exhibitions in Illinois have been found to be in violation of the Federal Animal Welfare Act several times. Allowing these inhumane practices to continue would be irresponsible and poor stewardship of such impressive animals.”

Supported by the Humane Society, the ban on traveling elephant exhibitions will put an end to a practice that has been dying out in recent years due to pressure from the public. The legislation would ban elephants in traveling exhibitions. It would not ban elephants in zoos or any other permanent institution that ensures adequate conditions for the animals.

"For too long, elephants used in circuses have endured cruel training, constant confinement, and deprivation of all that is natural to them,” said Marc Ayers, state director for The Humane Society of the United States. “The public has come to see that these animals are victims, not willing performers. Illinois has taken a monumental step in ending this outdated form of entertainment and we urge other cities and states to follow suit.”

Senate Bill 1342 was signed into law by Gov. Rauner on Friday. The law will take effect starting January 1, 2018.

Rauner school funding veto would punish Aurora for economic development efforts

SPRINGFIELD – Aurora would be punished for its economic development efforts if Gov. Bruce Rauner’s amendatory veto of Senate Bill 1 is approved by legislators.

“Bruce Rauner has achieved what was once thought unachievable. With the stroke of a pen, he stirred up havoc for both small businesses and public schools across Illinois” Holmes said.

Under Rauner’s plan, special economic development funds known as Tax Increment Financing districts (TIFs), would be counted against the state support school districts receive. Because school districts generally don’t have access to TIF revenue, they would effectively receive less state funding because communities with TIFs would appear to have more available resources than they can access.

Rauner’s short-sighted plan, which was only exposed this week, punishes Illinois communities in need of both economic development and increased state investment for schools.

“It’s remarkable that Bruce Rauner is championing a plan that not only reduces funding for schools, but also handicaps incentives to create jobs in virtually every Illinois community,” State Senator Linda Holmes (D – Aurora) said. “By penalizing communities for using available tools to fight blight and improve the business climate, Rauner yet again reveals his commitment to pitting neighbor against neighbor while creating uncertainty in public institutions.”

Rauner’s amendatory veto penalizes hundreds of Illinois communities who desperately need adequate education funding and aggressive economic development tools. Aurora currently has seven TIF districts.

Because Rauner has kept the details of his plans quiet from lawmakers and the media until this week, it is unclear how much state investment Aurora potentially loses out on. Holmes says it has little merit while students, parents and schools need the stability to open – and stay open – within days.

For a full listing of TIF districts throughout Illinois, click here:

https://illinoiscomptroller.gov/comptroller/assets/File/MunicipalitiesWithTIFDistricts_August2016.pdf