The Illinois State Board of Elections hosted a news conference at the McLean County Government Center, with county clerks from throughout Central Illinois.
WGLT
McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael, whose office is based in the McLean County Government Center, says it needs to be clear where the fees collected from taxpayers are going, especially if the legislature wants to double a fee paid on deeds and other real estate documents.
A group of 10 Central Illinois county clerks says they re against a proposal to raise a fee that funds housing authority grants because of discrepancies in data reporting and unequal distribution of grants across the state.
The $9 is collected on real estate documents (such as deeds) that county clerks record. The proposal currently in the Illinois Senate would raise that to $18. It would also create a task force to review how the money from the fee is used.
Normal, IL, USA / www.cities929.com
May 6, 2021 | 11:22 AM
State Senator Sally Turner (R-Beason) and Senate Republican Deputy Leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris) today joined with Sangamon County Clerk Don Gray, Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman, Logan County Clerk Theresa Moore, Marshall County Clerk Jill Kenyon and Mason County Clerk Summer Brown to announce legislation that would instill transparency and uniformity to the state’s election process.
“The Election Standardization Act is about adding standardized practices and increased transparency to our election system,”
said Sen. Turner. “As a former county clerk myself, the election process is a very important issue to me. I have spent over 20 years of my career working to ensure the safety, transparency, and efficiency of our election system. My passion for this continues as I continue my public service as a state senator.”
Peoria, IL, USA 104.9 The Wolf
Jeremy Scott/1470-100.3 WMBD
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. If the proposed Illinois House Bill 3878 passes through the Senate, all documents filed through any recorder of deeds office would increase from $9 to $18.
The money collected by recorder of deeds offices goes directly into the state’s Rental Housing Support Program.
What that program does, Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman said, seems like a secret.
“We’ve requested over the past several years [to know] where this revenue is going,” Ackerman said. “We never have been able to get from the State of Illinois a clear answer as to allocation of where all this funding is going.