Just like other municipalities across the state, the Village of Hampshire is concerned about the possibility of only getting half of what they expected to receive as their share of state income taxes.
In addressing the state budget, Gov. Bruce Rauner recently proposed that instead of communities sharing a pool of 8 percent of Illinois income tax revenue, they would receive 4 percent starting July 1.
The proposed reduction in the Local Government Distributive Fund would mean that instead of receiving $600,000 from Springfield, Hampshire would get $300,000.
“Nothing is set in stone in the budget address, but it would be a tough pill to swallow to lose that much money,” Village President Jeffrey Magnussen said during the village board meeting this week. “It would be an extreme hardship for the village. To think that municipalities are flush with cash is a gross misstatement. Tell them that municipalities are good stewards. We did not create this budget mess.”
Trustee George Brust pointed out that Rauner said First Responders would be excluded from the cuts.
“We use the LGDF to fund our police department,” Brust said. “It is really important for residents to contact their state representatives and senators to say how this would affect our community.”
Magnussen urged residents to “get on the phone or email to let representatives know how we feel.”
In other news, Magnussen congratulated the Hampshire High School varsity cheerleading squad for earning its first state championship title in the medium school division.
He also congratulated the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School eighth grade boys’ basketball team coached by Hampshire Trustee Rob Whaley for earning for the first time the title of first place conference champions.
“We will put up a sign in the village for the cheerleading team,” Magnussen said. “A banner for the basketball team will go up in the school.”
The village board this week also unanimously approved both an intergovernmental agreement with the Kane County Forest Preserve District and an agreement with Resource Bank, 135 West Oak Knoll Drive (Illinois 72) in Hampshire, for moving the 1859 Eakin one-room school house from Big Timber Road in Rutland Township to the bank’s site.
Resource Bank plans on attaching the school house to the bank and turning it into a community room for Hampshire. The project will allow the school house to be used regardless of the bank’s hours of operation. The school house would have separate washrooms and a catering kitchen.
Mary Keys, director of marketing at Resource Bank, said that the move is anticipated for late May or early June.
“When completed, the school house can be used for civic, social and educational groups,” Keys said.
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Trustee Orris Ruth said that the Hampshire American Legion Post 680 is looking for a place to hold its meetings once a month.
Trustee Mike Reid suggested that the village board could hold one of its meetings there to welcome the school house to the community.
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter