Local Government Advisory Board.

Topinka Taps Local Leaders for Counsel

TOPINKA ANNOUNCES LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADVISORY BOARD

Mayors, finance experts among 30-member statewide panel

CHICAGO - Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka has announced a 30-member Advisory Board to consult with her on issues related to local government and develop an overview of the spending practices of the more than 8,000 units of government in the state.

Required by Illinois statute, the Local Government Advisory Board also will serve as a resource for local officials. Previous boards have assisted the Office in developing fiscal stress indicators, creating a fiscal responsibility report card, and in making modifications to the Annual Finance Report that local governments file with the Comptroller.

“These leaders represent communities throughout the state, and their insight will be invaluable in further strengthening local government operations,” Topinka said. “I am grateful that they are willing to serve, and I look forward to working closely with them to ensure sound fiscal management of tax dollars.”

The complete Advisory Board will be meeting for the first time this spring, and then in smaller groups on a regular basis. Topinka divided the larger group into four subcommittees – finance, legislation, technology, and training – to encourage greater participation and discussion among Board members.

Members of the Board serve in an advisory capacity and may submit recommendations to the Comptroller regarding local government finances at any time. Board positions are non-paid, though members are reimbursed for reasonable expenses tied to the role.

In the coming year, Topinka will work with the group to encourage entities to file their annual financial reports electronically, and to provide specialized educational and training programs to assist in that effort.

Topinka welcomed the following members to the Board:

Linda Abernethy West Chicago McGladrey & Pullen
Arnel Alvarez Itasca Abbott Laboratories
TJ Blakeman Champaign City of Champaign
Mayor Frederic Brereton Belvidere City of Belvidere
Mayor Jim Burke Dixon City of Dixon
Jeffrey Byrne Elmhurst Abbott Laboratories
Mayor Peter DiCianni Elmhurst City of Elmhurst
Mark Donovan Springfield Illinois National Bank
Mayor Robert Eschbach Ottawa City of Ottawa
John Eyth Jacksonville Zubahlen, Eyth, Surratt, Foote & Flynn, Ltd.
Mayor Mike Garvey Brookfield Village of Brookfield
Mayor Gary Graham O’Fallon City of O’Fallon
Jeanne Gustafson Centralia City of Centralia
Tom Henderson Springfield Illinois Tax Increment Association
Elida Hernandez Chicago Catholic Charities
Irwin Lyons Deerfield Miller Cooper & Company, LTD
Adrian Madunic Moline U.S. Congressman Bobby Schilling
Anne Masters Springfield Illinois Municipal League
President Dan McLaughlin Orland Park Village of Orland Park
Keith Moran Edwardsville Moran Economic Development
Mayor Larry Morrissey Rockford City of Rockford
Chris Mower Springfield Crowe Horwath LLP
Auditor Paul Palazzolo Springfield Sangamon County
Frank Paul Wilmette ABILITA
Steve Powell Rosemont UFCW Local 881
Pat Rea Tinley Park Village of Tinley Park
Justin Reichert Springfield Stratton, Giganti, Stone, Moran & Radkey
David Selzer Northfield Community Health Charities of Illinois
Commissioner Peter Silvestri Elmwood Park Cook County
Bryan Smith Springfield Township Officials of Illinois
Mike Weber St. Louis PGAV
David Zimmerman Morton Tazewell County

 

The Local Government Advisory Board is a 30-member advisory board created by Illinois statute. Since its inception in 1993, the Local Government Advisory Board has served to advise the Comptroller on issues related to local government finances and assist in the development of an overview of the spending practices of Illinois’ more than 8,000 units of local government. The board also provides assistance to local government officials. This board shall serve the Comptroller in an advisory capacity, but may at any time, by his request or at its own initiative, submit to the Comptroller any recommendations concerning the administration of local governmental finances. Members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

Local Government Advisory Board Projects:

  • Monitoring and forwarding legislation to the Comptroller regarding local governments
  • Drafting administrative rules
  • Developing and implementing an Audit Checklist - to evaluate local government audits, ensuring compliance with governmental accounting standards
  • Developing and assisting with the Local Government Education & Training Conferences
  • Improving the Fiscal Responsibility Report Card & creating the Individual Data Summary
  • Reviewing and expanding Comptroller Connect Internet Filing
  • Drafting and editing the Annual Financial Report [AFR] & assisting in the development of the Short & Abbreviated Forms