3/14/2011 - TOPINKA ANNOUNCES LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADVISORY BOARD
Mayors, finance experts among 31-member statewide panel
CHICAGO - Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka on Monday announced a 31-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 will divide 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 |
