Dupage Policy Journal

DuPage County Legislative Committee met Dec. 10

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. CALL TO ORDER

11:30 AM meeting was called to order by Chair DeSart at 1:54 PM.

2. ROLL CALL

Staff in attendance: Jeremy Custer (Senior Advisor), Conor McCarthy (Assistant State's Attorney) and Treasurer Gwen Henry.

PRESENT Childress, DeSart, Galassi, and Garcia

EXCUSED Eckhoff, Honig, and Zay

ABSENT Ozog, and Schwarze

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

3.A. 24-3293

Legislative Minutes - Regular Meeting - Tuesday, October 8, 2024

RESULT: ACCEPTED

MOVER: Dawn DeSart

SECONDER: Paula Garcia

4. PUBLIC COMMENT

No public comments were offered.

5. CHAIR'S REMARKS - CHAIR DESART

Chair Dawn DeSart shared that the Legislative Breakfast would be on January 17th at 9am at Arrowhead Golf Club.

6. PRESENTATION

6.A. Presentation from the Treasurer's Office

Chair DeSart introduced and welcomed Treasurer Gwen Henry to discuss the unique situation she has encountered regarding property tax and determine if there is something the Legislative Committee can do by working with the General Assembly to remedy the situation.

Treasurer Henry presented a situation where the tax payer was incorrectly assessed in 2022 and this incorrect assessment was not identified until 2023. It was determined that the tax payer overpaid by $3,346.32. Because tax year 2022 was closed, the Treasurer is unable to refund the money. She is asking for the Legislative Committee to work with the General Assembly to include language that will allow DuPage to go back three years in correcting overpayment errors.

If there is a error in the assessment, the current law allows the county to go back three years if the county is over three million in population. DuPage does not meet the criteria. Treasurer Henry pointed out that other laws have included DuPage by adding the wording "if contiguous with a county with over three million in population." One example of this is the increase given for residential or senior exemptions on property tax this last year.

Treasurer Henry's second request was to use this same wording to lower the penalties/interest for late payment of property taxes.

Jeremy Custer agreed to work with the Treasurer's staff to discover what can be done.

7. LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMS

7.A. LEG-R-0005-24

Resolution to Adopt the County's 2025 State Legislative Program

Member Galassi would like to add to the "Keeping Our Communities Safe" section of the 2025 State Legislative Program to be stronger on pre-trial detainment. There was discussion surrounding the Safety Act and how it affects pre-trial detainment.

Jeremy Custer went over the 2025 State Legislative Program.

Member Galassi stated that she was voting affirmatively as long as amendments can be added to the "Keeping Our Communities Safe" section before or during County Board. Member Galassi had to leave after the vote.

Member Childress stated he would like to discuss the pros and cons of Home Rule. The committee agreed they would be interested in the same. The members voiced interest in the full Board being versed on the subject.

RESULT: APPROVED AT COMMITTEE

MOVER: Dawn DeSart

SECONDER: Paula Garcia

8. OLD BUSINESS

No old business was discussed.

9. NEW BUSINESS

No new business was discussed.

10. ADJOURNMENT

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:25 PM.

https://dupage.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=1244630&GUID=0DC6B349-854E-48AB-8DD7-45C6B9FACE15