More Taxes to Help Police

By Sean Stillmaker in News on Jun 12, 2010 2:30PM

Legislators have scrambled for solutions over the state’s looming budget cuts. Gov. Quinn’s $55 billion budget blueprint for the fiscal year beginning July 1 would reduce the Illinois State Police force by nearly a quarter and close five of the 21 district offices. A bill passed by the Illinois General Assembly to increase revenue for the state police is sitting on Quinn’s desk. New fees paid by guilty defendants or those granted supervision for felony, traffic, misdemeanor or local ordinance violations is a partial revenue solution and could help prevent the cuts to many of the officers slated to be laid off. The proceeds will go directly to a new fund specifically for the Illinois State Police. “It will generate approximately $22 million a year,” Rep. Jim Sacia, R-Pecatonica told Illinois Statehouse News.

The budget axe would lay off 464 troopers of the state’s 2,021 force. District offices set for closure are Carmi, Litchfield, Des Plaines, Pecatonica and Macomb. The results can be longer response times, increase in traffic fatalities, illegal trafficking and an estimated loss of $12 million in citation revenue, according to the Daily Vidette. Additionally, the Chicago Police Department might be forced to patrol 53 miles of Chicago area expressways - when they are already burdened with higher priorities and a shortage of manpower, the Sun Times reported.