TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF DECEMBER 19, 2024
COMMITTEE ON STATE LEGISLATION AND RULES
The Honorable Kari K. Steele, President and Members of the Board of Commissioners
Title
Recommendations for the State of Illinois 2025 Legislative Program (As Revised)
Body
I respectfully submit the following legislative initiatives and recommendations to the Board of Commissioners for their consideration and guidance.
Legislative Initiative No. 1
Amend the District Act to increase the amount of debt that can be issued through bonds for a given year, from $150,000,000 to $250,000,000. 70 ILCS 2605/9.6a currently limits the amount of debt that the District can issue in a given year to $150,000,000. This amount has not been increased since 2003 and the cost of construction projects and related materials have increased significantly since the last increase.
The Treasury Department’s initial analysis using the consumer price index from 2004 through 2024 would result in the District’s current $150,000,000 annual bond limit being $256,202,342 in 2024. Aging infrastructure, combined with more stringent NPDES permit limits and potential costs for PFAS removal, strongly support the District’s need for additional financial capacity through the ability to issue more debt on an annual basis, thus necessitating this change to statute.
Legislative Initiative No. 2
Amend the District Act by adding the word “aides,” to describe those employees working directly for individual commissioners. Currently, employees who work directly for commissioners are referred to in statute as “secretaries.”
Adding the word “aide,” will more accurately reflect the position.
Legislative Initiative No. 3
Amend the Illinois Environmental Protection Act to ensure wastewater reuse can be utilized for industrial purposes. While Illinois law relative to water reuse is complex and varied, this limited change to 415 ILCS 5/12.7 would be a positive first step towards encouraging the industrial reuse of treated municipal wastewater from publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) in Illinois.
Legislative Initiative No. 4
Amend the Illinois Environmental Protection Act to create a statewide PFAS Trust Fund to reimburse POTWs for PFAS expenses. This initiative would require PFAS “manufacturers” to fund a trust to reimburse all direct and indirect PFAS related costs incurred by POTWs, including the District, and drinking water utilities.
As this is a statewide initiative and issue, it is recommended that the Illinois Association of Wastewater Agencies (IAWA) take the lead on PFAS related legislation on behalf of all POTWS.
Legislative Initiative No. 5
Identify opportunities to support legislation pertaining to the following concepts: Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) utilization; water reuse and PFAS.
It is anticipated that legislation may be introduced in the Illinois General Assembly (ILGA) 2025 spring session pertaining to the above-referenced concepts. The Board has identified these concepts as being important policy considerations in which the District should seek opportunities to engage and support legislation that may be consistent with the District’s statutory mission pertaining to wastewater, stormwater, resource recovery and related services.
It is recommended that the District support these legislative initiatives in concept subject to staff review of actual bill language filed in the ILGA. If such bills are filed in the ILGA and it's the will of the Board, a future Board letter would be brought forward recommending support of specific bills.
Legislative Initiative No. 6
Amend the District Act to create the position of Deputy Executive Director. The justifications for this new position include observing that the Executive Director oversees nine departments and reports to nine Board members and adding a Deputy Executive Director would allow for a more streamlined delegation and managing of day-to-day operations.
Recommended, Brian A. Perkovich, Executive Director, BAP:STM:BO’C:nl
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for December 19, 2024