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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, A school treasurer is the only lawful custodian of
3school funds and is responsible for all receipts,
4disbursements, and investments of school funds; and
 
5    WHEREAS, For most school districts across the State, each
6school board appoints a member of the school board as treasurer
7for a term of one year or the board appoints a non-member to
8serve as treasurer; and
 
9    WHEREAS, However, the trustees of schools in Cook County
10appoint a township treasurer to serve as the treasurer for all
11schools located within the township; and
 
12    WHEREAS, If a school district wants to withdraw from the
13jurisdiction of the township treasurer, they must either seek
14legislative approval from the General Assembly or go through a
15lengthy process that includes approval from each school board
16under the jurisdiction of the township treasurer and a
17referendum approved by the voters; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Over time, the General Assembly has exempted seven
19school districts from having to go through the lengthy
20withdrawal process in order to no longer be under the
21jurisdiction of the township treasurer in the Proviso and

 

 

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1Cicero Townships; and
 
2    WHEREAS, In 2012, a Better Government Association's
3investigation into the financial practices of the Lyons
4Township Treasurer's Office revealed that the township
5treasurer had been pilfering township funds for his own use;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, Many school districts in Lyons Township would like
8to withdraw from the jurisdiction and authority of the township
9treasurer because they believe they can appoint a treasurer to
10provide the same duties at a lower cost; however, they have
11been unsuccessful in withdrawing from the jurisdiction of the
12township treasurer's office as of yet; and
 
13    WHEREAS, It is essential for the General Assembly to fully
14understand the duties of the township treasurer's offices to
15ensure they are still a necessary component of the public
16school system in Cook County; therefore, be it
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
18HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
19there is created the Review of the Township Treasurer's Office
20Task Force to study the efficacy of the township treasurer's
21offices and to determine if they provide adequate services to
22the school districts in which they serve; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That the Task Force will consist of the following
2members:
3        (1) Four members appointed by the Speaker of the House;
4    and
5        (2) Four members appointed by the Minority Leader of
6    the House;
 
7    RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall elect
8amongst themselves a chairperson; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall call upon current and
10past township treasurers, school finance experts, and current
11and past school administrators in districts under the
12jurisdiction of township treasurers to provide testimony and
13expertise to the Task Force; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That the Illinois State Board of Education shall
15provide administrative and other support to the Task Force; and
16be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall meet at the request of
18the chairperson, but shall meet no less than four times prior
19to December 31, 2019; and be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall present its findings to

 

 

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1the General Assembly no later than December 31, 2019; and be it
2further
 
3    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall be dissolved after
4submitting its findings to the General Assembly.