June 26, 2006

To the Honorable Members of the

Illinois Senate

94th General Assembly

Pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(b) of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby veto

Senate Bill 2555, entitled “AN ACT concerning local government.”   Senate Bill 2555 provides a new mechanism for mosquito abatement districts to annex land.  However, the ramifications of the annexation will result in additional tax liability for the residents who are annexed into the mosquito abatement district without providing those residents with the ability to challenge the annexation and resulting tax increase. 

Current law already provides a mechanism by which voters may petition to have land added to a mosquito abatement district.  Although I recognize the importance of these districts, annexation resulting in an extension of taxes should be left to the voters and the voters should be given a process through which they can challenge such a tax extension.  Therefore, I will not consent to this change of the Mosquito Abatement District Act.

            For these reasons, I hereby veto and return Senate Bill 2555.

Sincerely,

ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH

Governor