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Chicago Tribune: Metra board passes 2019 budget that includes no fare hike
Metra’s board on Wednesday passed a 2019 budget without a fare hike, though railroad officials warned that increases could be necessary in 2020 and 2021.
The board approved an $822.2 million operating budget and a $185.6 million capital budget for next year at its regular monthly meeting. The board had voted two months ago against a fare hike, saying additional money for operations and new equipment should instead come from the state.
Chicago Sun-Times: Preckwinkle probe sought: Republican wants scrutiny of pivot on aide allegations
A day after Toni Preckwinkle adjusted the timeline of when she says she first heard claims of questionable behavior by a top aide, political opponents slammed the Cook County Board President for not taking swifter action.
State Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, introduced a House resolution Friday calling on the County Board to investigate Preckwinkle’s “egregious” six-month delay between when Preckwinkle says “an unsubstantiated rumor” was brought to her attention, and when she forced her chief of staff John Keller to resign.
Chicago Sun-Times: Ex-state Sen. Althoff backed bill that her lobbying client would benefit from
Last spring, then-state Sen. Pam Althoff voted for a bill backed by Enterprise and other rental car companies to impose regulations and taxes on car-sharing services that are gaining popularity, especially with young adults.
Althoff, a McHenry County Republican, was one of the sponsors of the measure, which passed the General Assembly at the end of May but was vetoed Aug. 28 by Gov. Bruce Rauner, who said it would “squelch” progress and innovation.
Daily Herald: Naperville ends serving limits at breweries
Restrictions on breweries and specialty wine shops in Naperville have been lifted or loosened, meaning it’s now possible for customers to drink more during each visit to places such as Solemn Oath Brewery or Tasting deVine Cellars.
The city has eliminated all restrictions on how many drinks breweries can serve to a patron during a visit; it previously had set that limit at three.
Daily Herald: District 211 sets 2.4 percent increase in proposed tax levy
Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 board members voted 6-1 Thursday to set the proposed property tax levy for the year 2.4 percent higher than last year after also being informed of their ability to apply for a new property tax relief grant from the state.
The administration’s recommended $228.7 million levy represents a 2.1 percent increase based on the rate of inflation, plus another 0.3 percent from new construction within the district.
Peoria Journal-Star: Peoria County Board passes balanced budget; salutes three departing members
Thursday’s Peoria County Board session was notable not just because a balanced county budget was passed but also as the last meeting for three of its members.
The board approved a $125 million budget for 2019 by a 14-2 margin, with Brian Elsasser and Gregory Adamson voting no.
The Southern: SIU moves forward in search for new president, Carbondale chancellor
Southern Illinois University Carbondale should have an interim chancellor within about a month, according to SIU Interim President J. Kevin Dorsey and the SIU board of trustees, who met in Carbondale Friday to plan the selection process.
The chosen chancellor will be looking at an interim appointment of 18 to 24 months, leading the Carbondale campus as SIU does national-level searches for a new system president and a new, permanent SIUC chancellor.