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On February 26th, Governor Pritzker in his State of the State and Budget Address proposed that Illinois take steps to permanently eliminate the 1% sales tax on groceries which are collected from grocery receipts by the state, then transferred to local governments within each jurisdiction from which the taxes were raised. The cancellation of this tax would amount to an estimated loss of approximately $325 million statewide that directly impacts municipalities, including those in the Southland. Local mayors immediately questioned whether the Governor was also proposing a transfer of a like amount of General Revenue Funds to offset the loss as he did in 2022 when the state established its temporary Grocery Tax Holiday. The rationale then was to reduce the impact on household budgets but not reduce the level of revenues distributed to municipalities which would severely impact their ability to deliver essential services to residents and businesses. Unfortunately, the Governor has not proposed a revenue “swap” this time. In short, municipalities are being told they’ll have to figure out a way to do without, cut costs, or make it up another way. Here in the Southland, which is not “the land of plenty”, this means municipalities are again being told they will have to find a way to operate and provide services to constituents with less. Passing along the costs to taxpayers is a no-win situation. Many of the south suburbs have some of the highest tax burdens in the state and perhaps the country, which impacts the desirability of the community as a whole. With that backdrop, municipal leaders have been told they’ll now have to find a way to pay down escalating public safety pension obligations; deliver increasingly costly public services- snow removal, garbage pick up, road maintenance and public works activities, water, sewage, and more; address growing public safety needs and support current staff salaries, including police and fire personnel; tackle necessary public infrastructure projects- water, sewer, roads, bridges, broadband and other critical local projects—which was already extraordinarily difficult on limited budgets—with less. This is untenable. Mayors, Managers, Stakeholders: contact your legislators in the Illinois House of Representatives and Illinois Senate to let them know how a reduction in Grocery Tax revenues, without a commensurate amount of General Revenue Funds as replacement, is unconscionable to communities like those in the Southland that have faced historic inequity, divestment, job loss, high property taxes and poor collection rates. Southland communities should be made whole on any loss of revenues that impact municipal stability and local quality of life. Illinois Municipal League Grocery Tax Resources

The Village of Matteson is seeking an exceptional candidate to fill the position of Planner. This position is under the general supervision of the Director of Community Development. The Planner performs a variety of routine and complex administrative, technical, and professional work in the current and long-range planning programs of the Village, related to the implementation of land use and related municipal plans and policies. The Planner is responsible for assisting with the administration of the Village’s Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan as well as Permit Plan Review and Zoning Certificate Letters. The ideal candidate is required to have a Bachelor’s degree in Land Use Planning, Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture or a closely related field, with four years of experience in municipal planning or any equivalent combination of education and experience. An AICP (American Institute of Certified Planner) Certification is required. Successful applicants will be required to undergo a background check, drug screening and physical at the expense of the Village. The position offers a competitive compensation package. To apply to this posting, complete the Employment Application beginning on the next page. A complete job description follows the application. The completed application along with resume and cover letter should be submitted no later than March 30, 2024. Only viable candidates will be contacted. Download the complete job description below.

The Village of Matteson is seeking an exceptional candidate to fill the position of Director of Economic Development. This position reports to the Village Administrator and has a primary function of identifying growth opportunities and building strategic partnerships to expand the growth of Matteson’s tax base and increase jobs. This position will also manage and develop effective new ideas and innovative marketing strategies to advance the Village’s brand and increase communication platforms to inform stakeholders and residents about activities and accomplishments of the Village. The ideal candidate is required to have a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Economic Development, or a closely related field. A Master’s degree and a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation is desired. To be given consideration, you must have a minimum of five (5) to seven (7) years of experience in economic development, municipal zoning and infrastructure. You must also have extensive and proven experience in Tax Increment Financing and other incentive programs. Working knowledge of MS Office with the ability to work well in a team environment; strong sense of professionalism and discretion required. The starting salary for this position is commensurate with experience. Successful applicants will be required to undergo a background check, drug screening, and physical at the expense of the Village. To apply to this posting, complete the Employment Application beginning on the next page. The completed application along with resume and cover letter should be submitted to the address below, no later than March 30, 2024. A job description of this position follows the application. Download the complete job description below.

Cook County government is hiring for several positions. Download the complete job descriptions at the links below. Senior Legal Counsel - Human Resources Labor Liason Officer Hearing Officer Manager of Labor Relations

The Village of Thornton, IL is seeking a highly motivated and energetic individual to fill the position of Village Administrator.  Candidates looking for either an interim or permanent position are encouraged to apply. Ideal candidates should possess skills in a variety of duties associated with the position, including but not limited to: Providing direct supervision and leadership to Village Department Heads; strong understanding of municipal budgeting and fiscal management; economic development; labor relations and personnel management. The successful candidate will need to be an excellent communicator and have an approachable demeanor when interacting with elected officials, local business owners and residents. Strong writing and comprehension skills are also required. A bachelor’s degree in public administration or related field is required along with 10 years of management experience. A Master’s degree or other advanced degree is preferred with minimal management experience. Residency is not required. Starting salary range is $80,000 - $95,000 DOQ. The Village also provides a benefit package that includes BC/BS health, dental and vision insurance and participates in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. Position provides tremendous opportunity for professional growth. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and a list of three references by March 29, 2024 to Joseph Pisarzewski, 115 E. Margaret St. Thornton, IL 60476.

The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is a nonprofit organization that works on local government public policy issues to improve the quality of life for residents in the region. The Caucus currently has an exciting career opportunity for someone to serve as a full-time Energy Efficiency Outreach Specialist in the Environmental Initiatives division. The ideal candidate is dedicated to collaborating with local governments, community partners, and individuals to create awareness and connect residents to energy efficiency programs, particularly home energy assessments, to maximize participation in these programs. This Energy Efficiency Outreach Specialist position will focus primarily on the residential Home Energy Savings program, which is offered by ComEd, Peoples Gas/North Shore Gas, and Nicor Gas. How to Apply Please fill out a brief application and submit your resume, cover letter, and optional writing samples through our website by March 10th at: https://metropolitanmayorscaucus.submittable.com/submit Please note that in the Submittable website, we will not see your application until you click on “Submit” at the end. If you choose “Save Draft,” the draft will only be visible to you. Download the complete job description below.

The Village of Matteson is seeking an exceptional candidate to fill the position of Director of Economic Development. This position reports to the Village Administrator and has a primary function of identifying growth opportunities and building strategic partnerships to expand the growth of Matteson’s tax base and increase jobs. This position will also manage and develop effective new ideas and innovative marketing strategies to advance the Village’s brand and increase communication platforms to inform stakeholders and residents about activities and accomplishments of the Village. The ideal candidate is required to have a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Economic Development, or a closely related field. A Master’s degree and a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation is desired. To be given consideration, you must have a minimum of five (5) to seven (7) years of experience in economic development, municipal zoning and infrastructure. You must also have extensive and proven experience in Tax Increment Financing and other incentive programs. Working knowledge of MS Office with the ability to work well in a team environment; strong sense of professionalism and discretion required. The starting salary for this position is commensurate with experience. Successful applicants will be required to undergo a background check, drug screening and physical at the expense of the Village. To apply to this posting, complete the Employment Application. The completed application along with resume and cover letter should be submitted to jlperry@villageofmatteson.org, no later than March 18, 2024. Link to job posting and application here.

The Village of Matteson is seeking an exceptional candidate to fill the position of Planner. This position is under the general supervision of the Director of Community Development. The Planner performs a variety of routine and complex administrative, technical, and professional work in the current and long-range planning programs of the Village, related to the implementation of land use and related municipal plans and polices. The Planner is responsible for assisting with the administration of the Village’s Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan as well as Permit Plan Review and Zoning Certificate Letters. A complete job description follows the application. The completed application along with resume and cover letter should be submitted no later than March 5, 2024. Only viable candidates will be contacted. Download the complete job description below.