Mayor gets 22% salary increase

According to this Morris Daily Herald article, the mayor will be getting a whopping salary increase. Not only does the mayor's salary go from $68,798 to $71,550, he also will receive an additional salary of $15,000 for being "liquor commissioner." Being liquor commissioner is part of the statutory duties of being mayor. Hasn't this always been considered part of the job? This amounts to $17,752 over the current salary, or 22%.

The move was spearheaded by alderman Brian Feeney.

Change in TIF law threatens downtown Morris businesses

House Bill 773 is advancing through the legislative process, on its way to becoming law.  

According to the Illinois Enterprise Zone Association, HB-773 will expand the Prevailing Wage law to include nearly every construction and renovation project in TIF districts, and will require Prevailing Wage even for even those undertaken by private businesses.  

In plain English, businesses and property owners in TIF districts will be required to pay union scale wages anytime work is done on their building or equipment.

According to the Illinois Enterprise Zone Association, the result will be a massive escalation of cost for virtually all work done by private businesses in TIF Districts. 

Read the article from the Illinois Enterprise Zone Association here.

Follow the progress of the bill here.