Longmeadow Parkway is Now Open as a Toll-Free Crossing over the Fox River
It was three decades in the making and required strong by partisanship at the local, county, and state levels, but Longmeadow Parkway is now fully open with a toll-free bridge. This $205 million project includes 5.6 miles of road that connects Huntley/Boyer Road on the west to Rt. 62 on the east. It will also ease traffic congestion by providing another way for motorists to cross the Fox River.
I was proud to work collaboratively to obtain $30 million in state funding for the project to help eliminate the initial idea for a toll for the bridge. Longmeadow Parkway extends through Algonquin, Carpentersville, Barrington Hills, and Unincorporated Kane County. Thank you to every public official who was involved in bringing this wonderful project from conception to completion. Every one of you have my deepest appreciation.
Senator DeWitte and other Local Legislators Host Roundtable with Police and Fire Safety Leaders
Last week Senator Dave Syverson, State Representatives Jeff Keicher and Dan Ugaste and I partnered with the Elgin Community College Center for Emergency Services in Burlington for our annual First Responders Roundtable. More than 60 first responders from communities in Kane, McHenry, and DeKalb Counties participated in the discussion.
Our local police and firefighters have done a tremendous job adapting to the changes and challenges they have had to face in recent years, but it was clear during our discussions that we need to make changes at the state level to help our first responders deal with the staffing issues they’re facing.
The changes set in motion by the SAFE-T Act and the elimination of cash bail have continued to exacerbate staffing issues faced by many police and county sheriff departments, both in recruiting new officers and retaining officers nearing retirement. Retention of firefighters has also been a growing issue for many departments.
We also discussed the difficulties that many departments are facing to keep up with costly new mandates that have come down from the state. A core feature of this is cuts to some of the state grants many departments have relied on to comply with state mandates and meet other important operational needs.
Other topics discussed during the roundtable included the impact and difficulty of determining DUIs with legal cannabis, how lax penalties in state law for fleeing and eluding have led to more dangerous high-speed incidents on roadways, and how there has been an uptick in criminals using stolen license plates on stolen vehicles to mask theft.
Officers and firefighters from Batavia, Burlington, Carpentersville, Cortland, Crystal Lake, DeKalb, East and West Dundee, Elburn, Elgin, Elgin Community College, Geneva, Huntley, Illinois State Police, North Aurora, Pingree Grove, Rutland, Sleepy Hollow, South Elgin, St. Charles, Sugar Grove, Sycamore, Wayne, and from DeKalb, Kane, and McHenry Counties, and EMS from Tri-Com Central Dispatch were in attendance.
Tax Credits Available for Parents and Educators
With students back in the classroom and a new school year underway, the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is reminding eligible taxpayers that they may claim back-to-school expenses for their K-12 students on their 2024 individual income tax returns. With the high cost of living and taxes placing significant strain on working families, every bit of financial relief counts.
The Illinois Education Expense Credit allows parents or legal guardians of a full-time K-12 student under the age of 21 to take a 25% tax credit on qualified education expenses over $250, up to a maximum credit of $750. Eligible expenses include tuition, book rental, and lab fees paid to the school where the student is enrolled full-time. For families who homeschool, book rental and lab fees that exceed $250 also qualify, provided they are part of an approved home school program.
In addition to the credit for parents, Illinois also offers the K-12 Instructional Materials and Supplies Tax Credit for educators. Teachers, instructors, counselors, principals, and aides working in a qualified school for at least 900 hours during the school year can claim up to $500 for out-of-pocket expenses on classroom materials. For educator spouses filing jointly, the maximum credit doubles to $1,000.
Additional information regarding both tax credits may be found by visiting IDOR’s website at tax.illinois.gov and Pub-112, Education Expense Credit General Rules and Requirements for Schools, Home Schools, Parents, and Guardians.
Come to My Senior Fair This Week in Carpentersville!
I have a Senior Expo coming up this week on Thursday in Carpentersville and would invite all seniors and those who care for them to attend. We have about 50 vendors that will be on site and all cater to the needs of older Illinoisans. It is a free event and refreshments will be served. Here is a round-up of all of my upcoming events:
- September 5: Senior Expo: Dundee Township Rakow Center, 665 Barrington Ave, Carpentersville, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- September 9: IPASS on Demand: Algonquin Village Hall, 2200 Harnish Drive, Algonquin, 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- September 17: Senior Expo: St. Charles Pottawatomie Park (Community Center), 8 North Avenue, St. Charles, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- September 21: Shred Event: 1865 Andrew Blvd, Pingree Grove, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- September 24: I-CASH Unclaimed Property Day: Algonquin Village Hall, 2200 Harnish Drive, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- October 15: Senior Expo: Crystal Lake Park District Grand Oaks Building, 1401 W. Route 176, Crystal Lake, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Please visit the Events Page on my website to learn more about these and other events.
DeWitte Joins Local Lawmakers on Civic Engagement Panel at ECC
I always enjoy talking with our next generation of leaders, and on Monday I had the privilege of joining other local lawmakers as we spoke with over 100 students at Elgin Community College (ECC) who are interested in civic engagement. We had a great conversation about current issues that are important to emerging leaders and I sincerely appreciate the invite!
The Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) at ECC fosters the skills and experiences Elgin Community College students need to be thoughtful and engaged civic leaders on campus, in their communities, and in our democracy. The college’s CCE was launched last year and has been incredibly successful.
Senate Transportation Committee Meets at ECC to Receive Kane/McHenry Input on Transit Plan
As you may know, I am the ranking Republican on the Senate Transportation Committee. This summer we have been holding hearings in Cook County and across the collar counties to solicit input on a proposal to reform the regional transit system into one organization with one 18-member board.
Last week we were at Elgin Community College and received testimony from county board chairs, mayors, and other community leaders from Kane and McHenry Counties. I appreciate the large turnout and valuable testimony provided by the local and county officials.
These hearings are ongoing, with two more scheduled in the coming weeks.
Illinois Supreme Court Upholds Ruling Blocking Law That Limits Candidate Slating
The Illinois Supreme Court recently upheld a lower court’s ruling that blocked Senate Bill 2412, a controversial law signed by Governor Pritzker in May. I voted against the bill in the Senate. The bill aimed to halt the practice of slating candidates to fill ballot vacancies for the current election cycle, even as candidates were already collecting petition signatures and rearranging their lives to run for office. Republican lawmakers criticized the bill as an attempt to benefit Democratic incumbents and reduce voter choice in the upcoming election.
Governor Pritzker’s legislative allies petitioned the court to revisit the earlier ruling, but the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the lower court’s decision, declaring the law unconstitutional since it attempted to alter election rules after the election cycle had begun. If the law Pritzker signed had taken effect, it would have prevented numerous candidates from being placed on the ballot in the 2024 general election. The measure drew swift criticism from many, including good government advocates, who viewed it as a blatant power grab by Democratic lawmakers to give vulnerable incumbents an advantage in November.
Under the recent ruling, candidates who had collected the required number of petition signatures by the official deadline will now be placed on the ballot for voter consideration.