State Treasurers Office One Step Closer To Elimination

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by Thelma Sardin

Last week, the Illinois Senate approved a bill sponsored by State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) to eliminate the Illinois State Treasurers office. The resolution, formally entitled, Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 13 (SJRCA-13) is expected to save taxpayers $12 million a year. The legislation was approved overwhelmingly with a 55-0 vote.

SJRCA-13 is now moving to the Illinois House for a vote. The need for separate offices is no longer existent, Senator Raoul said. As we look for various ways to make our state financially efficient, this is an important step toward that goal.

The current actions stems from Sen. Raouls efforts to consolidate the offices of State Treasurer and State Comptroller during the previous legislative session, according to a recent press release.

Sen. Raoul has worked directly with State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka and Senate Republicans to advance the reform measure, the release stated.

The Illinois Radio Network reports that Treasurer Rutherford and Comptroller Topinka campaigned together on the idea of consolidating both offices last year.

Comptroller Topinka released the following statement after the bills passage.

Members of the Senate did the right thing for Illinois and its taxpayers today by voting to consolidate the states fiscal offices and I appreciate Senator Raouls work to move the bill forward. Consolidation of the offices of Comptroller and Treasurer will improve efficiency, save on personnel and office costs, and deliver the long-term benefit of more timely state investments. In all, it will save the state an estimated $12 million annually without sacrificing services, and there is absolutely no reason for further delay.

If the resolution passes the Illinois House, it will be eligible to be placed on the 2012 election ballot as a constitutional amendment.

If the resolution is approved by voters, it will create one office the Comptroller of the Treasury and will be on the ballot in the next statewide election in 2014.

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