Boone County Watchdog

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Woodstock: Illinois National Guard Delta Company Comes Home

We thank them and their families. Our prayers to the five who will not return and their loved ones.

South 'burbs show how it's done : SearchChicago Homes : News

south suburban group hopes to focus their efforts on communities that are also near transit and the Calumet River. Since there won't be enough funds to help the whole region, putting dollars where people can live near work or transit integrates a lot of good ideas.

So far, so good

The group has been told they made the first cut and are semi-finalists for some Neighborhood Stabilization Program cash, said Janice L. Morrissy, the south suburban housing collaborative's new director of housing initiatives. They should find out by the end of July funds are coming their way.

Click on the following for the rest of the story: South 'burbs show how it's done : SearchChicago Homes : News

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Daily Herald | Aurora approves voluntary layoffs for 37 employees

37 nonunion employees who applied before the July 24 deadline.

City treasurer and finance director Brian Caputo has estimated the move will result in a total savings of nearly $4 million in the city's 2010 budget.

The city has nearly 1,100 employees

Of the 37 who applied, 35 were eligible for retirement and all 37 are expected to accept the package.

The consolidation of departments and operations also is being considered, along with the possible elimination of services that are not essential.

Daily Herald | Aurora approves voluntary layoffs for 37 employees

By Year’s End, Benefit Lifeline to End for 1.5 Million Jobless - NYTimes.com

emergency extensions already enacted by Congress, laid-off workers in nearly half the states can collect benefits for up to 79 weeks, the longest period since the unemployment insurance program was created in the 1930s

In ordinary times, employers pay into a state insurance fund, and workers who lose jobs draw benefits for up to 26 weeks. During recessions, Congress has often paid for extended coverage for an extra 13 or even 20 weeks.

Currently, people can draw benefits for up to 79 weeks in 24 states and from 46 weeks to 72 weeks in others.

By Year’s End, Benefit Lifeline to End for 1.5 Million Jobless - NYTimes.com

The Belvidere Daily Republican. - Dear Editor:

Please write to your Congress men and women and tell them we need them to act now, in 2009, and that they should be worried about YOUR bottom line – not the insurance companies.

Click on the following for this letter to the editor: The Belvidere Daily Republican. - Dear Editor:

Friday, July 31, 2009

DuPage County: First County in Illinois to Supply Open Public Records for its checking account and other financial records

Transparency In Government—without Freedom of Information Requests

County Auditor Bob Grogan is pledged to provide the citizens and taxpayers of DuPage County with timely and pertinent information regarding the operations of DuPage County Government. To that end, the Auditor has made the individual expenditures of County funds available for public viewing. The data is available for the current year, December 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009[the current month], as well as several prior fiscal years. [DuPage County budget is $480,600,000]

Click on the following to see for yourself: http://www.dupageco.org/auditor/auditorReports/

Illinois Policy Institute - Who's Posting Expenditures Online in Illinois?

Here is a list of government organizations in Illinois which post all expenditures on line. You can click on the names in blue and review their numbers. Belvidere School District 100, for most months post their checks on line as well.

(Updated on February 4th, 2008)

City of Bloomington
City
$164,363,931

Bloomington Public Schools D87
School District

Bond Co. Community Unit School D2

School District
$5,031,675

Bourbonnais Elementary School D53

School District
$19,781,080

Bradley Bourbonnais Community High School D3
School District
$20,283,502

Village of Brookfield
Village
$21,627,492

Cary Community Consolidated School District 26
School District
$32,316,392

Community Unit School District 300- Carpentersville
School District
N/A

Champaign Community Unit School D4
School District
$99,799,256

Coal City Community Unit School D1
School District
$23,883,528

City of DeKalb
City
$29,005,032