State Comptroller talks about the state budget and economy with local mayors

Your state comptroller doesn’t have a vote in Springfield but, as she puts it, she has a large megaphone. Republican Leslie Geissler Munger is settling into her new position of Illinois Comptroller. She visited Starved Rock Lodge Tuesday to talk to a couple of local mayors and reporters about the state’s economy and Governor Bruce Rauner’s budget proposal.

Rauner has proposed cutting funding for local governments. Spring Valley Mayor Walt Marini made it clear to Munger that his town needs every dollar it receives from the state.  Marini says Spring Valley is an older community and is already taxed enough.

Peru Mayor Scott Harl also urged Munger to bring that message back to Springfield.  Harl says Peru stands to lose $500,000 is funding.

Munger says the budget proposed by Rauner last week was just a starting point. She says the state has $8 million in unpaid bills, but she believes Rauner’s policies will turn things around for Illinois.

Peru mayor wants council to pick a medical pot company to endorse

Medical marijuana cultivation centers use a tremendous amount of electricity which is why Peru Mayor Scott Harl thinks it is time the city council endorse one of the four companies applying to the State Department of Agriculture.  Harl says the companies will be judged on a weighted system with an endorsement makes up 16% of their score.

State Police District 17 will only have one cultivation center and not all of the applicants want to develop in Peru. Four companies would open in Peru and so far only one of them has actually received the special use permit that’s required.

The deadline for companies to apply is September 22. Harl says the last chance the city council has to make an endorsement is September 8.