Skillicorn calls for end to Illinois Municipal League annual conference

EAST DUNDEE (Heartland Newsfeed) — Responding to a Daily Herald report detailing the cost to taxpayers, Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) recently called for an end to the Illinois Municipal League’s annual conference, according to a release from the lawmaker.

The conference, which took place from Sept. 21-23 at the Hilton Chicago, according to the event program, featured more than 50 sessions for municipal workers in fields ranging from finance and management to public safety and economic development.

According to the Daily Herald, an examination of 50 suburban governments’ financial records showed that those governments spend nearly $120,000 to send 151 people to the conference. That figure includes more than $63,000 on hotel costs, nearly $5,000 on food costs and just over $7,000 on parking and transportation. The Daily Herald highlighted the amount spent by each government, which varies from $12,856 by Round Lake Beach to $35 by Naperville.

“It is time for the Illinois Municipal League to end its taxpayer funded annual conference,” Skillicorn said in the release. “The venue is telling as the League gathered local officials to collude with lobbyists against taxpayers on the taxpayer’s dime in a city that is the worst example of public corruption and graft.”