2026 Legislative Priorities

The Village Board has outlined its 2026 Legislative Priorities focusing on four guiding principles: opposing unfunded mandates, protecting local authority, preserving the municipal tax base, and defending home rule. Key infrastructure priorities include funding for the SW Highway/143rd Street project (estimated $46.6 million), safety improvements at the 94th Avenue & 159th Street intersection ($6 million), and a new I-80 interchange. They also seek funding for an athletic facility and senior center, and traffic studies for 159th Street ($1 million total).

Financially, the Village aims to restore the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) to alleviate property taxes, having lost over $50 million since 2011. They also advocate for sustainable public pensions and continued funding for local services and grants. Other priorities include modernizing public notices to online formats, seeking brownfield remediation assistance for the former Andrew Corporation property, preserving tax increment financing authority, and reforming regional transit to restore local parking requirement authority.

Public safety initiatives include increased funding for body cameras, training, and less lethal equipment. They also propose amending the Illinois Freedom of Information Act to prevent commercial exploitation of body camera footage and allow reasonable fees for extensive redaction, alongside increased penalties for fleeing drivers and funding for emergency preparedness.

Residents can expect the Village to advocate for reduced property taxes through state funding restoration and to push for significant infrastructure improvements like the SW Highway/143rd Street project. The Village also seeks to maintain local control over development and public safety measures.

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