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Community Corner

Rep. Sandack Partners on Bills to Improve Transparency and Accountability at the RTA

SPRINGFIELD….. State Representative Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) is partnering with State Representative Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) on a package of reform bills that would improve transparency and accountability for the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA).

 

The RTA is the financial and oversight body for Metra, Pace and the Chicago Transportation Authority (CTA), and Sandack and Tryon serve on the House of Representatives’ Mass Transit Committee, which has direct oversight responsibilities for RTA operations.

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“This is a comprehensive attempt to turn things around at the RTA and at the boards that oversee Metra, Pace and the CTA,” said Sandack. “The passage of these bills will help restore the public’s trust in these agencies by improving transparency and accountability.”

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The two lawmakers are partnering on 10 different bills that address RTA issues. If approved, the bills would:

 

·       Require public hearings on the RTA annual budget before the Mass Transit Committees in the House and Senate

·       Require the RTA to post budget and financial information on the agency’s website

·       Require the RTA to hold public hearings about the budget at least two weeks before the directors meet to consider adoption of the budget

·       Change the budget year of the RTA from a calendar year to a budget year that mirrors that of the State (July1-June30)

·       Require the RTA to submit a budget report annually to the Governor, to members of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) and to the General Assembly

·       Put new guidelines in place to ensure that board members for Metra, Pace and the CTA meet residency requirements and have backgrounds in the transportation, finance or urban or financial planning industries

·       Put restrictions in place for lobbying activities involving mass transit officials and board members

·       Put additional approval requirements in place for the award of bonuses that exceed 10% of an employee’s salary or a severance agreement that exceeds $50,000

“Ensuring that the RTA is conducting their financial business in an open and transparent way will go far in restoring people’s faith in our public transportation systems,” Sandack said. “Other measures, such as putting safeguards in place that prevent outrageous bonuses and severance agreements and making sure board members are qualified to serve will also address recent issues.”

 

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