Make It Harder To Get Records: Western Springs Resolution

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – A Western Springs resolution calls for the state to enact measures that would make it harder to get public records.

Without discussion Monday, the Village Board unanimously endorsed the proposals of the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference for this year's legislative session. Western Springs is an associate member, although it is not in DuPage County.

Like last year, the conference is pushing to increase the response period for Freedom of Information Act requests.

Now, it is five business days, allowing reasons for extensions. The conference does not say what it would like the period to be.

The conference is also repeating its request for the state to let towns charge fees for electronic records, which are free now.

It also wants the state to address "burdensome" records requests for police body camera footage.

In a memo, the village said it agrees with the conference's goal to "promote transparency while preventing misuse of the system."

On another issue, the DuPage group is asking the state to increase towns' share of the state's income tax to 10 percent, up from 6.5 percent now.

The local share was 10 percent for decades until 2011.

"This per capita funding benefits all municipalities, returning locally generated tax revenue to support critical community services without raising taxes on residents and businesses," the conference said.