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HR0479 |
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LRB094 12476 BDD 46946 r |
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| HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is currently |
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| operating with a budget deficit of approximately $55 million, |
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| according to the chairperson of the Chicago Transit Board, and |
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| estimates have placed the 2005 deficit at up to $80 million; |
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| and
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| WHEREAS, The Chicago Transit Authority has repeatedly |
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| threatened that without adequate funding, the CTA will |
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| drastically restructure its service by cutting 54 bus routes |
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| and increasing fares; and |
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| WHEREAS, On April 13, 2005, the Chicago Transit Board |
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| approved plans to increase fares and reduce CTA service by up |
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| to 36%, beginning July 17th, unless the General Assembly |
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| provides sufficient funds to address the 2005 CTA operating |
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| budget deficit; and
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| WHEREAS, The CTA is seeking in excess of $55 million in |
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| funding from the General Assembly for the 2005 CTA operating |
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| budget; and |
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| WHEREAS, The Metropolitan Transit Authority Pension Fund, |
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| the pension system for the employees of the CTA, is underfunded |
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| and CTA officials predict the Pension Fund could be bankrupt by |
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| 2014; and |
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| WHEREAS, All public entities have a responsibility to |
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| manage public funds with the highest level of efficiency and to |
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| eliminate waste and mismanagement; and |
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| WHEREAS, The office of the Auditor General of Illinois is |
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| highly respected throughout Illinois for the thoroughness, |
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| fairness, and non-partisan manner in which it conducts audits |
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| of governmental entities; and |
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HR0479 |
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LRB094 12476 BDD 46946 r |
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| WHEREAS, The Auditor General is recognized as an authority |
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| upon whom the General Assembly can rely for audits that provide |
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| information that is beneficial during legislative |
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| deliberations about budgets, appropriations, efficiency of |
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| programs, and budget savings achievable through improved |
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| management; therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE |
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| NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that |
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| the members of the House of Representatives direct the Auditor |
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| General to immediately conduct financial, compliance, and |
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| performance audits of the CTA, including, without limitation, |
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| CTA operations, including the Brown Line Capacity Expansion |
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| Program, pensions, and capital programs; and be it further |
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| RESOLVED, That the Auditor General, in these audit reports, |
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| advise the General Assembly concerning the severe cuts in CTA |
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| service and the increased CTA fares recently approved by the |
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| Chicago Transit Board; and be it further |
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| RESOLVED, That the Auditor General address in these audit |
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| reports to what extent the CTA is adversely affected by |
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| mismanagement or inefficiencies and that, if corrected, to what |
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| extent the improvements would result in budget savings for the |
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| CTA; and be it further
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| RESOLVED, That the Auditor General's audit reports |
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| concerning the CTA be submitted to the General Assembly and the |
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| Governor; and be it further
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| RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be |
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| delivered to the Auditor General, the Legislative Audit |
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| Commission, the Chicago Transit Board, and the Regional |
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| Transportation Authority.
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