Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0479
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Full Text of HR0479  94th General Assembly

HR0479 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY


 


 
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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is currently
3 operating with a budget deficit of approximately $55 million,
4 according to the chairperson of the Chicago Transit Board, and
5 estimates have placed the 2005 deficit at up to $80 million;
6 and
 
7     WHEREAS, The Chicago Transit Authority has repeatedly
8 threatened that without adequate funding, the CTA will
9 drastically restructure its service by cutting 54 bus routes
10 and increasing fares; and
 
11     WHEREAS, On April 13, 2005, the Chicago Transit Board
12 approved plans to increase fares and reduce CTA service by up
13 to 36%, beginning July 17th, unless the General Assembly
14 provides sufficient funds to address the 2005 CTA operating
15 budget deficit; and
 
16     WHEREAS, The CTA is seeking in excess of $55 million in
17 funding from the General Assembly for the 2005 CTA operating
18 budget; and
 
19      WHEREAS, The Metropolitan Transit Authority Pension Fund,
20 the pension system for the employees of the CTA, is underfunded
21 and CTA officials predict the Pension Fund could be bankrupt by
22 2014; and
 
23     WHEREAS, All public entities have a responsibility to
24 manage public funds with the highest level of efficiency and to
25 eliminate waste and mismanagement; and
 
26     WHEREAS, The office of the Auditor General of Illinois is
27 highly respected throughout Illinois for the thoroughness,
28 fairness, and non-partisan manner in which it conducts audits
29 of governmental entities; and
 

 

 

HR0479 - 2 - LRB094 12476 BDD 46946 r

1     WHEREAS, The Auditor General is recognized as an authority
2 upon whom the General Assembly can rely for audits that provide
3 information that is beneficial during legislative
4 deliberations about budgets, appropriations, efficiency of
5 programs, and budget savings achievable through improved
6 management; therefore, be it
 
7     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
8 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
9 the members of the House of Representatives direct the Auditor
10 General to immediately conduct financial, compliance, and
11 performance audits of the CTA, including, without limitation,
12 CTA operations, including the Brown Line Capacity Expansion
13 Program, pensions, and capital programs; and be it further
 
14     RESOLVED, That the Auditor General, in these audit reports,
15 advise the General Assembly concerning the severe cuts in CTA
16 service and the increased CTA fares recently approved by the
17 Chicago Transit Board; and be it further
 
18     RESOLVED, That the Auditor General address in these audit
19 reports to what extent the CTA is adversely affected by
20 mismanagement or inefficiencies and that, if corrected, to what
21 extent the improvements would result in budget savings for the
22 CTA; and be it further
 
23     RESOLVED, That the Auditor General's audit reports
24 concerning the CTA be submitted to the General Assembly and the
25 Governor; and be it further
 
26     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
27 delivered to the Auditor General, the Legislative Audit
28 Commission, the Chicago Transit Board, and the Regional
29 Transportation Authority.