JOLIET - Upcoming federal legislation, strategies to combat homelessness and the opioid crisis, and experience management were hot topics at a national conference for county officials in October. The 2017 Large Urban County Caucus Symposium (LUCC) is an annual gathering for leaders from counties with a population of 500,000 or more to share and brainstorm ideas with fellow county officials.
 
Will County Board Member and LUCC Vice-Chair Denise Winfrey (D-Joliet) attended on behalf of the Will County Board.
 
"As Vice-Chair of LUCC I had the pleasure of helping organize much of this year's symposium," said Winfrey, who helped emcee the event. "Our panels covered a number of topics and upcoming litigation that is affecting counties across the country, including Will County. In particular, the opioid crisis was a big topic of discussion for us."
 
LUCC is part of the National Association of Counties (NACo), and includes county executives, governing board members, and other senior elected officials. LUCC's mission is to address urban challenges and contribute to national policy discussions. A few topics discussed at this year's symposium include: Fiscal Forecast for Urban Counties; The Economics of Disaster: Achieving Mitigation and Ensuring Equality; and Accelerating Sustainable Social Change Through Impact Investing.
 
The symposium took place in Salt Lake County, Utah.
 
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JOLIET – The Will County Board has installed a new flag retirement box on the first floor of the Will County Building. The flag disposal box is the result of a partnership between the Board, the National Association of Counties, and the National Flag Foundation. Residents who wish to dispose of a flag should fold it respectfully before placing it in the box.
 
The United States Flag Code prescribes flag etiquette — everything from flying it near other flags to instructions on how to raise and lower it. It says: “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” 

​JOLIET-- Along with a group of local legislators from around the country, Will County board member and Chairman of the Finance Committee, Mike Fricilone (R-Homer Glen), testified on Capitol Hill this week in defense of the state and local tax (SALT) deduction.  Over 125,000 middle class families in Will County save an average of $2,000 per year through the SALT deduction.
 
"This deduction keeps taxes low for our middle class residents," Fricilone said. "The SALT deduction is not only for the wealthy or residents of high-tax states, as it is often portrayed."
 
Taxpayers who itemize deductions on their federal income tax are eligible for SALT deductions. Through it, taxpayers can deduct their state and local property taxes, and either state income taxes or general sales taxes. The Trump administration's proposed tax reform plan would eliminate the SALT deduction.
 
"Eliminating the SALT deduction would essentially double tax our residents on income," Fricilone said. "Ultimately, eliminating this deduction will only shift the cost to the local level, and put pressure on state and local revenue systems."
 
About one-third of people who file taxes itemize deductions on their federal income tax returns, virtually all of which claim SALT deductions. Nationwide, more than half of the total amount of SALT deductions goes to people with incomes of less than $200,000 annually. In Will County, 90 percent of taxpayers filing SALT deductions earn less than $200,000 annually. SALT deductions have been in place since 1913 and the inception of the federal income tax.
 
Other state and local organizations have lobbied against the elimination of the SALT deduction as well, such as National Governors Association, the United States Conference of Mayors, and the National Conference of State Legislatures, among others. Fricilone spoke in Washington on July 11 on behalf of the National Association of Counties (NACo). 

JOLIET, IL – Will County Board member Denise Winfrey (D-Joliet) has been selected to participate in the Healthy Counties Roundtable Discussion for the National Association of Counties (NACo) this April in Hartford, Connecticut.
 
 “I’m proud to represent Will County at this roundtable discussion,” said Winfrey. “I know access to and coverage by affordable healthcare is something many people are concerned about with potential changes to the healthcare system looming in the future. I will make sure to make the concerns of my constituents known at the national level.”