Latest news with #IllinoisMunicipalLeague
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aurora Chief Management Officer Alex Alexandrou to retire
After working at the city of Aurora under four different mayors, Chief Management Officer Alex Alexandrou is heading to retirement. Alexandrou, who is in his 25th year of working at the city and 34th year in the public sector, will serve out his last day working at the city on May 13. That's the day Mayor-elect John Laesch, alongside newly-elected and reelected members of the Aurora City Council, are set to be sworn into office. 'I think it's time,' he said when asked why he is retiring. 'I've been doing this a long time.' The job can be 'quite a pressure cooker at times,' he said, which 'casual observers of local government may not understand.' His current job, which has basically been to be the city's manager, has been a 24/7 position, he said. It's the relationships, both with other city staffers and with colleagues in other communities, that Alexandrou said he will miss most about working at the city of Aurora. The city has been fortunate to be part of the Illinois Municipal League and the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference, which has 'done a lot of great work together as a group effort,' he said. But Alexandrou will also miss the 'certain energy and adrenaline' when responding to a crisis or when a task needs to be done quickly, he said. That's because he is still a risk manager at heart, he said, which is the job he was first hired for at the city of Aurora. It was former Mayor David Stover who hired Alexandrou as the city's first-ever risk manager, and he also asked Alexandrou to be the interim human resources director in the last 18 months of his administration. Alexandrou was then formally appointed to lead the human resources department under former Mayor Tom Weisner, who was elected after Stover. The city went through a significant reorganization because of the 2008 recession, Alexandrou said, and so he ended up as the head of the city's administrative services department. He served in that position, managing city operations like HR, the city clerk, IT and more, until he was given his current job as chief management officer by Mayor Richard Irvin in 2017. 'I'm eternally grateful to all the mayors I've worked for,' Alexandrou said. At an event honoring outgoing Mayor Irvin and many from the mayor's office on Tuesday night, Irvin said that without Alexandrou, his big ideas would have been nothing but words on a piece of paper. 'There's people that you meet in your life that are just extraordinary, that are outstanding, and you realize that without that person, it wouldn't have looked the way that it looks now,' Irvin said. Alexandrou told The Beacon-News that he has helped to do 'really transformative things' because Irvin gave him the opportunity. Some of those things, which he saw from idea to execution, include the transformation of the Fox Valley Mall, the redevelopment of the old Copley Hospital into Bloomhaven and the redevelopment of downtown anchored by the Paramount Theatre, he said. He is proud to have played a part in changing the reputation of Aurora, he said. Another thing Alexandrou said he is proud of is how the city 'weathered so many different storms,' such as the deadly mass shooting at Henry Pratt in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest. Chuck Nelson, who served under Irvin as his previous deputy mayor and under Weisner as his chief of staff, said that Alexandrou is an 'aggressive learner' with strong leadership, organizational and communication skills. 'There are so many things that define Alex,' Nelson said. 'He's good to have in your corner because he's a problem- solver.' None of it, Alexandrou said, was done alone. He has been proud to work with the city's 'tremendous team' and 'very talented professionals,' many of whom he sees as good friends, he said. While his job involved supporting the mayor and making sure the city was aligned on important things like public safety, economic development and education, it was also about delivering the city's 'bread and butter services' to residents, according to Alexandrou. He said those are things people may take for granted, such as 911 services, EMS, police, drinking water and city-run parks. 'All that takes constant attention,' he said, 'and that's not counting the unexpected that may happen every day.' Alexandrou said he is proud of all the city departments, and specifically called out the police, fire and public works departments. The administration pushed them hard, and they deserve all the credit and compensation they get, he said. When it comes to dealing with a crisis, Alexandrou said none do it better than the city's team, and that includes the Aurora Police Department, Aurora Fire Department and Emergency Management Agency. 'Sometimes you have to be over-prepared, because it's not a question of if, but when,' he said. As for what's next, Alexandrou doesn't yet know, he told The Beacon-News. First, he's going to take some 'well-deserved time off' this summer, he said, and then start looking, but he's 'not in a particular hurry' 'We've been through a lot the last four years, so I'm looking forward to spending some time with family,' he said. rsmith@
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aurora Chief Management Officer Alex Alexandrou to retire
After working at the city of Aurora under four different mayors, Chief Management Officer Alex Alexandrou is heading to retirement. Alexandrou, who is in his 25th year of working at the city and 34th year in the public sector, will serve out his last day working at the city on May 13. That's the day Mayor-elect John Laesch, alongside newly-elected and reelected members of the Aurora City Council, are set to be sworn into office. 'I think it's time,' he said when asked why he is retiring. 'I've been doing this a long time.' The job can be 'quite a pressure cooker at times,' he said, which 'casual observers of local government may not understand.' His current job, which has basically been to be the city's manager, has been a 24/7 position, he said. It's the relationships, both with other city staffers and with colleagues in other communities, that Alexandrou said he will miss most about working at the city of Aurora. The city has been fortunate to be part of the Illinois Municipal League and the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference, which has 'done a lot of great work together as a group effort,' he said. But Alexandrou will also miss the 'certain energy and adrenaline' when responding to a crisis or when a task needs to be done quickly, he said. That's because he is still a risk manager at heart, he said, which is the job he was first hired for at the city of Aurora. It was former Mayor David Stover who hired Alexandrou as the city's first-ever risk manager, and he also asked Alexandrou to be the interim human resources director in the last 18 months of his administration. Alexandrou was then formally appointed to lead the human resources department under former Mayor Tom Weisner, who was elected after Stover. The city went through a significant reorganization because of the 2008 recession, Alexandrou said, and so he ended up as the head of the city's administrative services department. He served in that position, managing city operations like HR, the city clerk, IT and more, until he was given his current job as chief management officer by Mayor Richard Irvin in 2017. 'I'm eternally grateful to all the mayors I've worked for,' Alexandrou said. At an event honoring outgoing Mayor Irvin and many from the mayor's office on Tuesday night, Irvin said that without Alexandrou, his big ideas would have been nothing but words on a piece of paper. 'There's people that you meet in your life that are just extraordinary, that are outstanding, and you realize that without that person, it wouldn't have looked the way that it looks now,' Irvin said. Alexandrou told The Beacon-News that he has helped to do 'really transformative things' because Irvin gave him the opportunity. Some of those things, which he saw from idea to execution, include the transformation of the Fox Valley Mall, the redevelopment of the old Copley Hospital into Bloomhaven and the redevelopment of downtown anchored by the Paramount Theatre, he said. He is proud to have played a part in changing the reputation of Aurora, he said. Another thing Alexandrou said he is proud of is how the city 'weathered so many different storms,' such as the deadly mass shooting at Henry Pratt in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest. Chuck Nelson, who served under Irvin as his previous deputy mayor and under Weisner as his chief of staff, said that Alexandrou is an 'aggressive learner' with strong leadership, organizational and communication skills. 'There are so many things that define Alex,' Nelson said. 'He's good to have in your corner because he's a problem- solver.' None of it, Alexandrou said, was done alone. He has been proud to work with the city's 'tremendous team' and 'very talented professionals,' many of whom he sees as good friends, he said. While his job involved supporting the mayor and making sure the city was aligned on important things like public safety, economic development and education, it was also about delivering the city's 'bread and butter services' to residents, according to Alexandrou. He said those are things people may take for granted, such as 911 services, EMS, police, drinking water and city-run parks. 'All that takes constant attention,' he said, 'and that's not counting the unexpected that may happen every day.' Alexandrou said he is proud of all the city departments, and specifically called out the police, fire and public works departments. The administration pushed them hard, and they deserve all the credit and compensation they get, he said. When it comes to dealing with a crisis, Alexandrou said none do it better than the city's team, and that includes the Aurora Police Department, Aurora Fire Department and Emergency Management Agency. 'Sometimes you have to be over-prepared, because it's not a question of if, but when,' he said. As for what's next, Alexandrou doesn't yet know, he told The Beacon-News. First, he's going to take some 'well-deserved time off' this summer, he said, and then start looking, but he's 'not in a particular hurry' 'We've been through a lot the last four years, so I'm looking forward to spending some time with family,' he said. rsmith@
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill in the Illinois capitol would create more guardrails for tax levies
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A new bill introduced into the Illinois General Assembly aims to give taxpayers a more transparent voice when local governments discuss tax increases. A newly introduced bill aims to prevent local governments from raising levy taxes behind closed doors. The legislation requires local government to create a referendum where voters will have a say before any tax increase happens. Bill proposed in state legislature would allow 18- to 20-year-olds to drink legally in Illinois with parent or guardian The bill's sponsor, State Representative John M. Cabello, (R-Machesney Park), said this is something that should be in place. 'I see that our taxes are constantly going up and up and up and up and I firmly believe that the taxpayer should have a say if a government is going to raise their taxes,' Cabello said. ' If it's going to be good for the folks and the government wants to do it, let it go to a referendum.' Levied taxes are taxes local government bodies, like school districts, municipalities and counties, collected from business and property owners to help pay for public services and programs such as infrastructure, police and education. Sen. Durbin files bill aiming to curb gun trafficking to cartels The budget for the levy tax is based on the needs of the local government. There are laws that restrict how much the levy tax can be increased annually. The bill comes with rules in place; for any referendum to hike levied taxes, it must include a sunset clause with the specific time when the tax increase will expire. If the purpose is to bring in revenue to pay off debt, then the tax increase must end automatically when the debt is paid off. For any other reason, the tax raise must end no later than ten years unless the public vote to extend it by referendum. This bill would empower Illinoisans' oversight while creating challenges for local government. Protesters converge on Illinois Capitol as tensions over Trump actions rise in the chamber A spokesperson for the Illinois Municipal League, which represents local government bodies in the statehouse, said the group opposes the bill as it could potentially reduce their revenue. School districts and municipalities often rely on the levy tax for construction, renovation, urgent financial needs and to keep essential services running without the delay of voters' approval. With this law, it could prevent them from adapting to economic and event shifts. In the current law, many tax increases do not have a time limit. Cabello said tax increases shouldn't continue after the project it was requested for is complete. 'If they have a plan and they say, look, this the school building or the project is going to be completed by this date and we will have it fully paid off by 2048 then it should sunset in 2048,' Cabello said. 'It shouldn't just be a tax that continues on forever.' If the bill becomes law, it will limit municipalities' home ruling power. The Illinois Department of Revenue will take charge to ensure the rules are implemented. The bill is now assigned to a committee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
28-01-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
After 12 years with the city, Lake Forest Finance Director Elizabeth Holleb retires
There were many accolades when the Lake Forest City Council honored Finance Director Elizabeth Holleb. For one council member, it was Holleb's ability to take complex municipal finance matters and put them in language easy to comprehend. 'You made this all made sense to me,' said Alderwoman Nancy Novit, 1st at the Jan. 21 City Council meeting. 'I can't imagine anybody stepping into your role and handling it with as much grace and patience.' After more than 12 years as Lake Forest's top financial officer, Holleb retired on Jan. 24. She received a Resolution of Appreciation plus many other tributes from many attendees including Illinois Municipal League Chief Executive Officer Brad Cole, Mayor Stanford 'Randy' Tack, and City Manager Jason Wicha. 'Elizabeth's biggest legacy will really just be the impact on our organizational culture. Every operational human resource decision across every department is inherently viewed through a financial lens first and not just viewed with the immediate impacts but with the long term horizon,' Wicha said. 'She deserves an enormous of credit for having all of us view these decisions through that lens.' Since June 2012, Holleb has overseen the city's finances and its approximate $115 million annual budget with 211 full-time employees. Throughout her tenure, the city has continued receiving a Triple A bond rating and collected other financial awards. 'I've very proud we have been able to maintain that through recessionary periods and COVID. I think the solid fiscal management that the city has a history of, has allowed us to maintain that Triple A bond rating,' Holleb said in an interview. Holleb is closing out the latest chapter of a 35-year career she pursued after taking a government accounting course in college. 'I was looking for a career opportunity that would allow me to be part of public service,' she remembered. There have been stops in Northbrook, Oak Park and then out west to Las Vegas, Nevada, and SeaTac, Washington. In October 2003, anxious to return to the Midwest, Holleb was named finance director in Highland Park, where her tasks included navigating the city through the 2008 economic collapse. In June 2012, Holleb decided to move north professionally becoming finance director in Lake Forest. While the two cities are very close geographically, she noted the revenue sources are different with Highland Park more reliant on sales taxes and Lake Forest overall more dependent on property taxes, which she believes allows for more stability against greater economic forces. As she analyzes her 12-plus years in Lake Forest, she cites her department's work on public safety pensions as a top achievement. 'We became more proactive and more aggressive in meeting those funding those obligations and I think that will save Lake Forest taxpayers millions of dollars in the long term,' she said. In terms of internal triumphs, Holleb points to the implementation of a new computer software system that she believes has led to greater efficiencies and transparency. She noted city personnel started using the new system shortly before the start of the coronavirus pandemic and the corresponding lockdowns in 2020. 'That was very fortunate for us as an organization because we had already automated so many of our financial processes that we were able to keep up and manage and do work from home remotely with our new financial system,' she said. Holleb did have some difficult moments over the last 12 ½ years including a report by a special counsel hired to investigate a city lobbying effort where almost $200,000 was spent without formal city council approval. Holleb was one of several city officials criticized for her actions in the lobbying effort by the special counsel. Now almost seven years later, Holleb said she did nothing wrong but acknowledges it was a difficult period. 'I have always taken great pride in my integrity and conducting my job in the highest ethical standards,' she said. 'To have my reputation marred by that event was troubling and difficult to work through. But I don't think the complete story was ever told and that was probably the hardest thing for me.' She later added, 'I got through it and in the end, I think it helped improve certain processes within the city and so I think that benefitted the organization going forward.' Also in 2018, Holleb received a cancer diagnosis. She is still heartened by how the staff supported her during her illness. 'Working here help me get around that,' Holleb said, noting she feels a debt of gratitude. 'That will be a memory that will stay with me forever.' As for other parts of her job, Holleb acknowledged an occasional source of frustration is the breakdown of property taxes where the city represents 22 % of the tax bill, with the two local public school districts taking up larger chunks. 'One of the challenges of working in the State of Illinois for a government finance office is we have so many taxing districts that impact the tax levy and yet we have no authority over those other taxing districts that they levy for taxes,' she said. Holleb said she decided to retire from Lake Forest as she thought she reached a professional crossroads and thought it was a good time for a transition. However, she will continue working. She has already been named interim finance director in Lincolnwood and is set to be in that community through May. She said she is open to other interim assignments in the future or there could be some teaching. The city is now looking for a permanent replacement with the search process expected to be complete in March, according to spokeswoman Dana Olson. In the meantime, Assistant Finance Director Diane Hall will Holleb's role on an interim basis. Yet Wicha, the city manager, spoke of the road ahead by whoever is hired tipping his hat toward Holleb by saying, 'There are very large shoes that need to be filled by whoever comes after her.'
