SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) released the following statement this afternoon after voting to increase Illinois’ minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025:

“Every Senator in this body represents constituents in our districts who wake up every morning when it is still dark outside and go to work. They work all day and string together hourly jobs just to make ends meet. Then they get up and do it all over again. They don’t have a lobbyist to fight for their behalf – they only have us.

“Today is our day to lift up millions of working Illinoisans who despite their hard work, still live every day in poverty.”

Senate Bill 1 would gradually increase Illinois’ minimum wage starting with an increase to $9.25 scheduled on January 1, 2020. Illinois’ minimum wage has been stagnant at $8.25 since 2010.

Senate Bill 1 passed on a 39-18 vote and now heads to the Illinois House for further debate.

SPRINGFIELD – Homeowners and small businesses across the South Suburbs will see decreases in their property tax bills under a new state grant program that seeks to provide relief to school districts in high-taxed areas.

The Property Tax Relief Grant was included in the historic school funding reform law that has already provided millions of dollars in new state funds to school districts that need it the most. In the first year alone, the 40th Senate District received nearly $10 million in additional state funding.

“Communities with little property wealth have been forced to increase their taxes year after year, placing a high burden on homeowners and small businesses and cheating students out of a quality education,” State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) said. “For many South Suburban communities, this has only increased economic disinvestment and neighborhood stagnation.”

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Two-hundred years ago today, Illinois became the nation’s 21^st state.

In recognition of our bicentennial, State Senator Toi Hutchinson highlighted the Kankakee County Courthouse, its history and impact on Illinois’ rich past and its bright potential.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) announced the release of a $1.8 million grant to help reopen the Kankakee River State Park’s campgrounds to visitors.

“This is welcomed news for Kankakee residents who have missed the opportunity to enjoy these public lands for the last three to four summers,” Hutchinson said. “I am excited to see families and visitors at the Chippewa and Potawatomi campgrounds again.”

The money for the campgrounds was included in the FY19 budget and is a part of more than $14 million in capital improvement projects at state parks and recreation areas managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The Potawatomi campground closed before the 2015 season for planned improvement and the Chippewa site closed after the 2015 season due to a failed water well. These closures have been cited as a reason for recent attendance decline at Kankakee River State Park.

The campgrounds are expected to reopen in spring 2019.