Kane County Reporter

Illinois State Senate District 25 candidate Heather Brown stated that citizens' tax money is "going down the drain," and pointed out that legislators work 54-60 days a year. She made the statement on Facebook on June 4.

"When people work 54-60 days a year," said Brown, according to Facebook. "Their doesn't show the $160k+ for having an office that is not open to the public for most of the year. Only when they're out of session end of May, and don't go back for months. This is our tax money going down the drain."

In her Facebook post, Brown shared a screenshot of Senate Bill 0251, with sections related to General Assembly salaries underlined. Those sections noted that the base salary is "$93,712 for each member of the General Assembly" for both House and Senate members. The screenshot notes that there are additional amounts prescribed by law for various positions in both the House and Senate, including the Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, minority leaders of both chambers, and other positions in the General Assembly.

Screensht of Heather Brown for IL's June 4 Facebook post | Heather Brown for IL Facebook page

Senate Bill 0251 was filed on January 31, 2023, by Senator Don Harmon and passed the Senate on May 26, 2024. According to official records, the bill aims to appropriate funds from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Revenue for Fiscal Year 2023 ordinary expenses. A floor amendment from the Senate repealed various 2024 appropriations and made "appropriations and reappropriations for capital and operating expenditures and other purposes for Fiscal Year 2025." Some provisions would go into effect immediately; others will go into effect on July 1, 2024.

Brown is a West Chicago resident with experience as an independent alderman on the West Chicago City Council. On her website, she notes that for the past seven years she has "learned how to work with those on both sides of the aisle while also speaking up for the people." She also highlights that she was the only alderman to vote "No" on every levy and "No" on water rate increases. She says she is also the only alderman "to insist on fiscal responsibility during these hard economic times."

Brown stated she is "proud to have such a close relationship with our men and women in blue" and pledged to keep State Senate District 25 safe.

The district is currently represented by State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) and includes all or parts of Aurora, North Aurora, Batavia, West Chicago, South Elgin, Wayne, and Bartlett.