EVANSTON — On Thursday, March 28, the Evanston Chamber of Commerce hosted a brunch and open forum at the Roundhouse. The opportunity provided local legislators — Sen. Wendy Schuler and Reps. Jon Conrad, Ryan Berger and Scott Heiner — to debrief the recent state legislative budget session with their constituents.

Schuler opened the event explaining that the state budget barely passed by three votes. Had it not passed, “it would have been devastating, everyone would have been affected,” Schuler said. “We can’t act like the federal government and not pass a budget.”

A frustrated Schuler elaborated that much time and energy was squandered during the session because other members were trying to legislate personal, localized interests rather than focusing on the state budget, invoking “pork barrel” politics. Schuler reported that the budget that was agreed upon was 3% less than the last session, which was two years ago.

“I feel like the Senate failed miserably,” she said. “They took four days to meet with the House, and people aren’t willing to compromise on anything. You gotta give a little to get a little.”

While Schuler insinuated that the legislature was inundated with a nearly-unprecedented number of introduced bills, she was pleased certain bills were passed, such as the property tax 4% cap bill and the homeowner’s property tax bill geared toward relieving tax burdens on the 65 and older demographic.

Heiner spent his allotted five-minute speaking time expressing frustration with Gov. Mark Gordon’s vetoing of Senate File (SF) 54, which would have exempted up to 25% of assessed property value up to $2 million dollars. Heiner suggested the bill — and “four or five others” — be revisited via special session. “We could go through three readings, then a Zoom meeting. One [legislative meeting] day costs $35,000, then legislators could agree not to accept a salary ... then $50,000, ending with a Zoom meeting. It would cost everyone in the state nine cents to give $220 million dollars back to the tax payers. [Otherwise] there’s no relief coming this year.”

The majority of both the house and senate and/or the Governor can call for a special legislative session to address issues left unresolved from the budget session. Schuler and Berger were against holding a special session, while Conrad said, “I voted yes per my constituency and their feedback, emails and conversations.”

Heiner was particularly hopeful for the opportunity of a special session to revisit property tax relief. That, however, will not happen because the legislature voted on March 31, not to hold a special session.

“It was a very interesting budget session,” said Berger. “I don’t agree with the governor’s veto; I’m disappointed with that.”