Winners have been announced for the 5^th Annual 69th District Photo Challenge Contest sponsored by State Representative Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford. The contest is offered each year to give Stateline area residents an opportunity to share their interest in photography with the public. Photo submissions can be of nature, architecture, or daily life in Illinois’ 69^th District, which includes portions of Boone and Winnebago Counties. 

Winners have their photos displayed in Springfield for one year at Representative Sosnowski’s office in the Capitol Complex. This year’s winners are:

Sharon Thomas

Photo of Belvidere Park, Belvidere, IL

Elizabeth Carville

Photo of Espenscheid Forest Preserve, Cherry Valley, IL

Rasha Abdullah

Photo of Belvidere Park, Belvidere, IL 

“Our annual photo challenge is a way to celebrate life and nature around the Stateline and recognize the talents of local residents who have a passion for photography,” Representative Sosnowski said. “I would like to congratulate this year’s winners and thank everyone who submitted their outstanding photos.”

For questions or more information, please contact Representative Sosnowski’s District Office at (815) 547-3436.

Today I had the opportunity to stop by and talk with Rockford Christian third graders on how government works in Illinois. Had some great questions and enjoyed speaking with all the students!

By Joe Sosnowski

State Representative, 69th District

Illinois is facing a mammoth pension crisis. The credit rating agency Moody’s Investors Service released a report showing that Illinois’ unfunded pension liability has reached a staggering $250 billion. Put in perspective, that’s $19,531.25 in debt for every man, woman, and child in Illinois. This crisis threatens the retirement security of workers who have played by the rules and paid in their fair share over the years; and it threatens every Illinois taxpayer who is on the hook for somehow, some way, bailing the state out of a disaster decades in the making. Previous Governors, Democrat and Republican share in the blame for how we got here. However, finger-pointing doesn’t solve the problem or help us achieve a solution. 

Illinois can find a solution by looking at Arizona. Last month, Arizona voters approved a referendum to amend the state’s constitution in a way that will allow for needed reform to two of their major pension systems, following on the heels of a similar proposition they approved two years ago impacting just one pension system.  The voter-approved Arizona referendum is primarily aimed at reasonable reductions in annual cost-of-living increases (COLA). Instead of an automatic 4% annual increase, Arizona has adjusted the COLA to stay in line with the economy by tying it to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This is a common-sense reform that Illinois would benefit from. Pairing this reform with a cap on maximum pension payouts (one proposal would cap pension benefits at $106K per year) would provide substantial savings to Illinois taxpayers on an annual basis while still ensuring a secure retirement for pensioners.

Click HERE to download and print the application.

Rep. Joe Sosnowski

ROCKFORD – State Representative Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, is reminding local school districts in Winnebago and Boone Counties that they can apply for a Property Tax Relief grant provided by the Illinois State Board of Education from now through the application deadline of January 7, 2019.

​Beginning this year, the State Board will provide up to $50 million in property tax relief grants to eligible school districts.  Eligible districts are those that exceed a threshold tax rate and that agree to abate a portion of taxes, up to a statutory limit, in the coming tax cycle.  In return, qualifying districts receive a state grant in an amount that is a proportion of the tax relief provided.

“Strengthening our commitment to K-12 education while finding responsible ways to lessen the local property tax burden continue to be among my top priorities,” Representative Sosnowski said. “I am pleased that the FY 19 state budget includes this new property tax relief grant that eligible local school districts can take advantage of.”

Eligible districts are determined based on cumulative data submitted by school districts that apply for the grant. That data forms the basis of what is termed the “Unit Equivalent Tax Rate”. Grants are awarded in order of the highest Unit Equivalent Tax Rate among grant applicants.

The application form and additional information is available online at www.isbe.net/proptaxrelief.  

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State Rep. Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, was honored to accept the Illinois Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR "Friend of Agriculture" award presented by Winnebago County Farm Bureau President Richard Beuth in recognition of Sosnowski's consistent voting record in support of Illinois' agricultural industry.