Metro East Sun

The SAFE-T Act, set to go into effect on January 1st of next year, has been subject to criticism from state’s attorneys to candidate campaigns. The provision in the bill that abolishes cash bail has been the key recurring talking point for both sides. In lieu of cash bail is a system where the ‘burden of proof’ for pretrial detention falls to the state. 

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has expressed that the bill as a whole will bring equitable change to Illinois’ justice system. The opposition has been adamant that the SAFE-T Act will not make citizens safer, but simply provide the opportunity for violent criminals to be released back onto the streets, overburden police departments and raise property taxes via unfunded mandates.

The Telegraph reported on a press conference that took place in Edwardsville on Monday the 10th where Illinois Republicans talked about the SAFE-T Act and property taxes. 

During the press conference, Madison County Treasurer Chris Slusser spoke about Madison County’s success in lowering property taxes and seeing record returns on county investments, between $4 million and $6 million annually offsetting property taxes. He continued to report that Madison County Circuit Clerk Thomas McRae is concerned the SAFE-T Act will cause an increase of $1 - $2 million in personnel costs.

Jennifer Korte, candidate for the Illinois House to represent District 112, attended the press conference and pointed out that regardless of Illinoisans’ stance on the SAFE-T Act, taxpayers will be funding it.

"The most important thing our government can do is keep our communities safe and thanks to the SAFE-T Act, the state is failing to do its most basic job," Korte told Metro East Sun. "A few tweaks won’t fix the SAFE-T Act. We need to completely repeal it and start over. I am here sounding the alarm about the tremendous cost of this legislation in terms of our safety and the actual cost of the law to taxpayers while my opponent remains silent. Now that local governments are being forced to implement the law, they have no other option but to pass the millions of dollars in mandated (unfunded mandates) costs on to taxpayers. When this dangerous law takes effect, residents of the Metro East will have to pay the government more of their hard-earned money and will be less safe because of it – completely unacceptable. I demand that the General Assembly repeal the SAFE-T Act immediately, before it’s too late."

Jen Korte is the Republican candidate for State Representative in the 112th district who describes herself as someone who believes that “our government should be run by the people” and that “political office should not be a self-serving position”. Korte’s primary goals in Springfield would be to lower taxes, be a leader in budget reform, and fight for parental rights. She has also adamantly opposed the SAFE-T Act throughout her campaign.

The Center Square reported the Kane County Board is discussing its first property tax hike in a decade, claiming they need it to fill a $3 million deficit created by unfunded mandated reforms in the SAFE-T Act.

ABC7 reported that over five years it will cost DuPage County $63 million to implement the SAFE-T Act.

One mandate cited, when unfunded mandated reforms are referred to, is the body camera requirement for all law enforcement agencies by 2025 whether or not funding is made available, according to Police 1.

One hundred of 102 Illinois State’s Attorneys oppose the SAFE-T Act and multiple have filed suit, according to Just the News.

The Center Square reported that on a recent campaign stop, Pritzker said if "making changes to the language" helps people to understand the bill and keeps the state safe he would be open to it.