Finances and unfunded mandates were among the topics addressed by local state legislators during District 58’s annual Legislative Breakfast Feb. 17.

Each year, the Legislative Breakfast gives District 58 staff, parents, community members and representatives from other local governments an opportunity to hear from local legislators about issues facing the state and its school districts, and to share with the lawmakers their questions and concerns.

Attending this year’s breakfast at O’Neill Middle School were Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-24th District; Sen. Dan Cronin, R-21st District; Rep. Patricia Bellock, R-47th District; and Brian Colgan from the office of U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert, R-13th District.

Before heading up to field questions, the legislators spent time chatting with the more than six dozen people who attended the breakfast.

The legislators were introduced by student council officers from Herrick and O’Neill middle schools, who also posed the first question: what three things each of the legislators would do to help improve their schools. Answers included ending unfunded mandates and finding ways for Illinois to pay its bills.

Members of the District 58 Legislative Committee, which organizes the breakfast and throughout the year monitors legislation for its potential effect on District 58, asked the remaining five questions. These addressed funding for the state’s Regional Offices of Education; transportation funding; the potential for an additional cap on tax extensions where aggregate property tax values are decreasing; and the current status of the re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, formerly known as No Child Left Behind.

Superintendent Paul Zaander thanked the legislators for listening to the District’s concerns and praised the student council for their excellent introductions of the legislators.