HAMILTON COUNTY — Hamilton County is the latest in a string of Southern Illinois counties to file a lawsuit against the State of Illinois for failure to reimburse the salaries of the Public Defender, Assessor and State’s Attorney.
State’s Attorney Justin Hood filed the suit with the approval of the county board. Other area counties suing the state include Saline, Union, Franklin, Gallatin and Williamson.
The county wants to compel payment of salary reimbursements that help pay for several top local government jobs. Union, Williamson and Franklin counties have filed similar suits.
Governments in St. Clair County and in Saline and Gallatin counties have filed lawsuits seeking release of tax money collected on cell and landline phone calls for 911 emergency-dispatch centers.
Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a $3.1 billion spending bill in December that freed up some other sources of state money for local governments.