As I talk to families across our district, one concern that comes up time and time again is the rising cost of living. From groceries to gas, it feels like every dollar just doesn't go as far as it used to. "Your Dream Matters", and it’s hard to chase those dreams when you’re worried about making ends meet.

This campaign is about "Neighbors Helping Neighbors," and a big part of that is ensuring that you have more money in your pockets. While we focus on forward-thinking policies, we also need to be smart and defensive in protecting your hard-earned money from unnecessary costs and waste.

Here’s my approach:

• Reducing Incarceration Costs
  • Statewide Expansion of the Successful Alternatives to Incarceration. Implementing criminal justice reforms, particularly those that expand alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders, can significantly reduce prison operating costs. For example, Sheriff James Mendrick of DuPage County has been a trailblazer in reducing incarceration rates while maintaining public safety. Through his innovative programs, Mendrick has successfully implemented mental health diversion initiatives and substance abuse treatment options as alternatives to jail time. These reforms have helped decrease the inmate population, cutting costs substantially. The average cost of incarcerating an inmate in Illinois is about $38,000 per year. By diverting non-violent offenders to probation, drug treatment programs, and mental health care, Mendrick's approach has saved DuPage County millions of dollars annually, all while helping individuals access the treatment they need to reduce recidivism. His efforts demonstrate that reducing incarceration not only relieves the state budget but also provides more sustainable, humane solutions to non-violent crime, setting an example for other counties across Illinois.As a state representative, I would work with Sheriff James Mendrick to expand the successful alternatives to incarceration programs he has implemented in DuPage County across the entire state.

• Enforce Competitive Bidding
  • Advocate for Competitive Processes and Regular Auditing. Many states overspend on contracts with private companies due to lack of competition or oversight. If Illinois increased accountability in the state’s bidding process and achieved a 5% reduction in fraud, waste, and inefficiency, it could save taxpayers approximately $86 per person annually. I would advocate for  instituting more stringent competitive bidding processes and regularly auditing public contracts.

• Find Creative, Pragmatic Ways to Lower Property Tax Bills
  • Local Government Consolidation. Illinois has the most units of local government in the country—nearly 7,000—which contributes to duplicated services and administrative costs that are funded by property taxes. Reducing the number of local taxing bodies would eliminate redundancies and save money. I will advocate for local government consolidation, streamlining services and reducing the administrative burden on property taxes. Supporting legislation that encourages shared services among local governments could reduce costs and lower property taxes by as much as 10-20% in some areas​. 
  • School District Auditing.  In Illinois, property taxes fund about two-thirds of school budgets, so ensuring that these funds are being used effectively and efficiently can have a direct impact on reducing the property tax burden for homeowners. A comprehensive audit of school districts’ spending could uncover inefficiencies, duplicative programs, and unnecessary administrative costs. Many school districts operate with limited oversight, and regular audits would ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used effectively to improve educational outcomes, not wasted on bloated administrative costs. Cutting the school district budget in Illinois by 2% would save approximately $780 million annually. This would translate to a savings of about $61 per taxpayer each year. This approach could provide meaningful relief to taxpayers while making relatively small adjustments to the overall school budget.