 State law requires local
governments to post such notices in
newspapers. But now an effort to bring the practice into the digital
age could cause a fundamental shift in how Illinois residents get
information about local affairs.A bill pending in the General
Assembly would let cash-strapped governments post public notices
online instead of paying to run them in print. While the shift has
been considered in other states, Illinois would be the first in the
nation to drop the requirement that notices run in local newspapers,
according to newspaper associations.
"That's my tax dollar," said Rep. Randy Ramey, R-Carol Stream.
"I'm asking them to save that tax dollar."
But the idea raises particular concerns in places like Sullivan,
a town of 4,396 where 1 in 5 residents is older than 65 and the
newspaper depends on the government advertising revenue.
"There are a lot of people who don't have access to the Internet,
and they rely on the paper for the published notices," said Sue
Sides, Sullivan's city clerk.
The amount of savings from the legislation is hard to ascertain,
and the bill's sponsor says a compromise would be needed before it
could pass.
Backers say it would save money if governments could use the
Internet to announce public meetings, post meeting agendas and
minutes, or document contract bids. More and more people get their
news online anyway, they argue.
Opponents say the move would not only make it harder for some
people to track what their governments are doing, but would
eliminate a source of ad money that is vital to many community
newspapers.
Bob Best, publisher of the News-Progress, said 17 percent of the
newspaper's advertising revenue comes from public notices. If he
loses that, he would have to cut two of his 10 employees and perhaps
even cease publication, he said.
"Our readers are adamant about getting their local news, and
those kinds of notices are strictly local," Best said.
The News-Progress has served a rural area southeast of Decatur
for more than 150 years, and previously was called the Sullivan
Express and the Sullivan Democrat. Best said many Sullivan residents
lack Internet access or simply prefer to get their information in
print.
Small-town papers haven't seen the same circulation drops that
plague their urban counterparts and remain in many cases the main
source of news, he said.
Sides, the town clerk, said the town already posts council
minutes and agendas online. She said she doubts the town would cease
publishing public notices in newspapers even if the bill became law.
Several other states have considered similar legislation. There
currently are bills in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania legislatures
that would allow government units to post online. Michigan backed
off a bill last year that would have done the same.
Rep. Frank Mautino, D-Spring Valley, introduced the legislation
but sees himself as more of a moderator among different interests
than an advocate for the bill. He said the measure probably won't
pass unless a compromise can be worked out among all sides.
[to top of second column] |
Several groups, including the AARP, the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People and newspaper associations, have
voiced concern about the bill harming people who lack Internet
access or don't feel comfortable using computers.
Pew Research Center data show that a third of Americans do not
have Internet access. The U.S. Census Bureau said 46 percent of
blacks and 40 percent of Hispanics lack home Internet access.
Jerry Crabtree, associate director of Township Officials of
Illinois, acknowledged complications for those who don't have access
to a computer. But he is an advocate of the bill and suggested that
people can use computers at the local library.
Best scoffed at that idea, noting Sullivan's library only has two
computers.
"I just don't see somebody on a weekly basis traveling to their
library and logging in for that specific option when a newspaper can
be delivered to their home every week and all they have to do is
read," Best said.
It's not clear just how much money local governments spend on
these notices.
The Township Officials organization says each of the state's
1,432 townships spends "hundreds of dollars" every year. The
Illinois Municipal League said 12 metropolitan counties -- DeKalb,
DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, Madison, McHenry, McLean, Peoria,
Tazewell, Will and Winnebago -- spent nearly $5 million on public
notices over four years.
Josh Sharp, a lobbyist for the Illinois Press Association, said
he doubts any newspapers would go out of business if they lose the
public notices. But he also questioned how much money government
would save -- particularly when employees would still have to
compile the notices and spend time updating and archiving the
material online.
He said the cost of publishing public notices is somewhere around
one-tenth of a percent of local government budgets.
"When you look at the amount spent on public notices, you're
dealing with what would be a rounding error in county budgets,"
Sharp said. "It's a minuscule amount and frankly the cost of doing
business for government."
[Associated Press;
By ZACHARY COLMAN]
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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