McHenry Times

Illinois state Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) is hoping his time in Springfield can help to bring about a different kind of Illinois.

“I was reading the other day that we’re facing problems where younger people are leaving the state even faster and we’re becoming an aging population,” Ugaste, elected last year in the 65th District, told the McHenry Times. “I continue to meet with constituents and many of them don’t see things getting better. Our job is to change that.”

Ugaste is hoping to have an even greater chance of doing that through his recent appointment to the state's newly assembled Property Tax Relief Task Force. Installed to the bipartisan task force by House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), Ugaste stressed there is little time to waste in coming up with solutions that stand to put Illinois back on the right track.

House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs)

“We’re heading for even bigger trouble,” Ugaste said. “If we don’t fix this soon, it may approach a time where it’s beyond our ability to fix it. I still think we have time but there’s no time to waste.”

Ugaste said part of what he plans to promote is the idea of consolidation where it makes sense and where savings can be had. He added that if he had one law he could instantly enact aimed at making things better across the state, it would be changes to the state pension system.

“One thing we could do most quickly is to help the state put all new employees into 401ks and a defined contribution plan instead of a defined benefit plan,” he said. 

Ugaste’s 65th District encompasses parts of northwestern Kane and southern McHenry Counties, including Elgin, South Elgin, St. Charles, Hampshire, Huntley, Pingree Grove, Batavia and Geneva.