By Melissa Leu Illinois Statehouse News
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois voters may have one less box to check off come the 2014 election.
The Illinois Senate on Thursday voted unanimously to combine the state’s treasurer and comptroller offices through a constitutional amendment. If passed, the merger is expected to save about $12 million annually.
“Consolidation of the offices of Comptroller and Treasurer will improve efficiency, save on personnel and office costs and deliver the long-term benefit of more timely state investments,” Topinka said in a prepared statement.
Rutherford agreed, attributing the creation of an independent auditor general and technological advances to eliminating the need for maintaining separate fiscal offices.
The measure now heads to the Illinois House for approval, but may face some opposition from leadership, said Rutherford.
Constitutional amendments require a three-fifths vote in both chambers to pass.
“This is an old idea that’s been around before, so we’ll take a look at it,” House Speaker Michael Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said.
If passed in the General Assembly, the proposal will be put to voters on the 2012 ballot and, if approved, could potentially go into effect in time for the 2014 election.
Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.