SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) released the following statement regarding the governor’s budget address Wednesday afternoon:

 ”I appreciate Gov. Pritzker proposing funding for additional personnel to allow appropriate staffing ratios at corrections facilities across the state. I spent 16 years with the St. Clair County Probation and Detention Center and two years as the regional deputy administrator of Aftercare for the central and southern regions of Illinois, so I strongly applaud him for considering the safety of our correctional officers.

In addition, I support the governor proposing a fully funded mandate of pensions. After passing legislation that consolidates pensions in the downstate region, it’s vital that residents in my district have pension payment schedules that goes as planned.”

SPRINGFIELD – Civilians who have been arrested and were acquitted of charges would no longer be required to pay for their records to be expunged under a proposal by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) that passed the Senate Criminal Law Committee Tuesday.

“Why should civilians have to pay for their records to be expunged if they were not found guilty?” Belt asked. “It seems as if we are punishing the people for even being arrested and continuing to create a barrier for these people to not be able to obtain employment.”

Belt’s plan, contained in Senate Bill 2496, would propose a permanent state-wide fee waiver program for certain expungements. The records sought to be expunged or sealed under the Criminal Identification Act were arrests that resulted in release without charging or charges were dismissed.

Read more: Belt demands fee waiver program for certain expungements

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) released the following statement regarding the governor’s State of the State address this afternoon:

“I am glad to see Gov. JB Pritzker’s top priorities will revise our state’s ethics procedures, early childhood education and provide property tax relief for residents throughout the state. Providing property tax relief will help people with their basic expenses and hopefully retain our residents.

Read more: Belt: Property tax relief will help retain our residents

CENTREVILLE – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) recently announced school districts in Cahokia and East St. Louis have received the Illinois State Board of Education Property Tax Relief Grant.

“This is the first step in creating long-term property tax relief for homeowners,” Belt said. “Taxes are a huge burden for Illinois residents, which is why I am pleased to announce that several communities in my district will benefit from this grant.”

Read more: Belt announces property tax relief for residents in Cahokia and East St. Louis