Illinois State Treasurer

The Treasurer of Illinois is an elected official of the U.S. state of Illinois. The office was created by the Constitution of Illinois.

Current occupant and duties

As of 2008, the Treasurer of Illinois is Alexi Giannoulias, a member of the Democratic Party. Giannoulias was elected to head the State Treasury in 2006 over Republican Party candidate Christine Radogno.

The Treasurer is required by the State Constitution (Section 18 of Article V) to hold responsibility for the safekeeping and investment of the monies and securities deposited in the public funds of Illinois. The Treasurer is not the state's chief fiscal officer, a post reserved for a separate elected official, the Comptroller of Illinois. Section 18, Article V, "Constitution of Illinois", accessed April 12, 2008. [http://ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con5.htm] ]

The Illinois Constitution provides that the treasurer must, at the time of his or her election, be a United States citizen, at least 25 years old, and a resident of the state for at least 3 years preceding the election.

The Treasurer's office operates a web page describing the office's powers and duties. "Alexi Giannoulias - Illinois State Treasurer", accessed April 12, 2008. [http://www.treasurer.il.gov/ Illinois State Treasurer web page] ]

Controversy

Some observers have perceived a redundancy overlap between the offices of Treasurer of Illinois and Comptroller of Illinois, and have therefore proposed constitutional amendments to merge the two offices and earn administrative savings. For example, HJRCA 14, considered by the Illinois General Assembly in 2007-2008, would merge the two offices into the office of a single State Fiscal Officer. "House Joint Resolution - Constitutional Amendment 14", accessed April 12, 2008. [http://ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=14&GAID=9&GA=95&DocTypeID=HJRCA&LegID=28840&SessionID=51] ]

References