Judge Rules County Spending Violated State Constitution’s Safe Roads Amendment
A Circuit Court judge has struck down Cook County’s allocation of hundreds of millions of dollars in transportation tax revenue, declaring the spending unconstitutional. On Wednesday, Judge Alison Conlon ruled that the county’s use of $243 million in transportation-related tax revenues during the 2023 fiscal year violated the Safe Roads Amendment to the state constitution.
The ruling addresses the specific application of the Safe Roads Amendment, a “lockbox” measure overwhelmingly approved by voters to ensure that funds derived from transportation taxes—such as fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees—are utilized exclusively for transportation infrastructure and related operations. The court found that the county’s diversion of $243 million toward other expenses failed to meet the strict legal requirements of the amendment, which was designed to prevent local and state governments from using infrastructure funds to balance general budgets.
While the court sided with the plaintiffs, who argued the spending was a misuse of dedicated tax revenue, county officials have previously defended the broader allocation of these funds. In similar disputes, government defense teams have argued for a wider interpretation of “transportation purposes,” contending that the funds should legitimately cover indirect costs, such as administrative overhead, office operations, or law enforcement services related to transit. Critics of the ruling may argue that restricting these funds solely to direct infrastructure costs could strain the county’s general operating budget. However, this decision establishes a significant legal precedent, reinforcing a narrow interpretation of the constitution that prioritizes direct spending on roads, bridges, and mass transit systems over administrative flexibility.
