Alton Township was on the chopping block Nov. 6. While neighboring communities consolidated unnecessary layers of government, Alton residents will keep their township.

Alton residents are paying for two overlapping units of government – the city of Alton and Alton Township. But voters will soon have the chance to slash costs by dissolving the city’s redundant township.

More than half of local school district administrators earn more than $100,000, and those incomes will get a boost after a recent board decision.

Taxpayers in the city of Alton, which has identical borders to that of Alton Township, could see savings through consolidation.

Residents of St. Clair and Madison Counties will soon see some of the nation’s most punishing property tax bills.