A ballot question asking voters whether to eliminate Capital Township could bring savings to Springfield taxpayers – but that would just be one of many steps worth taking to lower Springfield’s high property taxes.

A new law will allow DuPage County to dissolve its election commission and transfer its functions to the county clerk’s office, saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A new law gives townships the option to let voters abolish their road districts through referendum. But Algonquin Township trustees rejected a resolution that would have given taxpayers that choice.

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.

An investigation into the office of a former township official concluded with no criminal charges. But the probe did find evidence that calls into question the merits of township governance.

Illinois has more units of local government than any other state in the country, many of which are duplicative and overlapping. In Belleville, where the majority of the city’s school districts cover fewer students than the state average, consolidation efforts could boost efficiency while saving taxpayer dollars.

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.