New law empowers McHenry County voters to consolidate townships

By Tivas Gupta

08/12/2019

A new law relaxes requirements for McHenry County voters looking to dissolve their townships by referendum, clearing a path toward greater efficiency, less waste and lower property taxes.

TAGS: consolidation, David McSweeney, JB Pritzker, local government consolidation, McHenry County

Bipartisan township consolidation bill heads to Pritzker’s desk

By Joe Barnas

05/17/2019

Former Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed a bill that would have made it easier for McHenry County residents to consolidate their townships. Renewed bipartisan support has sent it back to the governor’s desk, now occupied by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, property taxes, taxes

5 things you should know about putting students ahead of administration

By Mailee Smith

04/10/2019

The Illinois House of Representatives passed the Classrooms First Act by a unanimous vote March 28. If it becomes law, students, teachers and taxpayers will benefit.

TAGS: consolidation, education, local government consolidation, property taxes, school district consolidation, taxes

Illinois voters could eliminate townships that share city limits under bill

By Ben Paoletti

04/02/2019

Illinois townships often spend more on administration than services when they cover the same territory as a local municipality. One bill would make it easier for voters to change that.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, Tom Demmer, township, townships

House bill would merge Cook County forest preserve police with county sheriff

By Joe Barnas

03/14/2019

A bill in the Illinois House seeks to transfer policing authority from the Cook County Forest Preserve District to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, potentially saving taxpayers millions.

TAGS: consolidation, Cook County, cook county forest preserve district, cook county forest preserve police, cook county sheriff, local government consolidation

Illinois taxpayers could cut back local governments under bipartisan bill

By Vincent Caruso

03/06/2019

The Citizens Empowerment Act would let taxpayers cut local government at the ballot box. Illinois lawmakers from both parties are backing it.

TAGS: Citizens Empowerment Act, consolidation, David McSweeney, Jonathan Carroll, local government consolidation, property taxes, Sam Yingling, taxes

Senate Bill could stop drainage districts from draining tax dollars

By Ben Paoletti

03/02/2019

Illinois has more than 850 drainage districts. A bill in the Illinois Senate could eliminate some of those government units – and save the tax dollars that support them.

TAGS: consolidation, Dan McConchie, local government consolidation, property taxes, taxes

Illinois House bill would bar governments from using taxes to fight consolidation

By Vincent Caruso

02/26/2019

A proposal in the Illinois House would stop local government leaders from using public resources to fight efforts to consolidate any government unit.

TAGS: Allen Skillicorn, consolidation, David McSweeney, Jonathan Carroll, local government consolidation, Mark Batinick, Sam Yingling

Bipartisan township consolidation bill reintroduced in Springfield

By Joe Barnas

02/05/2019

Former Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed the bill before leaving office, but bipartisan support in the General Assembly may send it back to the governor’s desk.

TAGS: Allen Skillicorn, consolidation, David McSweeney, Jonathan Carroll, local government consolidation, Mark Batinick, Sam Yingling, township, townships

Inauguration day: 5 pro-taxpayer reforms Pritzker should push in 2019

By Vincent Caruso

01/14/2019

The Land of Lincoln has a new governor, but the state’s deep-seated problems remain. Here are five reforms that newly inaugurated Gov. J.B. Pritzker could pursue to begin setting the state on the right fiscal path.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, Bruce Rauner, JB Pritzker, local government consolidation, pensions, school district consolidation, spending cap