Most county historical societies in Illinois rely on donations and memberships, but the Madison County Historical Society receives a generous infusion of tax dollars to run its museum and library. County leaders just cut the total, but why do they provide taxpayer support at all?

Taxpayers voted overwhelmingly to dissolve Collinsville Area Recreation District – but the debt the district incurred will burden taxpayers for years.

Godfrey voters decided Nov. 6 to dissolve the village’s duplicative township, a measure that officials had been weighing for nearly 20 years.

Madison County voters decided Nov. 6 that responsibilities such as recording land transfers and maintaining deeds no longer justify a separate office for an elected official.

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

Alton voters will face two referendums that could eliminate government layers at both the township and county levels.

A referendum asking voters whether to dissolve Godfrey Township will appear on ballots Nov. 6.

Illinois taxpayers are fed up and overtaxed. Residents have little faith that their governments are spending their tax dollars well – and for good reason. The state’s most recent spending plan is out of balance by as much as $1.5 billion, and includes $54.2 million in wasteful spending and $27 million in pork-barrel spending. The...

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.