Senate Republicans in Downstate Illinois are expressing concerns over Governor JB Pritzker’s proposal to consolidate townships in small communities. The plan could potentially eliminate the office of township assessor in counties with fewer than 5,000 residents, leading to fears of massive tax hikes. The Republicans are advocating for a grassroots effort where the public would have the opportunity to vote on consolidations of any unnecessary local government bodies.
Sen. Chris Balkema has filed Senate Bill 1347, which would allow voters to petition for a referendum to dissolve units of local government. The goal is to reduce bureaucracy and make consolidation easier, particularly for entities like fire districts. The Pritzker administration argues that their legislation would empower taxpayers to reduce or eliminate duplicative taxing bodies and increase efficiency of services to local communities.
Senate Bill 2217, which addresses township consolidation, is currently assigned to the Senate Executive Committee. However, the measure did not receive a hearing before the Senate committee deadline. Despite differing viewpoints on the best approach to consolidation, both parties agree that the goal should be to streamline government operations and make services more effective for residents. The debate over township consolidation will likely continue as lawmakers work to find a solution that benefits all parties involved.
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