Above / Naperville Township is one of 1,431 townships in Illinois. The Governor’s Task Force made 27 recommendations, six applied directly to Townships, for streamlining local government, empowering communities and saving taxpayer dollars.
OAK BROOK – Illinois Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti on January 4, 2016, formally presented Governor Bruce Rauner with the Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates Task Force’s final report.
“Part of reforming and turning around Illinois includes empowering local communities. This report shows the efficiencies and inefficiencies within local governments and provides concepts on how to give the people of Illinois more control over their future and their tax dollars,” Governor Rauner stated in a news release. “I thank the Lt. Governor and the Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates Task Force for their hard work and dedication to the people of Illinois.”
According to the US Census of Government, Illinois has more local units of government than any other state in the nation at 6,963. Illinois also has the second-highest effective property tax rate in the nation.
“This report is the culmination of an 11-month effort of the Task Force joining together in support of proposals to structurally reform state and local government, and get Illinois back on track,” said Illinois Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti. “As a mother of three, I want my kids to live in a better Illinois. I want them to live in a state that tackles its fiscal and structural issues head-on, with real reform. I hope our leadership in the General Assembly puts politics aside and considers the needed reforms in this report.”
On February 13, 2015, Governor Bruce Rauner created the Task Force on Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates. Its charge was to find efficiencies and ways to streamline local government functions to save taxpayer dollars. The Task Force convened 16 meetings across the state and conducted a comprehensive review of state laws pertaining to local governments and school districts.
The final report includes a study on unfunded mandates and opportunities to streamline or eliminate governmental bodies and schools districts, and 27 Task Force endorsed recommendations. The Task Force endorsed 27 recommendations which resulted from the testimony of 33 experts representing government associations, nonprofit think tanks, researchers, and state agencies.
Warren L. Dixon III served Task Force
Naperville resident Warren L. Dixon III served on the Governor’s Task Force. Dixon is the Naperville Township Assessor, DuPage County, IL. Though Dixon was unavailable Monday, he returned PN’s call early Wednesday.
“I was honored to serve on the task force with such a qualified and diversified group of participants,” Dixon noted, expressing pride that he along with Lt. Governor Sanquinetti were the two participants who had attended every formal task force meeting.
“In the end, I was one of the lead voices and architect of five of the six township recommendations. And now I’ll be traveling throughout the state to help champion the goals of the task force, explain how local taxes are assessed and the next steps which will include writing legislation.”
Dixon said he was most impressed with the openness of the process that produced the group’s 404-page document. Republicans and Democrats worked across the aisle, representing residents throughout the state as well as local unit participation, he said.
From all the prior and current studies reviewed during the process, the task force reached consensus that consolidation reform must begin from the bottom up.
“Consolidation reform starts from the bottom up and not from the top,” Dixon said.
Now it’s time for governing bodies to create local, regional and county task force groups to evaluate consolidation opportunities, building consensus to share services and address unfunded mandates at the local level.
“I consulted with many local officials and residents during the process,” said Dixon. “One of the most valued assets was our own Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis.”
Begin action now to save taxpapers
Public officials, legislators and policymakers will have enormous opportunities to study, debate and implement ideas proposed, beginning with the cost-effective provisions that can be achieved most easily and hopefully soon.
During the Naperville City Council meeting on Jan. 5, 2016, Councilman Kevin Coyne brought up the results of the Task Force on Local Government Consolidation under New Business. He suggested merit in directing City staff to evaluate the report. A show of hands requested by Mayor Steve Chirico supported the councilman’s recommendation.
City Manager Doug Krieger called the document a “fabulous report.” He also said City staff could bring back recommendations for consideration by the first City Council meeting in February 2016.
Task Force Report featured online
The final Task Force on Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates report can be found here.
Release submitted by Catherine Kelly for the Governor’s Office and Allie Bovis for the Lt. Governor’s Office. PN File Photo.
