McHenry Times

HB4244, a bill that would allow township electors in McHenry County to petition for a referendum at the next election to dissolve a township, has been referred to the House Rules Committee. 

Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee), the bill's chief co-sponsor, said the legislation is long overdue.

"How many of these taxing bodies spend more on salaries and pensions than general aid? How many of these elected officials vote to hike property tax levies? Do any of these elected officials turn down their salaries and pensions?" Skillicorn told McHenry Times. 

Rep. Allen Skillicorn | Courtesy of Allen Skillicorn For State Representative

The legislation would provide for the transfer to McHenry County of all "real and personal property, and any other assets, together with all personnel, contractual obligations and liabilities of the dissolving township."

The legislation also seeks to cut down on the number of local governments in Illinois. Currently, Illinois has nearly 7,000 local government units, which is close to 1,600 more than the next state. The number of local government units is part of the property tax problem residents face. 

"Duplicitous taxing bodies are part of the property tax problem not the solution," Skillicorn said. 

According to the Illinois Policy Center, Illinoisians pay the second-highest property taxes in the nation and have a local government that is ranked as third-most corrupt. 

In a report on the number of local government units, the Illinois Policy Center noted that "when citizens live in areas with too many layers of government, their ability to participate in the democratic process becomes more difficult, and the public overall isn’t able to actively participate and (it is) wholly impossible for citizens to organize efforts to reduce the number of local governments in Illinois."

"I support democracy. Let the voters decide if these elected politicians answer the questions correctly or not," Skillicorn said.