From State Senator Terri Bryant:
Proposed Township Consolidation Could Lead to Higher Property Taxes
A new push by Governor Pritzker to consolidate townships with counties is raising concerns that the plan could lead to higher property taxes for Illinois families.
While proponents argue that consolidation would streamline government, critics warn that shifting township duties to counties would increase bureaucracy, administrative costs, and government size, costs that would ultimately be passed down to taxpayers.
Illinois already has the highest tax burden in the nation, and this move could make it even worse.
Townships currently maintain 72,000 miles of roads across the state, often providing cost-effective services directly to their communities.
If counties take over these responsibilities, they will likely face higher operational costs, which could result in significant property tax increases to cover the additional expenses.
Opponents of the plan argue that this is not a true government reform but rather a talking point that ignores the financial realities of shifting services from one level of government to another.
Without proper funding, counties taking on township duties would be forced to raise taxes to compensate for the increased workload.
As discussions on this proposal continue, many lawmakers and local officials are speaking out against the plan, emphasizing the importance of protecting taxpayers from yet another financial burden.
