On Saturday, McHenry County Blog published a thoughtful analysis by Cary Grade School Board President Scott Coffee about the situation facing those wishing to consolidate Crystal Lake High School District 155 with its four feeder grade schools. You can read … Continue reading
Category Archives: Consolidation of Local Governments
Weekend readers found an article about this new law on Saturday, but here is the press release about it from State Senator Pam Althoff and State Rep. Barb Wheeler: New law signed by Gov. Rauner aims to save Lake County … Continue reading
There is a lot of talk about consolidation local governments, but little significant action. State Rep. Barb Wheeler and State Senator Pam Althoff have passed a bill designed to lead to one fewer local government in Illinois. They have successfully … Continue reading
House Bill 229 is a bill whose content ended up doing virtually nothing in DuPage County and will do the same in McHenry and Lake. Sponsored by State Rep. Jack Franks, it deals with consolidation of local governments. This is … Continue reading
Andy Shaw of the Better Government Association bragged that Jack Franks’ bill that would allow the McHenry County Board to do what the DuPage County Board had done with regard to governmental consolidation deserved “a shout out.” I remember Franks’ … Continue reading
The Local Government Consolidation Task Force Report recommendations are out and it has lots of detail regarding the proceedings, which you read here. One person who did take a look at the report was Jack Franks’ 2014 opponent Steve Reick. … Continue reading
Hard to tell you the frustration of being able to read the Lt. Governor’s Task Force Report on consolidating local governments and not be able to copy and paste it here. One of my readers came through, however. Here are … Continue reading
A press release from Governor Bruce Rauner: Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates Task Force Issues Final Report to Governor Task force makes 27 recommendations for streamlining local government, empowering communities & saving taxpayer dollars OAK BROOK – Illinois Lieutenant … Continue reading
One of the main participants in the McHenry County Board’s Township Consolidation Task Force meeting last Tuesday was Algonquin Township Road Commissioner Bob Miller. When he first spoke he told of hearing that McHenry County Board Chairman Joe Gottemoller had … Continue reading
Below is an amendatory veto from Governor Bruce Rauner: Veto Message for HB 219 To the Honorable Members of The Illinois House of Representatives, 99th General Assembly: Today I return House Bill 219 with a specific recommendation for change. Current … Continue reading
A press release from State Sen. Dan Duffy: Sen. Duffy Returns Money to Taxpayers State Sen. Dan Duffy (R-Lake Barrington) cut his Senate office budget last year by 35 percent and again this year by 37 percent. Duffy has returned … Continue reading
McHenry County Board member Donna Kurtz’ thoughts on consolidating local governments: CURRENT SITUATION It is heart-breaking to see an increasing number of friends and constituents in McHenry County express outrage and frustration as their taxes increase and government seems powerless … Continue reading
The following was written by State Senator Dan Duffy concerning a clone of the bill enacted at DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin’s request. House Bill 229, sponsored in the Illinois House by State Rep. Jack Franks, it allows McHenry … Continue reading
Yesterday I basically lamented that proponents of township consolidation have not presented necessary homework. Before moving toward a change in governance, one should do a study estimating future costs with future benefits. Vividly I remember the pitch Governor Pat Quinn … Continue reading
A press release from Gov. Bruce Rauner: Gov. Rauner establishes Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandate Task Force Sanguinetti to chair task force ELMHURST – Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner today signed Executive Order 15-15 creating the Local Government Consolidation and … Continue reading
Governor Pat Quinn thinks that consolidating schools will save big money because fewer administrators would be required. Reading the Daily Herald article, I notice that no mention is made of equalizing up elementary school teacher salaries to the level paid … Continue reading
Earlier this spring I picked up on a comment to the Northwest Herald in which political and fund raising consultant John Coonen suggested folding the Crystal Lake Park District into the City of Crystal Lake. Coonen continues his campaign to … Continue reading
Earlier this spring I picked up on a comment to the Northwest Herald in which political and fund raising consultant John Coonen suggested folding the Crystal Lake Park District into the City of Crystal Lake. Coonen continues his campaign to … Continue reading