Senator Terry Link Pledges Township Abolition Bill Will Pass Again and Likely Be Signed by Governor JB Pritzker

Calling former Governor Bruce Rauner “hypocritical” for vetoing the township abolition bill, State Senator Terry Link,also Chairman of the Lake County Democratic Party, says the bill will pass again and be signed by Governor JB Pritzker. The bill had two … Continue reading

Township Opponent Offers Gradualist Approach to Abolition

In reply to Steve Willson’s comments on State Rep. David McSweeney’s bill to allow voters to abolish their township government through a petition and referendum process, commenter “KnownExtremist” offers the following: I do have an opinion on townships and I … Continue reading

Career Politicians Operating for Benefit of Themselves the Problem with Township Governmnt, Letter Writier Says

A letter to the Northwest Herald from TP Mathews, reprinted with permission of the Wonder Lke man: Consolidation NOT the Answer After reading scores of articles during the last 2 years, I must ask if consolidation is really the answer. … Continue reading

Taking Power Away from Citizens in Township Government

I have been following Algonquin Township government since I was in college. In fact, my first public meeting was one on non-dedicated subdivision roads for Silver Lakes. The township used a law passed by State Rep. George Lindberg (R-Crystal Lake) … Continue reading

What Township Government Did To 2018 Real Estate Tax Bills

Here are the comparisons for taxes collected in 2016, 2017 and 2018 for McHenry County’s seventeen townships. In all, the townships cut the amount being taken out of our checkbooks by 3%. Each township has the cost of highway departments … Continue reading

Real Estate Tax Bills Coming Monday

McHenry County Treasurer Glenda Miller mailed property tax bills on Friday. Since they didn’t come Saturday, I’m guessing they will arrive in most mailboxes Monday. McHenry County Blog will present some analysis, the first portion of which compares what categories … Continue reading

How Motor Fuel Taxes Are Distributed to Local Governments

Tim Peters of the Illinois Department of Transportation writes that MFT funds are distributed to local agencies in the following breakdown: 49.10% goes to the municipalities – apportioned in proportion to population; 16.74% goes to the counties having a population … Continue reading

Burton Township’s Road District Would Barely Survive Abolition under McSweeney’s Bill

With only 15.69 miles of township roads, the office of Burton Township Road Commissioner would be abolished at the end of the current commissioner’s term under House Bill 4637. The bill was sponsored in the Illinois House by Republican State … Continue reading

104 Respond to Steve Reick Poll on Precondition to Township Consolidation Vote, Bill Tubed

From State Rep. Steve Reick’s web site: Rep. Steve Reick Presents Consolidation Survey Results State Representative Steve Reick (R-Woodstock) has released the final results of a recent legislative survey which showed that taxpayers believe elected officials should have to prove … Continue reading

Fire Protection Districts Are McHenry County’s Tax Increase Leaders

McHenry County Levy Increases Outpace Municipalities In a previous McHenry County Blog articles Comparing McHenry County Property Tax 2002 Versus 2016 it was discovered that while the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased 33.8% from 2002 to 2016, most McHenry … Continue reading

Comparing Township Road District Property Taxes 2002 Versus 2016-Part 6

48.37% Average Increase in Road & Bridge Funds Today McHenry County Blog is revealing numbers for Township Road Districts. In summary from 2002 to 2016: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased by 33.8%. County Population increased by 10.55%. County … Continue reading

McHenry Township to Vote on Consolidation

Special Meeting Called for Tuesday. McHenry Township Board will be given a second opportunity to vote on whether to put road district consolidation referendum question on the ballot this November after a special meeting was called. McHenry County Republican Chairwoman … Continue reading

Proof of Reduction in Costs with Township Road District Elimination is Goal of Legislation Filed by Rep. Steve Reick

From the Rep. Steve Reick’s Office: Rep. Reick Files Legislation to Require Cost Study to Ensure Township Road District Consolidations Save Money Taxpayers and elected leaders seek consolidation because they want lower taxes. I fully support consolidation that results in … Continue reading

Ersel Schuster Defends State Rep. Steve Reick’s Bill Requiring Cost-Benefit Study Before a Township’s Highway Commissioners Abolished

From McHenry County Board candidate Ersel Schuster: Taxpayer to Taxpayer After reading the “thumbs down” opinion (12/23/17 NW Herald), it would be difficult to conclude this is nothing more than a calculated put-down of Rep. Reich’s amendment HB 4160, an … Continue reading

Reick Steps into Township Efficiency Issue

Posted by State Rep. Steve Reick: Rep. Steve Reick Files Legislation to Require Cost Study to Ensure Township Road District Consolidations Save Money State Representative Steve Reick (R-Woodstock) is hoping to infuse some common sense into the discussion of township … Continue reading

Could Idle Gravel Trucks Be Used to Plow Roads?

McHenry’s Ned Neumann offers the following commentary in a Northwest Herald letter to the editor. It is published with permission of its author. Consider outsourcing township plowing If there are great savings to be had in the operation of township … Continue reading

Bill Passes Giving Township Trustees Power to Set Township Road District Abolition or Consolidation Votes

A press release from Lt. Governor Evelyn anguinetti: Township Road & Bridge District consolidation bill sent to Governor CHICAGO – Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti applauds the passage of a bill to allow township trustees to initiate referendums to consolidate township road … Continue reading

Referendum Effort to Merge Two DuPage County Township Road Districts

Consolidation of township road functions is taking a new twist in DuPage County. According to the Naperville Sun, a judge is being asked to putA  the following question on the spring ballot: Shall the Naperville Road District and the Lisle … Continue reading