 Shifts in population distribution and other changes affect state,
county and municipal governments. Even small changes in population
numbers, location, income, employment -- basically the answers to
every question asked on the census questionnaire -- have an impact
on revenues, expenses, operations and services. Whether immediate or
gradually discovered, the numbers are in place and lasting until the
2020 census.
Locally, Logan County had a decline of 897 residents.
One result from that loss will be seen at the Logan County Joint
Solid Waste Agency, which provides state-mandated recycling
operations. The agency has announced that it would see a per capita
subsidy loss of $2,691 a year.
Other financial effects might never be observed, such as no
longer qualifying for a grant based on population size or
demographic need.
Most of the population changes would carry a financial impact,
but they might also influence where you vote or go for certain
government services.
This month, county officials began of some of their decennial
housekeeping processes, some of which are influenced by the census.
Going under review would be district and precinct boundary lines and
board member compensation.
The discussions are preliminary, requiring additional
information, processes and board member input; therefore, they are
expected to take several months to decide.
Sally Litterly, Logan County clerk and recorder, said it is the
duty of the county board to redistrict and to change precincts by
decrease or increase. She is currently getting census information to
see if there is a need to redistrict, and she would present that
information to the board next month.
District boundaries are decided by population
The county is currently divided into six districts, with two
representatives from each district making up the county board.
District lines are drawn by population counts within individual
county board districts.
Precincts boundaries are decided by numbers of voters.
A precinct can be coupled with an adjacent precinct as long as it
is kept under 800 voters. Logan County does not have very many
precincts with 800 voters who actually cast ballots, Litterly said.
Consolidations would be most likely to happen in east and west
Lincoln. And, if consolidations were to be done, it would then be
necessary to renumber the precincts, she said.
She recalled that 10 years ago the board added West Lincoln
Precinct 11.
Litterly said there is a possibility that precincts could be
reduced.
"If we do reduce precincts, we could save $600 per precinct," she
said.
Drawing the lines
Jan Schumacher asked if it would be possible to have district and
precinct boundaries more aligned. District 2 lines in the western
portion of the county, where she and Bob Farmer serve, are difficult
to follow.
Litterly's office handles elections. "We would like every line to
be along precinct lines, because that's what's easier for us to
cope," Litterly said. "In Prairie Creek Township, there are so many
different lines over there, there's 12 different ways you can vote."
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Litterly explained that 10 years ago the process of drawing lines
was a laborious, manual process. Then, she had to go the Springfield
legislative office to hand draw lines on a map, going down a road
here and there to pick up voter numbers as needed. While most
district lines follow precinct lines, they particularly do not in
District 2.
Litterly thinks that the process will be much easier now with the
availability of online GIS tools. She has been speaking with new GIS
coordinator Will D'Andrea and county engineer Bret Aukamp about
possibly using the county's new GIS system to help make any changes
that would be needed. The GIS may make it easier to set those lines.
Ruben said that if possible, when Litterly has the population
done, he would recommend keeping the same districts for the county
board representation.
Another decade-cyclical matter that needs to be started this year
includes resetting board member benefits. Specifically, health
insurance availability has been in question, and per diem pay for
meetings would possibly change if benefits would change. Not all
board members participate in the health insurance program, but there
is no leveling compensation for those who don't.
In June 2009, the Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance did not
allow for part-time employees, and board members are seen as part
time. The board approved a temporary measure eliminating health
insurance for future elected or appointed board members, with
present board members grandfathered in until 2012.
Insurance chair Jan Schumacher has been following the Illinois
Association of County Board Members Healthcare Study Committee and
thought something of interest may come from that.
The changes need to be decided before the 2012 board candidates
begin filing for next spring's primary, which takes place on March
20, 2012.
On an interrelated matter, in November this year the question
would be put to voters whether the county should remain as districts
or return to at-large representation, as it was in the previous
decade.
Board candidates would begin filing for the spring 2012 primary
for seats either by district or at large as decided by voters in
November.
The next board members would be voted in during the general
election in November 2012 and take office on Dec. 1, 2012, under the
new pay and benefit structure.
[By
JAN YOUNGQUIST]
Related
information
"2010
Census Redistricting Data
Decennial census data are used for geographically defining state
legislative districts, a 'redistricting' process that begins in
2011.
County level data by state is
available through the Census Bureau's interactive map tool. For more
local area data about your state, visit
American FactFinder."
Past related article
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