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 “Today we are one step closer to empowering our local communities
and giving them the necessary tools to rein in their out of control
costs,” Governor Rauner said. “These four bills are just the start
of delivering more value to taxpayers by reducing layers of
redundant bureaucracy. I want to thank the Lt. Governor and the Task
Force for their hard work, and I look forward to working with the
legislature to get these bills passed.”
“I believe the recommendations put forward today will have a
tremendous impact on the people of Illinois,” said Lt. Governor
Sanguinetti. “It was an honor to serve as the Chairman of the Local
Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates Task Force. I look
forward to continue working with members of the Task Force as we
work to streamline local government and make it more efficient for
the taxpayers of Illinois.”
According to the US Census of Government, Illinois has more local
units of government than any other state in the nation at 6,963.
Illinois also has the second-highest effective property tax rate in
the nation. These four pieces of legislation help reduce state
barriers to consolidation, and empower taxpayers and local leaders
to pursue efficient and effective government.
 The proposed legislation includes:
Citizens Empowerment
Act: Empowers Illinois citizens and local governments to consolidate
duplicative, excessive or unnecessary units of government via
referendum. Sponsored by: Sen. Dan Duffy (R-Lake Barrington), Rep.
David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) and Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon)
DuPage County Consolidation Powers Expansion: Provides that
the Local Government Reduction and Efficiency Division of the
Counties Code applies to all counties which currently only applies
to DuPage County. Sponsored by: Sen. Michael Connelly (R-Wheaton),
Sen. Dan Duffy (R-Lake Barrington), Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo),
Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield), Rep. Grant Werhli (R-Naperville)
and Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon)
Evanston Township Consolidation Expansion: Extends to all
coterminous townships and municipalities the same authority to
consolidate that is currently only provided to Evanston. Sponsored
by: Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) and Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon)
Township
Consolidation: Removes arbitrary barriers to township consolidation
that exist in statute so local residents or units of government can
consolidate if they so choose. Sponsored by: Sen. Dale Righter
(R-Mattoon), Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) and Rep. Tom Demmer
(R-Dixon)
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“I have been fighting for government consolidation since the day I was elected
in 2008,” said State Sen. Dan Duffy (R-Lake Barrington). “I am proud to have had
the opportunity to recommend ways we can eliminate government bureaucracy and
wasteful spending to reduce costs for our local governments, schools and
taxpayers.”
“I want to thank the Lt. Governor and Governor Rauner for their leadership on
this important issue,” said State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo). “I chaired the
previous effort and found that background extremely useful for this effort, but
I especially appreciate this administration’s commitment to consolidation and
government efficiencies.”
"I'm glad to support these proposals to streamline and improve local
government," said State Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon). "These bills will reduce
costs and improve efficiency, and that will help taxpayers across Illinois."
"It is the duty of all elected officials to seek greater efficiencies and
cost-savings opportunities by way of intergovernmental agreements that save
taxpayer dollars," said State Sen. Michael Connelly (R-Wheaton). "In the face of
'sky-high' property taxes, it's time to empower local governments with these
cost-saving measures."
“The Task Force put together a very comprehensive report and as elected
officials we all have a responsibility to look for the most efficient way to
deliver services to residents,” said Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico. “Naperville
has always been a community that values good government as well as looking at
innovative ways to create savings for our taxpayers.”
[Office of the Governor Bruce Rauner]
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