Dupage Policy Journal

Village of Glen Ellyn Senior Trustee Pete Ladesic thinks the era of township governments being critical to Illinois’ upliftment has come and gone.

“I believe that township governments had their place when the state was less developed, but I think we need to seriously reduce the gross number of taxing bodies in the state,” the Ladesic told the DuPage Policy Journal. “Many townships and county boards are really unnecessary. Many of these can be folded into nearby incorporated municipalities.”

In its current, House-amended form, Senate Bill 851 would establish a two-year property tax freeze for Cook, Lake, McHenry, Kane, DuPage and Will counties. Passage of the bill would also mandate that those counties are only allowed to increase property taxes with voter approval.

Peter Ladesic

All other counties would be subject to referendums asking whether a property tax freeze should be imposed for 2018 and 2019 or that all governments within a county jurisdiction be subject to a property tax freeze over that period and to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for levy year 2020 and the foreseeable future.

“I can understand why municipalities would oppose the freeze, but as a staunch opponent to tax increases in my 10 years as an elected official, I realize that if no caps are put on taxing and spending that we will continue exponential, unsustainable taxes for our residents,” Ladesic said.

“I would suggest having the townships who are opposing the freeze present a plan to ease into the freeze or present another real tax holding/reducing solution,” he said.

Bryan E. Smith, the executive director of the Township Officials of Illinois, sent an urgent legislative alert Nov. 1 to township officials informing them of a House Revenue Committee hearing that was scheduled before SB 851 could go before the full House and Senate for a pending vote.

Ladesic thinks taxpayers should have that same level of concern.

“The path we are on in this state is unsustainable,” he said. “All taxing bodies from the state on down have to adopt real reform and stop raising levies/taxes and instead exercise restraint and cut spending. 

"Elected officials must make their staffs accountable and present plans to cut costs without cutting services to taxpayers.”