Didech Introduces Government Consolidation Bill to Lower Property Taxes

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. – In an effort to reduce property taxes for Illinois residents, state Rep. Daniel Didech, D-Buffalo Grove, proposed legislation aimed at consolidating overlapping layers of local government in Illinois.

“Illinois has more overlapping layers of governments than any other state in the country, and all these small districts draw their money from taxpayers,” Didech said. “Consolidating redundant layers of local government is the important first step in achieving real property tax relief in Illinois.”

Didech’s House Bill 3646, would put a binding referendum question on the ballot during the Nov. 5, 2020 election in areas with coterminous townships and municipalities, asking voters if they want to eliminate their township government and merge it with their municipal government. The bill also has similar provisions for eliminating township road districts. Didech hopes voters who choose to consolidate their local government will see their property tax bill shrink.

“When layers of government get consolidated, overhead costs go down as duplicative services are eliminated, and those savings can be passed down by municipalities to residents,” Didech said. “This bill gives communities the power to decide for themselves if they want to start consolidate units of government on a local level and reduce their property tax bills.”

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