Yingling Continues Push for More Efficient Government, Passes Consolidation Measure out of House

SPRINGFIELD – State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, is leading the charge to make government more efficient and cost-effective by eliminating duplicative levels of government by passing legislation to consolidate Lake County road districts out of the House this week.

“Illinois has more units of local government than all but one state in the nation, and each unit of government has the ability to levy taxes on middle-class families,” Yingling said. “We must work to lessen that number if we are to deliver meaningful tax relief to hardworking families in Lake County. It was a pleasure working with state Rep. David McSweeney and McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks on this bill, and I am eager for our continued work together to streamline government.”

Yingling’s House Bill 4637 was approved by the House this week with broad bipartisan support.  The measure would give McHenry County taxpayers the power to put a referendum on the ballot to do away with taxing bodies such as highway commissioners and by mandating a ten percent reduction in property taxes on the township. Yingling’s legislation also requires Lake County to abolish road districts that serve roads with less than 15 miles of length. The bill now awaits action in the Senate.

“We must make it easier for taxpayers to have a greater say in how their tax dollars are spent,” added Yingling, who chairs the House Government Consolidation Committee. “My bipartisan measure will make it easier for taxpayers to vote to dissolve units of local government and allow Lake County to begin consolidating the services of our smallest local road districts. These measures will help governments reduce the local property tax burden and work towards a more efficient government that works for us taxpayers, not the bureaucrats and politicians.”