SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, introduced House Bill 3301, which
would eliminate the office of township clerk in each Township of Will County that resides
within the 98th Illinois House Legislative District, eliminating duplicative services and saving
taxpayer dollars.

“Saving taxpayer dollars has always been a top priority of mine and it should be a top priority for
anyone who is serious about fixing the many problems that keep Illinois from realizing its full
potential,” said Manley. “When we discover that redundancies and/or duplicative services exist,
at any level of government, we cannot continue to turn a blind eye and ignore the facts just
because it’s easier.”

Illinois has nearly 7,000 units of local government, nearly 1,800 more units of government that
the next competitive state. Currently, Illinois taxpayers are responsible for multiple layers of
government that duplicate services and force local governments to borrow and spend more,
ultimately costing taxpayers more money. Manley’s House Bill 3301, centralizes services and
focuses on efficiencies. The measure would only impact the Township Clerks office in the six
Townships in Will County within the 98th District, and would serve as a pilot program and a
model to potentially be implemented throughout the rest of the state.

“My commitment to gather and examine all the necessary data to make an informed decision as
it pertains to township government, both the cost and the benefit to the taxpayers in my district,
remains strong,” continued Manley. “I continue to invite all those who may not agree with me to
the table for further discussion. However, in order to have a productive conversation, we need to
be dealing with facts, not fear. Critics of this bill need to bring forth actual data that proves
keeping the status quo and business as usual is the best for the taxpayers.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Continuing his efforts to reduce the size of government and stretch taxpayer dollars, state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, passed a measure to make it easier for voters to eliminate township road districts with bi-partisan support.

“Families pay outrageously high property taxes simply because they live in townships located in Lake County that are bloated with unnecessary layers of government,” Yingling said. “Taxpayers already pay for roads through their property taxes to the county. Forcing homeowners to also pay for roads through the township is nothing more than double taxation in another form, and that needs to end.”

House Bill 607 allows voters to decide through a public referendum on the ballot if the township road district should be abolished. Illinois has almost 7,000 units of local government—the most in the nation.

“I am constantly looking for ways to consolidate duplicative or unneeded units of local governments and streamline government services to help reduce the property tax burden that is unfairly placed on middle class families,” Yingling continued. “The passage of my recent bill is part of the solution I am delivering to the people of my district and I encourage the Senate to act immediately on it.”

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. –  State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, is advancing legislation that would ease property taxes by allowing voters to do away with layers of government that have outlived their usefulness.

“Illinois has changed a lot since the 1800s, but how we manage local government hasn’t kept up with the times,” Yingling said. “Some governmental units like townships are now just another line item on a property tax bill which middle class families are struggling to afford. In developed areas like ours, they provide the same services already offered at the county and municipal level. Voters ought to have a say if they want to dissolve these redundant taxing bodies.”

Currently, Illinois has 7,000 units of local government, more than any other state. Illinois leads the next highest state, Pennsylvania, by 2,000 units of government. Of Illinois’ 7,000 bodies of government, 1,400 are townships. According to the Better Government Association, only 20 states have townships, with Illinois having more townships than any other state.

Yingling’s House Bill 3133 creates a process for the elimination of township government through a voter referendum, Yingling relied upon his experience as a former township supervisor of Avon Township in Lake County and met with local advocates of consolidation in other highly developed counties that have passed similar measures.

“My goal is to get rid of as many duplicative positions and government entities as possible,” Yingling continued. “Right now, townships as they exist are prime territory for government consolidation and property tax relief. We have too many assessors who assess too few properties and highway commissioners who maintain too few roads.”