Townships are just doing their jobs
The state of Illinois is in financial crisis with a deficit of $8.95 billion and lawmakers recently raised the state income tax from 3 percent to 5 percent. Cook County’s deficit is well over $487 million and villages and cities are dealing with severe budget constraints.
And yet, at a time when many of our residents are suffering financial hardships because of an adverse economy, townships are coming under fire. It’s been suggested local taxing bodies be dissolved or consolidated.
On the surface that makes sense — but bigger is not always better. This is clearly evident by the financial conditions of both our state and county governments. Do you really want Cook County or the state of Illinois to receive more of your tax dollars? Do you really think they are more efficient than township government?
Wheeling Township provides local programs with local dollars. Operating revenues are generated from property taxes; no federal or state funds are received. Wheeling Township homeowners pay less than 1 percent of their property taxes to the township — that equates to $60 per year from the average taxpayer.
We conservatively use these funds to provide myriad services, including emergency financial assistance to those experiencing hardships because of illness or job loss, transportation for the elderly and disabled, food pantry, mobile dental clinic, holiday programs, employment counseling, and local agency funding. If townships were eliminated, who would provide these critical services?
Know that if a time comes when you or your neighbor have need for our services, you will not have to contact a large inflexible bureaucratic system staffed by “union” employees with protected positions, but rather trained professionals hired and retained for their knowledge, performance and compassion.
Like many well run local entities, Wheeling Township operates with a balanced budget — we have no deficits. Why then are we perceived as the problem?
Dr. Michael B. Schroeder
Wheeling Township supervisor