Combine forces and save us some money

As has been well publicized, the state of Illinois has literally thousands of taxing bodies to include the state, counties, townships, municipalities, villages, school districts, water districts, fire districts, sewer districts, library districts, etc. All of the bodies have boards or commissions, “leaders” of some sort, and staff, many of whom receive generous salaries, pensions and health care.

In the current, and possibly future, economy the way we’re headed, doesn’t the inefficiency, duplicity and high cost (taxes) get anyone’s attention? Who pays for the inefficiency? Why, the taxpayer does, of course.

A July 11 article in the Daily Herald about the Settler’s Hill Golf Course certainly got my attention. The article states that the Kane County Forest Preserve District, the owner of the golf course, wants to put in a driving range. However, Kane County still owns the landfill where the driving range would be built and the liability associated with it.

The article goes on to state that the county would possibly negotiate a deal with the forest preserve district for the land but they would have to then assume the liability as well.

I’m sure the negotiations will be time consuming and expensive and lawyers will be billing time to protect everyone’s interest. Taxpayer’s money well spent?

Wouldn’t it make more sense if the Kane County Forest Preserve District were simply a division of Kane County and they worked as one for a common goal? I’m sure that a considerable amount of money would be saved if this concept were broadly applied to the myriad taxing bodies mentioned above.

Real “leaders” would be working on ways to eliminate inefficiency, not prolong it.

Steve Argabright

St. Charles