Townships add to bureaucracy

I have conducted studies that show how inefficient and duplicative township government is. The studies clearly indicate that counties in Illinois without townships raise less property tax revenue per capita and therefore spend less.

Residents in these counties also receive the same services. Township government adds another layer, which adds to local government complexity and often slows down policymaking. It is an unnecessary hindrance.

A case in point: An agreement was just recently reached that allowed the village of Carol Stream to supply water to a middle school located in unincorporated Wayne Township. The township government had blocked the construction of a water system to provide municipal water for four years.

The well water that the school was using was destroying the school plumbing, the water table in the area was becoming contaminated, and the water tasted awful. In addition, the nearest fire hydrant was a half mile away, which posed a fire hazard for the school. Had there been no township to deal with, the schoolchildren would have been enjoying better-tasting water long ago.

Do we need this level of government to create roadblocks for desired and needed services?

David Hamilton

Hanover Park

Professor emeritus, Roosevelt University department of political

science and public administration