Crowd pushes to dissolve new village of Campton Hills

At least 200 residents of the recently incorporated village of Campton Hills would like to see the new municipality dissolved in the next election cycle.

That is approximately how many crowded into the Congregational United Church of Christ for a meeting titled "Free Us from Campton Hills."

The event was organized by the Stop Campton Hills Public Action committee, whose members firmly believe there is no way that the current village government can successfully operate on its current budget.

"We're here to discuss whether we can afford to run this village the way they say they can," said committee organizer Chris Baldwin. "I just don't know if they're sure of their expenses.

According to Baldwin and fellow organizer Carmine Julian, neighboring communities such as Elburn and St. Charles run their municipalities on far greater budgets than that of Campton Hills.

"All of these people spend multiple millions of dollars to run their villages," said Julian.

In addition, the organization points out that although village leaders cannot raise taxes without a referendum, there are 26 items listed in Illinois state statutes that may be levied on residents.

This is an issue that Campton Hills Village President Patsy Smith strongly disputes, citing an Illinois statue that states new municipalities must have a new referendum to levy taxes.

"There's not going to be a referendum. There's just not," she said.

In addition, she said officials have yet to determine how much sales tax revenue the village will receive, since after incorporation officials discovered there were more than 200 businesses within village boundaries -- much more than previously thought.

Those who support the dissolution of Campton Hills are in the middle of a push to get a referendum on the ballot in the upcoming February elections. They are soliciting signatures for a petition to bring before the court in the coming weeks.

However, the village already has taken steps to place three advisory referendum questions on the ballot, which is the maximum allowed by law. County and state election officials say the only way to get a fourth question on the ballot is through a judge's order or a statutory amendment.

The organization must get 2,400 signatures on its petition to do this. However, leaders believe that if they are able to get much more than that, it may help them in front of a judge.

"I believe very strongly that the more people come on the petition, the more standing we have," said Baldwin. "You cannot deny a referendum brought forward by the people."

Organizers believe that dissolution can be achieved in an election, considering that 4,062 people voted on the issue of incorporation last April out of a population of 12,000. The measure passed by a narrow margin.

Those who support the dissolution of the village are ready to fight to bring things back to the way they used to be.

"I voted for the referendum," said resident Steve Janci, who has lived in the area for 13 years. "I found out I made a mistake."