More questions of Addison Township

Where do property taxes go? Some go to our township. Elmhurst (north of North Avenue), Bensenville, Itasca, Wood Dale and Addison pay taxes for our Addison Township government.

Addison Township recently approved a budget of more than $5 million. Tax dollars are to be used for food for the needy, senior services, road maintenance and mosquito abatement. Most residents know little about township services. In the last financial report, $1.8 million was spent on salaries.

As a taxpayer and former candidate for supervisor, I am interested in how my money is spent. The public portion of the Addison Township meetings usually lasts no more than 10 minutes. I attended on Sept. 9, where public comment was permitted before they went into executive session to discuss pending legislation (paid for by us taxpayers) for the second time so far this year.

I asked about three things:

1. Outreach, letting township residents know about services. Nowhere in their literature or on their Web site do they mention communities other than Addison. The Addison Township building, meetings, food pantry and senior citizen services are all in Addison. Nothing goes on in the other communities - Elmhurst, Bensenville, Wood Dale and Itasca. Is it coincidence that Supervisor Kathryn Cermak-Durante is from Addison?

2. For transparency about meetings and budget, I was told to go to their Web site or request it through the Freedom of Information Act.

3. Addison Township-sponsored casino trips. When I asked who went and how much it cost, I was told my two minutes were up. See if you can find your township's agenda, minutes and expenditures-and help hold our representatives accountable.

Kathy Salzano

Elmhurst