Meaningful step to ending redundancy
While the sheer number of governments in Illinois is staggering - somewhere between 6,900 and 8,500, counting everything from school districts to lesser-known cemetery districts - the fundamental question isn't, "How many is too many?" Instead, it's "How can we transform outdated, redundant, ineffective units of government to deliver high-quality services in the most cost-effective, accountable way?"
Many governments are remnants of the past, created to serve much smaller or larger populations, or before duplicative districts emerged. Consider: One Illinois community has a library district that has no library.
We need governments that represent today's population and are nimble enough to adapt for tomorrow's. That's the goal of HJR 65, introduced by Illinois Rep. Ron Sandack. It asks General Assembly members to acknowledge the size, scope and cost of local governments may overburden taxpayers and negatively impact our economy.
The resolution, which has more than 10 co-sponsors, was authored by Transform Illinois, a new coalition of research institutions, government officials and advocacy groups brought together by DuPage County Chairman Dan Cronin with the support of the Metropolitan Planning Council.
From DuPage to Springfield, the movement is growing to identify solutions that overcome barriers to change. Locally, DuPage has made reforms, such as improved procurement policies and increased joint purchasing, that will save a projected $100 million.
To eliminate redundancies and save money, Evanston Township merged with the City of Evanston in 2014. At the state level, in February Gov. Rauner appointed a task force to study the effects of state-imposed unfunded mandates on local communities and to recommend ways local governments can be more efficient.
These victories demonstrate that Illinoisans want - and deserve - transparent and accountable governments that make the best use of tax dollars. This resolution provides a first step toward meaningful government transformation.
Dan Cronin
Chairman, DuPage County Board
MarySue Barrett
President, Metropolitan Planning Council