Daily Herald opinion: An act of savings, respect: How eliminating a small unit of government can make a big statement

Sometimes, even a small act can demonstrate serious respect for taxpayers and a commitment to lean, efficient government.

Various Lake County entities are engaged in the process of just such an act. This week, the Lake County Board became the fifth of six government bodies that have to agree to the dissolution of the Avon-Fremont Draining District. With the expected buy-in next week of the Grayslake village board, the district will become defunct.

The Avon-Fremont district includes parcels in Grayslake, Hainesville, Libertyville, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Park and unincorporated Lake County. Grayslake comprises three-quarters of the affected territory. Mayor Elizabeth Davies told our Mick Zawislak that managing stormwater is a village priority and Grayslake can “easily absorb” its share of the costs.

As Zawislak reported, drainage districts are supported through revenue from assessments placed on tax bills of properties within the district. The impact on individual taxpayers is comparatively small, but however limited, it’s still money that goes back to taxpayers, and dissolutions like this promote leaner, more efficient overall government.

“This is a very great example of collaboration and getting consensus of the communities involved,” said county board member John Wasik, a Grayslake resident.

When the Avon-Fremont district is shut down, its remaining funds of around $56,000 — minus some shutdown expenses — will be transferred to the various taxing bodies based on the percentage of former district territory in each.

Lake County board has eliminated or consolidated six special districts since 2017, and is in the process of dissolving two more. In its 2025 annual report, the county emphasizes the priority it places on such activities.

“Lake County, which has more than 200 units of government, has been steadily pursuing opportunities to consolidate or eliminate special districts, such as sanitary, drainage and mosquito abatement districts,” the report says, adding that “The progress achieved in reducing or consolidating these layers of government shows that such efforts are both feasible and beneficial, resulting in greater efficiency and savings for taxpayers.”

While that kind of aggressive attention to streamlining is important, it’s also important to note that eliminating such agencies requires thoughtful, deliberate effort to ensure that savings and efficiency will be real, not just assumed.

As County Board Chair Sandy Hart said, every such instance must be considered on a case-by-case basis.

“Some of these might not make sense to dissolve,” she said.

But those that do make sense, should be dissolved. Governments that proactively seek out such opportunities show sincere respect for taxpayers and help bolster the faith of the people they serve.