Home rule referendum vote on tap in Elburn Monday

The Elburn village board will decide Monday whether to ask voters in March to give the village home rule legislative authority.

The board will vote on the matter at its meeting at 7 p.m. at the village hall, 301 E. North St.

It is the board’s last meeting in 2011. Jan. 3 is the deadline to put a question on the March 20, 2012 ballot.

Home rule status gives a village more legislative powers, including the ability to institute taxes and fees beyond that granted by the Illinois Municipal Code. A village could, for example, make more things — such as cars, boats, alcohol, food — eligible for sales tax.

It could also approve property tax increases that exceed the rate of inflation, because home rule villages are not subject to the state’s property tax cap law.

Villages and cities gain home rule powers automatically once their population exceeds 25,000. That’s how nearby Batavia gained its home rule powers in 2009.

Because Elburn’s population is 5,602, it can only get home rule powers through referendum.