Currently, Illinois has the most local units of governments in the nation with over 7,000, running up an expensive tab for taxpayers.

Today, the Illinois Senate passed Senate Bill 3 to make it easier for local governments to consolidate or be eliminated completely and save taxpayers’ money. State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) supported the legislation.

The proposal passed the Senate with a vote of 43-14.

•    allows counties to dissolve local governments with governing boards appointed by the county (excluding water and fire protection districts)
•    allows townships to merge with adjacent townships
•    allows townships that share the same boundaries as a municipality to be dissolved by referendum
•    removes the current cap on square mileage of a township and other various barriers that prevent townships from consolidating  

“These thousands of layers of government duplicate services and cost taxpayers additional money every year,” Murphy said. “It’s past time for the state to remove these barriers and make it easier for local governments to consolidate. This legislation is the first step in that process.”