Governor Creates Local Government Consolidation Commission

Commission to make recommendations to reduce the number of local governments and to increase their efficiency and economy.

Last month Democratic Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed House Bill 62, the Local Government Consolidation Commission Act. The passage of this bill created a Commission on Local Government, charged with studying the organization, powers, jurisdiction, and functions of local government in Illinois.

Illinois has more than 8,000 units of local government--more than any other state in the nation and twice as many as Pennsylvania, the next runner up.

Reason

The preamble to House Bill 62 includes the following statement:

Illinois local governments were conceived to serve a rural society; in areas not experiencing the impact of modern changes, they may be adequate, but in areas of great change, notably the urban areas, they are not sufficiently flexible, do not have adequate powers and financing, and are not responsive to present-day needs in transportation, health, water supply, water pollution, air pollution, recreation, disposal of sewage, and disposal of refuse.

Responsibilities

The commission is required to do the following:

• Study the inter-relationships of local governments to each other and to federal and State governments.
• Formulate specific recommendations for legislation or constitutional amendments to:
  • Permit effective management of local affairs.
  • Encourage local policy decision making.
  • Reduce the multiplicity of local governments.
  • Eliminate overlapping and duplicating of unnecessary powers.
  • Increase efficiency and economy in local governments.
  • Allow optional forms of local governments and increase their authority for cooperation among the levels of government.

Membership

The commission will be composed of 17 members, who will serve without compensation. Commission membership will be as follows:

• 3 Senators, appointed by the President of the Senate
• 3 Senators, appointed by the Senate Minority Leader
• 3 Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House
• 3 Representatives, appointed by the House Minority Leader
• 5 citizens, appointed by the Governor as follows:
  • 1 from recommendations provided by an association representing counties
  • 1 from recommendations provided by an association representing municipalities
  • 1 from recommendations provided by an association representing townships
  • 1 from recommendations provided by an association representing park districts
  • 1 elected officer of a local governmental entity in Illinois other than a county, municipality, township, or park district

Report

The commission shall provide a final report to the Illinois General Assembly no later than December 31, 2006, listing its findings and recommendations, and proposing those measures it considers necessary.