A plan co-sponsored by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) to allow for the consolidation of townships and the elimination of township road districts in Lake and McHenry Counties passed the Senate yesterday on a bipartisan vote.

House Bill 4637 would require that township road districts in Lake and McHenry Counties with less than 15 miles of roadway be abolished, with their responsibilities transferred to the local township.

“Anyone who has glanced at their property tax bill knows there are simply too many units of local government in Illinois,” Morrison said. “Having a layer of government to take care of less than 15 miles of roadway is outdated and wasteful. This is a commonsense reform that over time will save resources and streamline the delivery of services to taxpayers.”

House Bill 4637 also allows McHenry County residents to initiate a public referendum on dissolving their local township, building on reforms passed by Morrison last year that expanded the ability of townships to merge or dissolve.

“This proposal builds on our work to empower local voters to make consolidation decisions that are in the best interests of their communities and allowing services to be delivered as efficiently as possible,” Morrison said.

House Bill 4637 now awaits a vote in the Illinois House before being sent to the governor.