Godfrey voters to choose whether to dissolve township on their November ballots

A referendum asking voters whether to dissolve Godfrey Township will appear on ballots Nov. 6.

Godfrey voters will decide Nov. 6 whether to remove one layer of their local government.

Godfrey Township, which overlaps with the village of Godfrey, will be the subject of a referendum asking voters whether to dissolve the township. Should voters choose to eliminate the township, its duties will be transferred to another government body. Godfrey leaders have yet to decide on the receiving government body, according to the Alton Daily News.

The referendum will read, “Shall the Township of Godfrey cease?” and give voters a “yes” or “no” option.

Godfrey residents will also vote on a consolidation referendum posed by the county. That referendum will ask voters whether to eliminate Madison County’s office of the recorder of deeds, transferring its duties to the county clerk.

Other Madison County municipalities with overlapping townships include Alton, Collinsville and Granite City. Voters in the nearby city of Alton will face a similar ballot question, asking whether to consolidate its township with the city.

Townships perform three services: property assessment, road maintenance and general aid.

In August, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law Senate Bill 3, which allowed Illinois communities to hold referendums on whether to dissolve or consolidate townships.

Prior to that law, Belleville became the first city in southwestern Illinois to dissolve its township. In that instance, Belleville consolidated its township through a City Council vote, as opposed to a referendum.

Godfrey voters will cast their general election ballots Nov. 6.