Illinois townships vote to fix pensions, gerrymandering and unfunded mandates

Illinois townships are sounding the alarm on the state’s biggest issues. Eight townships voted in support of state lawmakers fixing the state’s pensions crisis, gerrymandering and unfunded mandates.

Illinois voters in eight townships voted overwhelmingly April 1 to have state lawmakers fix Illinois’ biggest issues, which have been largely ignored.

Addison, Homer, Lemont, Leyden, Palatine, Palos, Wheeling and Winfield townships all sent a message to state lawmakers with votes on a series of advisory ballot questions which do not directly change state law but calls on leaders to do so.

The results were an overwhelming “Yes” to pension reform, “Yes” to fair maps not drawn by lawmakers and “No” to unfunded mandates on local governments that drive up property taxes.

In November, Barrington Township voters were the first to overwhelmingly tell state lawmakers to fix the government pensions that are eating their taxes and still leave them facing massive debt they someday must pay. Illinois has about $211 billion in unfunded liabilities owed state and local government pension funds.

The eight townships had at least one question on pensions, gerrymandering and unfunded mandates. Voters saw the following questions:

• Pensions: Voters in Palatine, Lemont, Homer, Palos and Winfield townships all approved, “Should the state of Illinois enact constitutional pension reform to protect workers’ existing retirements and generate savings which could provide property tax relief or be reinvested in the community?”
• Fair maps: Voters in Addison, Lemont, Homer and Palos townships approved the question, “Should the state of Illinois create an independent citizens commission to draw fair and competitive federal and state redistricting maps, rather than allowing lawmakers to decide?”
• Unfunded mandates: Voters in Palatine, Lemont, Homer, Palos, Leyden, Wheeling and Addison townships rejected the proposition, “Should the state of Illinois be allowed to force unfunded mandates on local governments who may raise property taxes to cover the costs of those mandates?”

State lawmakers representing these townships know how their constituents feel, and they should represent those views in Springfield. These are not partisan issues. Pension reform in 2013 was supported by both parties before the Illinois Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional.