Advisory Referendum On Township Dissolution

On December 5, 2011, the Evanston Town Board adopted Resolution 4T-R-11 to include an advisory referendum on the March 20th General Election ballot with a question asking Evanston residents whether the Township Board should continue to pursue dissolution of the Township, with its duties transferred to the City of Evanston. The referendum is advisory, meaning that it serves only to inform elected officials of public opinion and will help guide their further discussions regarding Township services.

Township of Evanston Role

Memo

Evanston Township is a unit of local government, and one of five Cook County townships with boundaries identical to their respective municipalities, also called a coterminous township. Illinois Townships are charged with three basic functions by statute: 1) general assistance; 2) the assessment of real property for the basis of local taxation; and 3) maintenance of all roads and bridges outside federal, state, and other local jurisdiction.

In Evanston and all of Cook County, the appraising and valuing of real property is handled by the Cook County Assessor. The Cook County Assessor's Office is responsible for setting fair and accurate values for 1.8 million parcels of Cook County property. The Evanston Township Assessor offers assistance for residents with questions regarding their property tax bills, the assessment appeals process, as well as other general inquiries.

The maintenance of all roads and bridges within City limits are either handled by the City of Evanston or the State of Illinois Department of Transportation.

The Township provides General Assistance to certain financially disadvantaged residents. General Assistance is a service mandated by the state and paid for with monies from property taxes. It is a locally-administered program which provides financial assistance (up to $400.00/month) to single adults who are not eligible for any other local, state, or federal assistance program, and who do not have income or resources to provide for basic needs. The Township also provides residents with Emergency Assistance.

What will the advisory referendum do?

Section 28-6 of the Illinois State Election Code authorizes the initiation of advisory public questions in any local governmental district. Section 28-6(c) makes clear that such questions "shall be advisory public questions and no legal effects shall result from the adoption or rejection of such proposition."

What does the referendum state?

The referendum’s exact wording is detailed in Resolution 4T-R-11:

“Should the Evanston Town Board continue to pursue the issue of dissolving Evanston Township?"

YES    NO

Resolution 4T-R-11.pdf

How did the Township Board come to the decision to place this advisory referendum onto the ballot?

According to Resolution 4T-R-11 the Town Board convened numerous meetings in 2011, all properly noticed under the Township Code and Open Meetings Act, to consider the interrelated questions of township governance, budget, and dissolution. Additionally, all residents desiring to be heard on the subject matter of this Resolution were heard, testimony taken, legislative findings made, a voluminous legislative record created and this matter was exhaustively considered by the Town Board of the Township of Evanston.

Moreover, the Evanston Town Board determined that it is advisable and necessary to hear directly from the electors of the Township on the issue of whether the Township should be dissolved or not, and if the electors approve the proposition and determine that the Board should pursue this issue, the Board may abide by that direction. Finally, the Town Board determined that in its adoption of this Resolution and in its exercise of this discretionary act, it is in the best interests of the residents of Evanston Township to have the opportunity to vote upon this public question in order to express their view as to whether the coterminous township government in Evanston Township might be dissolved, and whether it approves of the Town Board pursuing that issue going forward.

What does the referendum mean if it is passed by the voters of Evanston?

If the voters approve the non-binding referendum nothing will immediately change. The referendum is advisory and the Town Board will consider the issue further and decide whether or not to pursue the dissolution further by Township action. If the Township dissolves, the City of Evanston would continue to provide Evanston residents with all services currently offered by the Township of Evanston as mandated by law. (65 ILCS 5/3.1-40-60) (10ILCS 5/28-6(c))

How would services be provided if the Township Board dissolves the Township?

If the Township were to dissolve, the City of Evanston would continue to provide Evanston residents with all services currently offered by the Township of Evanston as mandated by State law. The City would exercise all duties and responsibilities of the Township Supervisor and Township Assessor as provided in the Township Code, Public Aid Code and Property Tax Code. (60 ILCS 1/) (305 ILCS 5/ e+seq) (35 ILCS 200).

City of Evanston staff has looked at a possible alternative delivery model for Township services if the City would assume their function. These are only hypothetical and will require City Council approval to implement moving forward. These ideas serve as the beginning of the analysis regarding the specifics on which functions would be assumed by the City of Evanston.

Possible General Assistance Model

  • Continue providing direct financial assistance Evanston residents who lack resources for basic needs, and the persons also do not qualify for any other local, state or federal assistance programs (as mandated by Illinois law).
  • Examine the program’s eligibility requirements, levels of assistance and length of time for which people may receive assistance.

Possible Emergency Assistance Model

  • Continue to offer one-time financial assistance to eligible residents to ensure housing and food stability or to prevent gas-heat, water or electricity service interruption;
  • Assess the need and feasibility of providing extended assistance to clients and expand awareness of income requirements and eligible costs, and
  • Eligibility and application processes provided on website and in-person, outreach to non-profits.

Possible Township Assessor Model

  • Continue to offer residents with assistance regarding property tax bills, assessment appeals, and general inquiries.
  • Based on City of Chicago model which does not have an elected Township Assessor;
  • Evanston Taxpayer Assistance Window at the Civic Center open during business hours; augmented with additional staff during periods of peak use;
  • Outreach events to residents, with County Commissioner’s office and Cook County Board of Appeals; and
  • Installation of public computers to provide online access to resources for residents and assistance to use online services.

Community Presentation

Township Ballot Educational Presentation Final.ppt