North Cook News

Legislators in Springfield should pass legislation to consolidate services, despite township opposition to those ideas, an Arlington Heights School Board member said while expressing his personal opinions during a recent interview.

"I think it's unfortunate that township governments would oppose a property tax freeze," Richard Olejniczak, who represents District 25 on the Arlington Heights School Board, told the North Cook News. Olejniczak said his comments were as an individual citizen rather than as an elected official.

With Illinois' units of local government numbering about 7,000 - more per capita than any other state in the U.S. Illinois - and the state enduring the highest overall tax burden in the nation, Olejniczak questioned the need for so many township governments. 

"Based on the information that I have read on the matter, I feel there is duplication is the respective townships to services provided through the village and county," he said. "This may not be the issue in all parts of the state, but I question why wouldn't a consolidation make sense? I feel that many units of government, with their ability to tax citizens, do not take into account the impact of all government bodies taxing its citizens. When property taxes are higher than mortgage payments, there is an issue."

There also is little incentive for government bodies to be more efficient, Olejniczak said.  

"There is no competition that would drive innovation, efficiency and customer attentiveness," he said. "Rather they are able to control the purse strings."

Olejniczak also shared his opinion about how lawmakers should approach the issue of township governments opposing a property tax freeze. 

"Enact laws that would look to consolidate services," he said.

Olejniczak's comments came after a failed amendment to an existing state Senate Bill, SB 851, that would have implemented a two-year property tax freeze for Cook and some collar counties, leaving other counties to decide whether freeze property taxes in voter referendums. SB 851 passed out of the House Revenue & Finance Committee on Nov. 2 with a recommendation it be adopted but amendment was withdrawn and the bill passed the House.

Voters should take note of township governments, their number and officials' ability to tax while opposing a property tax freeze, Olejniczak said.

"This is another taxing body that has overhead that really is not needed in most parts of the state," he said. "Higher property taxes will depress home values over time. When was the last time you heard that a government body is reducing their tax rate and giving money back to the community?"

Township governments' opposition a property tax freeze "is a recurring theme" that has a tangible effect on local economies, Olejniczak said. 

"More taxes mean lower investment into businesses and actually depress property values," he said.

Olejniczak referred to communities on the Northshore where he said "property taxes are so high that individuals are not readily buying into those communities."