Madison County voters overwhelmingly support referendums seeking to save taxpayer money.
By a margin of 78-22, voters approved a binding resolution lowering the maximum tax rate to .18 percent.
Voters also opposed the non-binding resolution asking if they supported double dipping, which is when retired county employees and officials draw a pension while also drawing a salary paid for by taxpayers. The resolution was rejected in a vote of 70 to 30 percent.
The most significant margin was in support of a non-binding resolution asking if Illinois General Assembly legislators should not receive automatic pay increases. Voters overwhelmingly supported the question by a vote of 87 to 13 percent.
Binding Tax Rate Resolution
Shall the maximum tax rate for general county purposes of Madison County, Illinois, be established at 0.18 percent of equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein instead of 0.20 percent, the maximum rate otherwise applicable to the next taxes to be extended?
The Madison County Board voted to allow taxpayers to decide whether or not the county’s maximum tax levy for the general fund should be lowered to .18 per $100 of assessed value, but noted that the decrease would not lower the current tax rates.
The current county tax levy is .163 per $100 of assessed value, so taxpayers will not immediately see any savings.
The board voted 25-1 in support of the resolution. Doc Holliday (D) was the only one to vote against it. Board members Kristen Novacich Koberna (D), Jim DOdd (D) and Jack Minner (D) were not present.
Democratic candidate for Madison County Board Chairman Bob Daiber called the referendum “rhetoric,” saying it doesn’t actually save taxpayers any money.
“As we struggle with the economic consequences of a global pandemic, we need more than lip service from our elected officials,” he stated. “If Kurt Prenzler wasn’t so distracted by the scandals and corruption of his administration, he would have time to focus on delivering real property tax reform, not just rhetoric.”
Non-Binding Double Dip Resolution
Shall retired Madison County employees and officials drawing a pension be permitted to also draw a salary for service in another position as an employee, official, or independent contractor of Madison County?
This non-binding resolution was introduced by board member Don Moore (R) to provide voters the opportunity to decide if the discussion should continue. He said the resolution allows Madison County to “show some leadership” and push back on a double dipping trend in Illinois.
The resolution received pushback from some board members questioning why it is being brought up now, saying they’ve witnessed county employees and elected officials from both political parties drawing pensions and salaries.
Current Madison County Chairman Kurt Prenzler responded that the resolution is intended to get a sense of what the voters think.
Board members Michael (Doc) Holliday, Bruce Malone, Christopher Hankins, Jack Minner, Michael Parkinson, Nick Petrillo, Gussie Glasper, Elizabeth Dalton and Larry Trucano all voted against the resolution.
Board members Moore, Phil Chapman, David Michael, Mick Madison, Ray Wesley, Mike Walters, Dalton Gray, Robert Pollard, Tom McRae, Chrissy Dutton, Eric Foster, Jamie Goggin, Chris Guy, Erica Harriss, and Heather Mueller-Jones voted in favor of the resolution.
Non-Binding Pay Increase Resolution
Shall members of the Illinois General Assembly change state law to stop automatic annual salary increase for legislators?
This non-binding resolution was included on the ballot after the county board voted 22-2 in favor of it advancing the question.
The resolution is intended to get the voters’ perspective on the question in regards to state legislators’ salaries, which are funded through a continuing appropriation enacted in the Spring of 2014. In other words, state legislators receive automatic yearly raises unless they vote to stop the salary increases.
Illinois House Republican lawmakers have attempted to advance bills opposing the automatic pay raises, but those bills have not had any success.