The Madison County Board voted 23-1 to approve a newly-drawn redistricting map, downsizing the County Board from 29 to 26 members.
The map was proposed by board member and Government Relations Committee Chairman Chris Guy (R-Maryville) and approved at the Nov. 17 County Board meeting.
“Reducing government doesn’t happen very often,” Guy stated in a press release. “Tonight, with support from both Democrats and Republicans, board members voted to reduce the County Board by three seats, which will save taxpayers 10%. The map approved is fair, and a big win for the taxpayers in Madison County.”
He added that the map provides “substantially equal representation throughout the county.”
Board member Nick Petrillo (D-Granite City) was the only one to cast a “no” vote.
Board members Michael “Doc” Holliday (D-Alton), Bill Stoutenborough (D-Alton), Mike Babcock (R-Bethalto) and Jamie Goggin (R-Edwardsville) were absent.
Petrillo said he was voting against the 26-district map because he didn’t think it best served the residents of Granite City as the change will consolidate two county board seats into a single district.
By reducing the County Board by 10 percent, the new map plan would save taxpayers approximately $435,000 on salaries in the next 10 years.
County Board district lines are adjusted every 10 years to reflect population changes and to ensure equal representation of residents.
Guy began working on the 26-seat map in the spring with the help of other board members and county officials. The map approved by the County Board was his third proposed map. He previously proposed a 29-district map and a 27-district map.
Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler previously proposed a 25-district map in May, which was rejected by the board. Prenzler’s map had been drawn by the University of Illinois Geographic Information Systems Lab at Springfield (UIS).
Prenzler said he is pleased with the board’s decision to accept Guy’s map and downsize the number of districts.
“It’s moving the county toward what other counties have done - reducing the size of their boards to save taxpayers money.”
“A reduction of the county board is a victory for the taxpayers in Madison County,” Guy added.