City Barbs: Mt. Vernon Group Presents Petition to Revoke Home Rule

Interesting story about Mt. Vernon voters wishing a referenda to revoke an earlier referenda allowing home rule.  Belvidere became a home rule community with the 2010 census.

Mt. Vernon Group Presents Petition to Revoke Home Rule

Posted by yinn

Jun 28

Illinois communities automatically receive Home Rule powers when their populations reach 25,000. Mt. Vernon is not one of them because it’s too small (about Sycamore-sized). The city’s residents had to vote for Home Rule, and they reportedly did it in order to finance a sewer project in the 80s.

So what’s the problem? According to one of the current petitioners, Steven Casper, Sr., Mt. Vernon approved Home Rule without understanding the residents would lose their power to vote on tax increases.

Casper and three other Mt. Vernon residents organized a petition, which collected 1,031 signatures from registered voters, to revoke the home rule.

“I don’t know why somebody did not do this before now,” he said. “[We] just don’t like the idea the city has the ultimate power to raise taxes for whatever they want, whenever they want.”

The group only needed about 365 signatures, Casper says.

Supposedly the city council will vet the petition before it can go on the November ballot. This does not sound right to me. The council had its chance to put the question on the ballot themselves. Since they did not — this is the reason folks had to collect signatures — my understanding is that the city clerk should certify the petition for placement of the question on the ballot unless the petition is challenged by one or more individuals. And challenges are adjudicated by election panels, not city councils.

I (Yinn) hope the Mt. Vernon group has competent legal counsel.

The above in taken from:   City Barbs

U.S. census shows big changes, but no home rule - The Woodstock Independent.com

 

U.S. Census Bureau data showed Woodstock’s population at 24,770, more than 100 residents higher than the special census. The increase since 2000 shows significantly higher gains, however, with 4,619 more residents — about a 23 percent increase.
Even with the gains, the city missed the 25,000 population mark, which puts Illinois municipalities into automatic home rule status, by 230 residents.
“We’re disappointed that we didn’t realize the numbers … to become home rule,” said City Manager

often the most associated powers. Home-rule municipalities can constitutionally impose additional taxes on certain items or uses that are not income, occupations or earning without voter approval. Examples could include a home-rule gasoline tax, a vehicle tax or other product or service-specific taxes

important to remember such uses would not be employed unless the city chose to implement them. Home-rule status is automatically given to municipalities with populations of 25,000 or more, though a qualifying municipality can remain non-home rule via referendum.

U.S. census shows big changes, but no home rule - The Woodstock Independent.com

McHenry County Blog | Huntley Misses Home Rule Status by 709 People, Woodstock by 230

disappoint Huntley and Woodstock officials.

The village is 709 people short of becoming a Home Rule municipality, while the county seat missed by 230.

Click on the following for more details:  McHenry County Blog | Huntley Misses Home Rule Status by 709 People, Woodstock by 230

The end of home rule? - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard

 

“If the numbers come in below 25,000 then the city clerk is required to certify a question on home rule for the next election ballot,” Griffin said.

Still, it remains uncertain precisely when this decisive question would be raised.

Passage 65 ILCS 5/1‑1‑9 of the Illinois Municipal Code indicates that the question would have to be presented at the next general election, dictating that voters would be presented with a “proposition of whether the municipality shall elect not to be a home rule unit.”

Click on the following for more details:  The end of home rule? - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard

Census could give 3 communities home rule

 

Belvidere was at 20,820 in 2000. Loves Park had a special census in 2005 that put the city at 22,476, and a year later a special census in Machesney Park found 22,704 living within its borders.

Belvidere Mayor Fred Brereton said there’s a good chance Belvidere has passed the 25,000 mark.
“There was a lot of growth from 2000 to 2008. We would be surprised if we didn’t reach it,” he said. “It won’t make a huge transition as far as how business is conducted. ... It just happens.”

Census could give 3 communities home rule - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Sycamore approves sales tax increase

The increase takes the home rule sales tax from 1.25 percent to 1.75 percent. The minimum sales tax in Illinois is 6.25 percent, which includes state, county and city taxes. With the current home rule tax, Sycamore's sales tax rate is 7.5 percent. The increase will result in an overall sales tax rate of 8 percent starting July 1.

The council also approved 7-0 a resolution to review the sales tax increase in September 2012 to determine if it should be rolled back or diminished.

Click on the following for more details:  Sycamore approves sales tax increase | Daily Chronicle

Crystal Lake’s Sales tax forecasts on target

The increase bumped the sales tax rate to 7.75 percent in the city when it went into effect in summer 2008. City officials planned carefully when the home-rule sales tax increase was approved, Director of Finance Mark Nan­nini said.

Click on the following for more details:  Northwest Herald | Sales tax forecasts on target

Options for tax levy explored

Look what happens in cities with home-rule, such as DeKalb—six rates of tax levy are possible.

Eight tax scenarios have been laid out by city officials that range from keeping the status quo to nearly doubling last year’s tax levy.

first scenario – keeping the tax rate at $0.60 per $100 of owned property – the city would levy $3,924,000, a 1-percent increase over 2008.

The highest levy being considered is for $6,254,823, which would hike the tax rate to $0.96 per $100 EAV.
Under this scenario, the cost to the average homeowner of a $200,000 home is projected to be $640, or $240 more than at the $0.60 rate.

 

Click on the following for more details:  Options for tax levy explored | Daily Chronicle

Huntley board approves home rule powers

What might be coming to Belvidere if the 2010 census counts over 25,000 residents.  If over 25,000, only a referendum will stop it.  2005 population estimates show a large increase, as the population rose to 24,593 [per wikipedia]

Home rule status, which can be achieved by popular vote or when a town exceeds 25,000 citizens, gives towns greater taxing and regulatory powers.

Huntley can now impose additional sales taxes, and property tax increases are not capped by the rate of inflation, village officials said.

Click on the following for more details:  Daily Herald | Huntley board approves home rule powers