Over the past several weeks, we have had a number of well-attended community information sessions where residents have asked very thoughtful questions about Home Rule. One of the questions that comes up often is “Why Home Rule now?”
Simply put, Home rule gives us powers to do numerous things that our residents have been asking for. Here are just a few of them:
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Ability to have more independence from Springfield to make local decisions that are best for Barrington.
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Ability to enact a crime-free housing ordinance. Home Rule provides tools that can help the Village better address criminal activity on rental properties. Rental properties make up over 25% of Village housing.
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Ability to enter into multi-year contracts. This saves the Village money by locking in prices and favorable terms over a number of years.
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Ability to invest more in roads, sidewalks, bike paths, and beautification through a 1% Home Rule Sales tax.
The additional revenue from the 1% Home Rule sales tax (paid not only by Village residents but also by non-residents who visit our town) will go directly toward more timely repair of our roads, replacement of the brick pavers in our downtown, and additional beautification efforts and community spaces in the Village. Our residents have been asking for all of these things for some time.
Does Home Rule give elected officials a blank check?
All along, we have been very transparent about our intentions (1% Home Rule sales tax), and we have also passed an ordinance that would limit property tax increases to the current non-Home Rule tax cap.
For residents who are concerned that their current or future locally elected Village officials might “abuse” Home Rule powers, I offer the following:
Over many decades, the Village Board has a strong history of making financially prudent decisions. In order to continue providing a high level of services with limited resources, the Village has leveraged innovation and purchasing to reduce costs. Over the last five years, the Village has reduced its staff by 10 percent. Functions that can be performed more efficiently and effectively through external contracts have been pursued. To help reduce the replacement cost of expensive, front-line equipment, the Village partnered with a nearby community to jointly purchase a $500,000 Vactor Truck.
Joint purchasing of general liability and health insurance, through the Village's active participation in local government pools, has resulted in lower premiums as measured against national trends.
Since 2015, approximately $11m of debt has been paid down and almost 90 percent of the Village's outstanding debt is paid directly through user fees - paid by water customers and commuters.
Strong financial management has led Moody's Investor Services to rate the Village's credit risk at AA1, which signifies that the community is financially sound, well managed, and maintains adequate reserves.
Will Future Boards Do What the Community Supports?
During my time in Village government in Barrington, the Village Board has always been very conscious of what the community desires and would support. In fact, the Boards, particularly in recent years, have had opportunities to enact revenue-generating measures such as video gaming and cannabis sales; however, those avenues were not pursued because we know these are not what the Barrington community wants.
I would also direct you to any of our neighboring communities that are already Home Rule - Barrington Hills, South Barrington, Lake Barrington, Inverness. I think you will not see a record of unbridled taxing or spending in those towns.
What Do Objective Studies Say About Home Rule?
The Home Rule issue in Illinois has been extensively studied over more than four decades. A report from Northern Illinois University’s Center for Governmental Studies found that, even without an ordinance keeping the non-Home Rule tax cap as the Village has done, “there was no significant difference in the average property tax levy for home rule and non-home rule municipalities in Illinois.”
That same Northern Illinois University report stated there is “no evidence that officials in municipalities with broad grants of powers from the state, such as home rule, misuse these powers. Municipalities with more tax and borrowing powers did not levy higher taxes per capita and they enjoyed better credit ratings. Thus there is no reason to believe that increasing local government powers would cause or lead public officials to become less trustworthy, responsible, responsive, fair or effective with their governmental powers or fulfilling their governmental responsibilities.”
In-Person Voting Begins Monday
Don’t forget, local early voting begins this Monday, October 24. We understand this question may appear at the very end of the ballot, so please be sure to find the Home Rule question on your ballot.
Also, we are having a special “Coffee and Conversations with Village Officials” session on Home Rule this Saturday, October 22, at Starbucks on Main Street from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. I hope to see you there!
Karen Darch
Village President
