OREGON – The Ogle County Board has expressed strong opposition to three bills in the Illinois General Assembly that proposed consolidating township governments. At the meeting Tuesday night, they expressed concern that the consolidation, which could affect up to 24 townships in Ogle County, could lead to increased local government costs and disrupt essential services, such as road maintenance and snow plowing. One bill, House Bill 2515, could reportedly cost the county up to $1.4 million to take over township duties.
District 8 County Board Member Marcia Heuer said that rural residents need to speak up.
“If townships and local constituents know that this is a really bad bill, by informing their legislators that this is going to cost the county much more money than the same services can be delivered by the townships, perhaps they can influence and kill these bills in the first place.”
A decision on the legislation is expected by the end of May.
