One area township official wrote, "Speaker Rob Bell’s keynote address How to Deal with Change in a Positive Way offered clear-cut ways to improve service to township constituents and enhance officials’ leadership skills."
I wonder how much time was devoted to "Should townships in Illinois be abolished?"
TOI holds an annual conference to keep officials up to date with the latest developments in local government management, fiscal practices, and general assistance. Like, is there really much else that a township is supposed to do than provide "General Assistance" to a very few of its residents who are in desperate financial straits?
This year’s sessions addressed the Cemetery Oversight Act, grant writing, recordkeeping, pavement maintenance (separate Township entities maintain roadways), software programs, the Freedom of Information Act, parliamentary procedure, budgets/levies, etc.
The 104-year-old Township Officials of Illinois (www.toi.org) organization is comprised of a whopping (nearly) 11,000 officials from 1,432 townships throughout 85 counties in Illinois. Some Illinois counties do not have townships. Does that mean it collects dues from nearly 11,000 officials? Do townships average eight "officials" who belong to TOI?
Isn't a township the smallest and least significant government in Illinois?
The public cries out when a non-profit organization spends too much money on "administration", screaming bloody murder when a not-for-profit organization incurs 50-60-70% administration costs. But what about townships? Doesn't the Supervisor and his/her staff expense often run 100-150% of money actually doled out as General Assistance?
For another viewpoint, visit www.mchenrycitizenstaxwatch.org
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