With early voting starting on Thursday, I’d like to share why I oppose the Home Rule referendum.
While the referendum is only advisory, on the McHenry County Board agenda the night it was passed was a mandatory Home Rule referendum.
My concern is that, if the advisory referendum passes, county board members in districts where it gains a majority will use that as an excuse to vote to put a mandaty Home Rule/County Executive referendum on the ballot.
If the advisory passes, members in districts where it wins will have cover to put a binding Home Rule, plus County Executive question on a future ballot.
If the advisory passes, members in districts where it wins will have cover to put a binding Home Rule, plus County Executive question on a future ballot.
I believe there is no way most citizens will know the bad efforst of Home Rule and repllacing a County Board Chairman with a County Executive.
So, let me tell you what a Home Rule County Board can do:
It can raise taxes without voter approval.
And, who favors that?
Maybe current Huntley County Board Mike Skala, who has endorsed the Democratic Party candidate running against Nunda Township Tax Hawk Terri Greeno.
Hard to believe coming from a long-time elected official until one realizes that he has never been on the side of the tax cutters.
His view of Greeno’s opponent:
When I met Austin May, candidate for District 5 of the McHenry County Board, I thought, “Here is someone who has the same values and beliefs that I have.”
So, elect Greeno’s opponent and a Tax Hawk will be eliminated from the Board.
And one who may not be averse to raising taxes will take her place.
We wouldn’t want another “Tax and Spender” like Skala.
And, if Home Rule is approved by the voters, there will be NO LIMITS on what can be taxed.
In addition, with Home Rule automatically comes the replacement of a “weak” County Board (form of government) Chairman, who does not have a vote unless there is a tie and “checked and balanced” by the whole County Board.
A County Executive would head what is called a “strong” County Executive, who would have pretty much absolute power over all of McHenry County government not controlled by other countywide elected officials (think County Clerk-Recorder, Sheriff, Circuit Clerk, Treasurer, etc.)
Two of the principles I have had in my political career are
1 – There should be ample checks and balances (see U.S. Constitution)
2 – Concentration of power is bad.
Home Rule, plus County Executive delivers the opposite of both.
If passed, there will be taxation without limit and without voter approval.
So, having offered my advice about the most important question on the fall ballot, here are the places and time you can start voting tomorrow:
Greeno agrees that people should reject the advisory Home Rule/County Excutive referendum’
“I am asking voters to reject this advisory referendum.,” she wrote,
” Home Rule removes the last real check taxpayers have on tax increases and replaces a balanced Board structure with concentrated executive power.
“That is the wrong direction for McHenry County.”
See also
