An Illinois House panel has endorsed a plan to make it easier to consolidate local governments. The Executive Committee approved a proposal that eases the process of merging or dissolving townships, or for cities to absorb townships of the same geographical area.
Grayslake Democratic state Rep. Sam Yingling's measure also would allow county boards to create townships that are larger than the current limit of 126 square miles.
Brian Costin is deputy chief of staff to Republican Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti. She led a task force studying how to reduce Illinois' most-in-the-nation number of local governments. Costin says the legislation should include the ability for voters to act to dissolve or merge governments.
GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner wants government bodies consolidated as part of efforts to streamline government.
