General election ballot advisory referendum on possible Evanston Township dissolution.

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March 20, 2012
General Election Ballot
Advisory Referendum on Possible
Evanston Township Dissolution

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Presentation Overview
1. Township Overview and Services
2. Background of Township Deliberations
3. What does the ballot question state and
mean?
4. Possibilities – What could service look
like if the Township Dissolves?

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Illinois Election Code on
Questions of Public Policy
 For education purposes only
 “No public funds shall be used to urge any elector to vote
for or against any candidate or proposition, or be
appropriated for political or campaign purposes to any
candidate or political organization.”
(10 ILCS 5/9-25.1)

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Illinois Election Code on
Questions of Public Policy Continued
 “This Section shall not prohibit the use of public
funds for dissemination of factual information
relative to any proposition appearing on an
election ballot, or for dissemination of
information and arguments published and
distributed under law in connection with a
proposition to amend the Constitution of the
State of Illinois.” (10 ILCS 5/9-25.1(b))

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What is a Township?
 A Township is a unit of local government
governed by the Township Board, with the
Township Supervisor serving as the Executive
 Illinois Townships are charged with three basic
functions through the Illinois Township Code (60
ILCS 1/et seq): 1) general assistance for those
in need; 2) the assessment of real property for
the basis of local taxation; and 3) maintenance
of all roads and bridges outside federal, state
and other local jurisdiction

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Evanston Township Continued
 The Township provides General Assistance to certain financially
disadvantaged residents as well as Emergency Assistance.
 In Evanston and all of Cook County, the appraising and valuing of
real property is handled by the Cook County Assessor. The Cook
County Assessor's Office is responsible for setting fair and accurate
values for 1.8 million parcels of Cook County property.
 The maintenance of all roads and bridges within City limits are
handled either by the City of Evanston or the State of Illinois
Department of Transportation. Evanston Township maintains no
roads.

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What is a Coterminous
Township?
 Evanston Township borders are identical to its
respective municipality the City of Evanston. The
Township Board and City Council are the same
officials.
 There are over 1400 townships in the State of
Illinois and the Evanston Township is one of only
20 coterminous townships.
 Other coterminous townships in Cook County
include Oak Park, Cicero, River Forest and
Berwyn.

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Evanston Property Tax Bill

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Evanston Township Budget 2011-2012
Client Payments $546,041.00
Payroll $270,657.00
GA Administrative Overhead $276,210.00
Work Opportunities Program (WOP) $9,000.00
Medical Payments Systems (MPS) $54,750.00
Emergency Assistance Services (EAS) $38,500.00
Subtotal $1,195,158.00
Additional town Fund Items $105,178.00
Total $1,300,336.00

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Evanston Township Assessor
Proposed 2011-2012 Budget
Description Proposed 2011-2012
Salaries $94,000
Tax $8,300
IMRF $1,000
Insurance $6,400
Administrative Costs $13,410
Phone and Utilities $5,525
Rent $16,679
Misc. Expenses $3,250
Total $148,564

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Total Evanston Township Budget
2011-2012
Township $1,300,336
Township Assessor $148,684
Total $1,449,020

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General Assistance
General Assistance is mandated by the state and
is provided by the Township of Evanston.
(305 ILCS 5/Art. 6)
The General Assistance Program in the township
of Evanston is a locally administered program
which provides financial assistance to single
adults who are not eligible for any other local,
state, or federal assistance program, and who do
not have income or resources to provide for basic
needs.

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General Assistance Continued
• Up to $400.00 per month to persons not
eligible for any other assistance program.
• According to the November 2011 Report
for Evanston Township General
Assistance GAAS Client Information the
Township had 86 active cases.

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Emergency Assistance
Emergency Assistance is not mandated by
state law, but currently administered by the
Township.
The Emergency Assistance Services
provide short term financial assistance to
Evanston residents who are facing an
immediate crises in the areas of food,
housing and utilities.

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Emergency Assistance
Continued
Food
 Emergency Assistance Services provides financial food
assistance to individuals and families whose basic life
needs may be threatened due to uncontrolled
circumstances.
Housing
 One-time payment for one month’s rent, mortgage or
assessment fees to prevent foreclosure or eviction.
 Up to maximum of $1200 and not to exceed one
month’s rent, mortgage or assessment fees
 Delinquent condominium association fees
 Up to $450.00 as long as it prevents foreclosure

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Emergency Assistance
Continued
Housing Continued
 First month’s rent to relocate to new housing due
to fire, foreclosure or other unusual
circumstance.
Utilities
 One time payment per twelve-month period of
gas-heat, electric and/or water service to prevent
shut-off or re-establish service.
 Maximum amount of assistance is limited to $500.00
per twelve-month period

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Township Assessor
 The Evanston Township Assessor’s office
provides Evanston residents property tax
payers with a local resource for various
property tax related issues.
 Exemptions, Appeals Process and other
Tax Inquiries

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Town Board Background Information on
How and Why Resolution was Placed on
Ballot
 Township Board met numerous time in 2011 to
discuss a variety of issues including the
interrelated questions of:
Township governance and budget,
Economies of scale for overhead of various
government services,
Reallocation of various costs associated with
overhead for government services, and
Possible dissolution.
 (Resolution 4T-R-11 pages 4&5)

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Town Board Background Info Cont.
 The Board took public comments and testimony on the
various and produced legislative findings and an
extensive public record.
 After much deliberations regarding the issues addressed
in the previous slide including questions of township
governance, budget, overhead, services and dissolution
Town Board believed they should get the opinion of
residents of Evanston.
 (4T-R-11 pages 4&5)

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Town Board Background Info Final
 “WHEREAS, the Town Board determined that in
its adoption of this Resolution and in its exercise
of this discretionary act, it is in the best interests
of the residents of Evanston Township to have
the opportunity to vote upon this public question
in order to express their view as to whether
coterminous township government in Evanston
Township might be dissolved, and whether it
approves of the Town Board pursuing that
issue.”
 (4T-R-11 page 5)

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What is an Advisory Referendum?
 The State of Illinois Election code allows
for any governing body of a local unit of
government by resolution to authorize an
advisory question of public policy to be
placed on the ballot.
(65 ILCS 5/3.1-40-60)
(4T-R-11)

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What does the Ballot Question
State?
 “Should the Evanston Town Board
continue to pursue the issue of
dissolving Evanston Township?”
 On December 5, 2011, the Evanston Township Board
adopted Resolution 4T-R-11 to include an advisory
referendum on the March 20th General Election ballot

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What happens if the Advisory
Referendum passes?
 According to state law no legal effects
shall result from the adoption or rejection
of such an Advisory proposition (10 ILCS
5/28 6 (c))‑
 Township board will consider the results
as it moves forward in its deliberations
regarding possible Township dissolution

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What happens if the Township
were to Dissolve?
 If the Township were to dissolve, the City of Evanston
would continue to provide Evanston residents with all
services currently offered by the Township of Evanston
as mandated by State law.
 (60 ILCS 1/et seq.) (305 ILCS 5/et seq.) (35 ILCS 200),
 The City would exercise all duties and responsibilities of
the Township Supervisor and Township Assessor as
provided in the Township Code, Public Aid Code and
Property Tax Code.
 (60 ILCS 1/) (305 ILCS 5/) (35 ILCS 200),

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Possible Assessor Model of
Service
 Continue to offer residents with assistance
regarding property tax bills, assessment
appeals, and general inquiries
 Based on Chicago, which does not have
Township Assessor;
 Evanston Taxpayer Assistance Window at
the Civic Center open during business
hours; augmented with additional staff
during periods of peak use;

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Possible Assessor Model of
Service – Continued
 Outreach events to residents, with County
Commissioner’s office and Cook County
Board of Appeals; and
 Installation of public computers to provide
online access to resources for residents
and assistance to use online services.

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Possible - General and Emergency
Assistance
 Continue providing direct financial
assistance (General Assistance) to
Evanston residents who lack resources for
basic needs, and do not qualify for any
other local, state or federal assistance
programs (as mandated by Illinois law).

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Possible - General and
Emergency Assistance
Continued
 Continue to offer one-time financial assistance
to eligible residents to ensure housing and food
stability or to prevent gas-heat, water or
electricity service interruption.
 Examine the program’s eligibility requirements,
levels of assistance and length of time for which
people may receive assistance.

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Possible -General and Emergency
Assistance Continued
 Eligibility and application processes provided on
website and in-person, outreach to non-profits
 Eligibility determination and provision of
services:
o Online access to Illinois Department of Health
Services database
o Automated Wage Verification System –
employment benefits

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Thank You