Forum explores Evanston township-dissolution question

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Updated: March 24, 2012 8:11AM

Other townships in Illinois may have good stories to tell about the services they provide, but Evanston is a unique situation, said one of the panel members at a forum last week on the city’s move to dissolve township government.

Evanston Township government, as opposed to multi-town townships in other areas of his district, perform only a few services, said Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin, said speaking at the Feb. 15 forum – “Illinois Townships – Relevant or Redundant” sponsored by the Better Government Association.

He said the city assume those services, administration of General Assistance, and tax counseling, at a cost savings, using the funds for direct services.

“This is a self-destiny decision,” he argued about the referendum Evanston City Council members have placed an advisory referendum proposal on the March 20 ballot asking voters if the city should continue moving on dissolving the township form of government.

But another panel member, Bob Porter, governmental affairs coordinator for the Township Officials of Cook County, argued differently.

“I just don’t see it,” Porter said.

Townships deal directly with low-income residents and senior citizens, he said.

Evanston Township government accounts for “a sliver,” of funds expended locally, compared to that doled out by the city.

The Better Government Association sponsored the forum at the Unitarian Church of Evanston, 1330 Ridge.

The BGA has been critical of the costs of township government, conducting one series looking at the high costs of maintaining roadways for some townships in some 20 suburban communities (not Evanston).

The group has never called for abolition of townships, noted Andy Shaw, the BGA’s president and CEO, and is “not anti-township government,” he said, addressing concerns of bias.

Rather then, “what we’re really about is pro-citizen involvement,” he said, praising Evanston’s “pro-active” approach to the issue.

Suffredin said township governments in other areas of his district play a wider role than in Evanston, where township is chiefly responsible for administering General Assistance and providing tax counseling services.

In Oak Park, outside his district, the township is involved in providing mental services and other services not under the township’s control in Evanston.

He claimed the city would save $500,000 by taking over the services, a higher figure than that projected by city officials, who have down in their estimate.