WHAT ABOUT TOWNSHIPS?
By Karol Sole
“I live in Hinsdale. Why are you asking me about Downers
Grove Township?” asks a voter. You explain that the whole County is divided
into nine Townships, like a tic-tac-toe board, and Hinsdale is in the
southeastern township, named Downers Grove Township. Hinsdale is in Downers
Grove Township. So is Darien, and other area communities. “But if I’ve never
even heard of it, why does Downers Grove Township matter to me?”
If you happen to live in an unincorporated area, the
Township is YOUR local government. Aren’t you curious to know what they are
doing, for you, - or NOT doing for you? If you live anywhere in the Township,
including downtown Hinsdale, you are paying taxes to the Township. Every
property in the Township pays the same tax rate to the Township, whether the
property is in the unincorporated areas, or not. Thanks, everyone, for helping
to pay to maintain the roads and police protection in the unincorporated areas!
What is this Township unit of government good for?
Employing Republicans. No record has been found of any Democrat being elected
as a Downers Grove Township official, or employed in the office. The Highway
Commissioner, the Assessor, the Supervisor and the Clerk are all elected in a
partisan election by Township voters, along with four Trustees. They are all
paid positions, some more than $100,000 per year! Salaries were set for the new
term at the November 12, 2020 meeting, but the amount of the increases were not
included in the meeting minutes – not very transparent for a unit of
government! 2019 records show at least 35 employees, some known to be family
members of elected officials, 80% receiving IMRF (pensions.)
What does the Township do? The Township has three funds:
the General Town Fund, the General Assistance Fund, and the Road & Bridge
Fund. For this discussion in the time of COVID with unemployment high and jobs
scarce, let’s look at the General Assistance Fund which is intended to provide:
·
Financial support for residents who have
limited resources or none;
·
Financial support for residents who are
unemployed or disabled without any other forms of income;
·
Emergency aid and assistance.
You knew about this, right? General Assistance funding is
available at the Township! Did you see the article in the paper? The
informational postcard? Hear the PSA on the radio? Oh wait, those are ideas proposed
by our Democratic candidates to notify struggling residents of financial aid
available from the Township. Has any outreach even been attempted by the current
Township officials? What would Democratic management of these programs look
like? Democrats might even shift budget dollars to make additional assistance available
in this difficult time!
Get to know our candidates for Downers Grove Township:
Maryann Vasquez, Supervisor
Tom Chlystek, Highway Commissioner
Mary Lemanski, Clerk
Gail Cabala-Lowry, Trustee
Gerry Kirschbaum, Trustee
Janet Winningham, Trustee
Bonnie Wayman Dodd Trustee
Our Democratic township candidates will reimagine Township
Government with new ideas, new skills and new energy based in Democratic
philosophy, ideals, policy and positions! Please give them your support and
your vote!
