Flamm urges abolition of Palatine Township Road District

Matt Flamm, Palatine Township Democratic Committeeman, spoke at the Palatine Township Annual Town Meeting on Tuesday, April 8th.

"Last year, a group of Palatine Township residents filed a petition to give voters at the annual meeting a chance to request that the Board study the benefits to taxpayers of abolishing the Palatine Township Road District,” said Flamm. “Counsel for the Board would not allow our petition to be presented, but the issue is still one the Board should consider.”

“The Road District has a budget in excess of $1.8 million to maintain fewer than 18 miles of road. Of those 18 miles, 47% (8.335 miles) are in unincorporated Barrington. This means that taxpayers are subsidizing some of the wealthiest property owners in the township. Residents of Palatine, Rolling Meadows, and Hoffman Estates pay twice: they pay a village real estate tax to pay for maintenance of the roads in those municipalities and they pay the ‘road and bridge’ tax that supports the Road District.”

For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014, the Palatine Township Road District had revenues of more than $1.7 million including over $1.4 million in real estate taxes. It spent $1.8 million. The district had almost $3.8 million in the bank at the end of the year.

A 2011 change in Illinois law allows the Township Board to place a proposal on the ballot asking voters whether they wish to abolish the Road District and to have its functions assumed by the Township.

“Maintenance of these small roads could be handled more cheaply and efficiently by the municipalities,” said Flamm.  “This is a debate we, the taxpayers, should have, and the Township Board should give voters that opportunity this November. This isn't a partisan issue. Democrats, Republicans, and independents should agree to eliminate unnecessary spending. The Road District is a vestige of bygone days when most of the township was unincorporated."