Crystal Thomas
The State Journal-Register
Mayor Jim Langfelder told Springfield City Council members Tuesday he will collect signatures to put a question on the April ballot about whether Capital Township should dissolve into the city.
The push comes after an ordinance to put an advisory question on November’s ballot failed to get out of city council committee last week. The township has almost the exact same borders as the city, but is unique in that the Sangamon County clerk acts as the township’s assessor and its treasurer serves as the township’s supervisor and collector. The township board voted earlier this year to pose the question to November voters as to whether the township should merge with the county, saying they both have overlapping staff.
Langfelder said merging the township would be the best way for Springfield residents to get property tax relief. The township’s taxing authority would cede to the city, and with savings, it could reduce residents’ property tax burden, Langfelder said. The city has not raised its portion of the property taxes since the 1980s, unlike the county.
Langfelder said he would circulate the petition as he collects signatures to be considered for re-election. While mayoral candidates only need to gather 272 signatures, the petition to place a question would need more than 3,000 signatures. The last day to file a petition for a referendum to be put on the April ballot is Dec. 31.
Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin voiced support for Langfelder’s petition drive and said he thought it would find a lot of support in the community.
“Many folks have told me they would help you circulate petitions,” McMenamin said.
Last week’s resolution to put a competing question on the November ballot was tabled on a 6-4 vote. Aldermen who voted against moving forward with the resolution said they were opposed to advisory referendums versus binding referendums, which actually spur action. They also worried that dissolving the township into the city could trigger a reassessment of home values in Capital Township, which most likely would lead to a rise in property taxes.
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Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 