Crystal Thomas
The State Journal-Register
A resolution that would have asked Springfield voters in April if they wanted Capital Township to merge with the city failed on a 7-3 vote during Thursday’s Springfield City Council meeting.
The question would have been similar to the advisory referendum put on November ballot by Capital Township, asking township voters if they would want the township to consolidate with Sangamon County. While the township boundaries are essentially the same as the city of Springfield, the township assessor and supervisor are the Sangamon County clerk and treasurer, respectively, by state law. Seventy-four percent of township residents voted “yes.”
While Mayor Jim Langfelder was initially in favor of the city solely absorbing the township and its tax levy, last month he said his main priority would be to craft a compromise with Sangamon County where both city and county elected officials could provide oversight of the levy. For the county to move forward with a township merger, it would need specialized legislation through the state legislature, and before that can happen, any dispute over the township should be managed on a local level first, Langfelder said he was told by area legislators.
Langfelder has submitted a draft proposal to Sangamon County Administrator Brian McFadden for consideration. It included conditions like having a committee made up of two county board members, two city council members, the mayor, the county board chair and members of the public to oversee the township fund and its expenses, as well as determine the initial property tax rebate percentage that would be a consequence of savings from a merger. The proposal also asked that the property tax levy for the township fund be frozen after it was determined how much it could be reduced once savings were realized from a merger.
Before the city council vote Tuesday, he said the referendum would serve as leverage for the city when negotiating with county officials on what that new structure would look like.
Ward 1 Ald. Chuck Redpath, Ward 2 Ald. Herman Senor, Ward 4 Ald. John Fulgenzi, Ward 5 Ald. Andrew Proctor, Ward 8 Ald. Kris Theilen, Ward 9 Ald. Jim Donelan and Ward 10 Ald. Ralph Hanauer voted against putting the question on the ballot.
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Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin, who voted in favor of the resolution, requested that if the agreement with the county did not work, to go straight to the legislature.
“Since the seven aldermen don’t want to hear from our own constituents on this question, you have to get some help from the legislature,” McMenamin said.
Langfelder said he “hasn’t given up yet.” In an interview after the vote, he said he hoped to approach the legislature with a compromise with the county.
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 