Patrick Keck
The State Journal-Register
Portions of townships in Sangamon County could be dissolved into the city of Springfield pending voter action in the upcoming April consolidated election.
The election will have three separate votes regarding townships — one for Springfield voters and the others for residents of Springfield and Woodside townships.
The language in all the questions pertain to whether township areas within the city limits should remain part of the townships or if they should be annexed into Springfield. All are “advisory” votes meaning the results from the April 4 election are non-binding.
Springfield and Woodside townships are located within the corporate limits of Springfield with populations of 5,813 and 11,688 respectively as of 2020 U.S. Census Data. Their respective portions within the city limits in the 2010 Census were considerably smaller with only 481 Springfield Township residents living in Springfield and 13 residents of Woodside Township living in the city.
Over the last several years, the city has annexed close to 1,400 parcels that still belong to the townships. Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder said during a September council meeting that the residents were essentially paying for township services without actually receiving them.
Council voted during that session to make the township question an advisory referendum in the April election. From there, regardless of the vote, the mayor said council will request that the Illinois General Assembly close a loophole and dissolve the parcels from township jurisdictions so the city can provide property tax relief to affected residents.
Among those voting in favor was Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin, who claimed the city’s goal was to eliminate $640,000 in tax dollars that city residents were paying those townships.
“Our citizens are getting double-taxed, and I thought the mayor was trying to do the right thing,” McMenamin told The State Journal-Register in September. “The township governments are trying to retain that money for themselves. It’s just a tug of war. I think the city of Springfield has the better argument.”
Those that serve in Springfield Township such as clerk Robert Remack contend townships provide useful services to its residents.
Woodside and Springfield townships would lose money due to a smaller tax base. Township supervisor Gary Budd, Remack said, has also been active in opposition to the issue.
Springfield’s goals of annexation are tied to bringing in more business within the city limits, not so much the expenses of adding what a township lacks. Much of Springfield Township does not have sidewalks, curbing, or as many street lights, Remack said, which the city would have to pay for if the area is annexed.
According to the Sangamon County clerk website, there are 26 townships in the county each being represented by an assessor, clerk, supervisor, highway commissioner and several trustees. Townships exist in 85 out of the state’s 102 counties, where the remaining counties such as Morgan and Menard have election precincts instead of townships.
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 