These are posts by the Transform Illinois collaborators. You can also view articles about Transform Illinois on the Transform in the News page
More government units mean higher spending for some public services
Illinois should have the best parks, libraries and fire protection among the nation’s 10 most populous states. That’s because local governments in Illinois collectively spent the most per capita on each of those functions among peer states during fiscal year 2015, the most recent year for which data were available, [...]
Change Makers: Chairman Chris Lauzen of Kane County
The Metropolitan Planning Council’s Change Makers: Modernizing County Government in Illinois interview series addresses challenges faced by county governments throughout the region. DuPage County’s groundbreaking ACT Initiative, Illinois’ first of its kind policy agenda that prioritizes accountability, consolidation and transparency, serves as a model for Illinois communities and we are [...]
Change Makers: Chairman Frank Haney of Winnebago County
The Metropolitan Planning Council’s Change Makers: Modernizing County Government in Illinois interview series addresses challenges faced by county governments throughout the region. DuPage County’s groundbreaking ACT Initiative, a policy agenda that prioritizes accountability, consolidation and transparency, serves as a model for Illinois communities and we are identifying the unique barriers [...]
Fixing Bloated Bureaucracy: What You Need to Know About New Consolidation Law
Illinois has the most local units of government of any state in the country at as many as 6,963. SB3, or Public Act 100-0107, paves the way for consolidation of some of these local governments. The BGA’s policy unit supported SB3 and, with your help, called on legislators to do [...]
Transform Illinois Partners Make the Case for Government Consolidation
With approximately 7,000 units of government, Illinois leads the nation with the highest number of independent taxing bodies, many of which are repetitive and outdated in cost and administration. Members of the Transform Illinois coalition recently made strong cases for government consolidation at the Illinois General Assembly at an opportune [...]