The Du Page Mayors and Managers Conference has released its long-awaited intergovernmental task force report, but it is a document that even its chairwoman conceded was too bland to be of much value.
”I`m disappointed because I feel that we hesitated to make recommendations for significant change,” said Maxine Hansen, task force chairwoman.
The task force of nearly 20 county and local officials and citizen representatives worked for more than four years, looking for ways to consolidate governmental efforts to cut costs and improve efficiency. Basically, the $50,000 study found that the county`s more than 130 taxing bodies were doing a great job and required only fine-tuning.
The 34-page document recommends only a handful of areas for minor change and poses no threat to any taxing body`s authority.
”I think the special interests prevailed,” said County Board member Ken Moy (R-Hinsdale), who was not a member of the committee.
”Statewide reports indicate the only way to cut the tax burden is to consolidate services. Economically, we can`t do things the way we have because it costs more every year and taxpayers are telling us they don`t have more to give.”
The task force did recommend that the Sheriff`s Department get out of the patrol business in unincorporated areas, instead contracting that service out to nearby municipalities.
The report also chides municipalities for annexing chunks of land without letting fire protection districts know, stretching those budgets. It recommends a Fire Control Board to assign unserved areas.
It recommends consolidation in human services to better serve the transportation and rental assistance needs of the county`s poor and it says the county should consider contracting pavement maintenance responsibility to municipalities or townships in which streets are located.
”We think it would improve cost accountability and reduce citizen confusion and frustration,” Hansen said.
Despite its flaws, Hansen said the process was worth the time and money spent and should provide a future avenue for cooperative dialogue among governmental units.
