Illinois state lawmakers approved legislation allowing water drainage districts, responsible for keeping small waterways cleared of debris, to be absorbed into the municipality if they’re at least 75 percent inside of it, through a court filing process.
The consolidation bill is said to help cut property taxes, remove layers of government, and provide a benefit in suburban areas where the cities have largely taken over drainage responsibilities already. However, the Illinois Farm Bureau has opposed the legislation because the remaining drainage authority that’s outside of the town, would be handed over to the county, which the bureau considers to be less efficient than a drainage district largely governed by the farmers in it. The bill now awaits a House hearing. | READ MORE
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