Illinois Home Rule: A Case Study in Fiscal Responsibility

This article examines the popular notion that elected officials, particularly at the local level, can not be trusted with broad powers of taxation; that they are likely to use and perhaps abuse all of the powers of taxation they possess. The study looks at the use of tax powers, made over a 30 year period, by Illinois’ home rule municipalities which have one of the broadest grants of tax powers given by any state to its local government officials. This study found only seven reasonably verifiable examples of unwarranted uses of home rule powers, only three of which represent unequivocal instances in which the voters, the courts, or the legislature voided uses of home rule powers. Available evidence produced neither a rational nor an empirical basis to support a reasonable probability that, given the opportunity, local elected officials will enact new or higher taxes without regard for the wishes of the voters. Indeed, the Illinois experience suggests that, with adequate safeguards, local offi - cials can be trusted with broad based local tax powers

Illinois Home Rule and Taxation: A New Approach to Local Government Enabling Authority

This Article examines and assesses the use of the home rule powers which were granted to local governments by the 1970 Constitution. Focusing primarily on the power of taxation, the Article notes that the use of the home rule powers has been restrained and generally successful. The Article points to narrow judicial reactions, however, which may conflict with the apparent intent of the constitution's drafters to grant broad authority to local government under the home rule powers

Policy Profiles Vol. 8 No. 2 November 2008

Policy Profiles is a publication of the Center for Governmental Studies, Northern Illinois University, and may be reproduced in its entirety with attribution to the Center for Governmental Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois.Globalizing Local Economies: The Chicago Region’s Record To Dat

Policy Profiles Vol. 13 No. 1 May 2014

Too Many Governments in Illinois? What is the Impact on Townships

Policy Profiles Vol. 8 No. 3 February 2009

Policy Profiles is a publication of the Center for Governmental Studies, Northern Illinois University, and may be reproduced in its entirety with attribution to the Center for Governmental Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois.Globalizing Local Economies: Making It Happen Through Local Actio

Policy Profiles Vol. 2 No. 3 August 2002

Policy Profiles is a publication of the Center for Governmental Studies, Northern Illinois University, and may be reproduced in its entirety with attribution to the Center for Governmental Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois.The Uses of Home Rule With Special Emphasis on Taxatio

Policy Profiles Vol. 6 No. 3 December 2006

Policy Profiles is a publication of the Center for Governmental Studies, Northern Illinois University, and may be reproduced in its entirety with attribution to the Center for Governmental Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois.The County Administrator Form: A Modern Approach To Illinois County Governmen

Policy Profiles Vol. 7 No. 1 October 2007

Policy Profiles is a publication of the Center for Governmental Studies, Northern Illinois University, and may be reproduced in its entirety with attribution to the Center for Governmental Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois.Illinois Police Officers And Fire Fighters: How Good Are Their Pensions

Policy Profiles Vol. 6 No. 2 October 2006

Policy Profiles is a publication of the Center for Governmental Studies, Northern Illinois University, and may be reproduced in its entirety with attribution to the Center for Governmental Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois.Illinois County Government: Overlooked, Underappreciated, Very Importan

Policy Profiles Vol. 7 No. 2 November 2007

Policy Profiles is a publication of the Center for Governmental Studies, Northern Illinois University, and may be reproduced in its entirety with attribution to the Center for Governmental Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois.Networking: The Key to 21st Century Governmen