SPRINGFIELD – To encourage government consolidation and promote cost-saving initiatives at the local level, State Senator Tom Cullerton (D- Villa Park) passed a measure through the Senate that prohibits the creation of any new local unit of government through the dividing of existing local governments.

“The amount of taxes that go to administrative costs in this state is excessive,” Cullerton said. “This measure aims to do something about the enormous number of units of local government in this state to help cut back on some of those costs.”

Currently, Illinois has approximately 7,000 local units of government, the most of any state. Senate Bill 1800 would extend the moratorium, originally enacted from 2015 through Jan. 1, 2020, on the division of local units of governments into two or more units. The moratorium would be extended through Jan. 1, 2023. However, this measure would allow for new units to be created if two or more local governments are consolidating.

“We need to encourage some of these small units of government across the state to consolidate to save their residents money on their taxes,” Cullerton said. “Hopefully, this legislation will be the first step to do so.”

The measure passed the Senate Tuesday and now moves to the House for further consideration.