Balich believes referendums are good for voters and government

Balich believes referendums are good for voters and government
by Angela Underwood | Mar, 2018   The Will County Gazette


Will County Board Member Stephen Balich said any time voters are asked to increase taxes or fees in a referendum, people vote no unless there is an exceptionally good reason.

Several such referendum questions are slated to be on the ballot in November, Balich recently told the Will County Gazette, and all citizens in Will County are overtaxed to the point their home values are falling.


“There are however times when taxes could be increased,” Balich said. “Asking the people first in a referendum at least lets those paying the bill decide.”

There are other ballot questions that are going to be asked in November, including whether or not Orland Park should “prohibit video gaming within the corporate limits of the village, and whether or not to approve and license video gaming within the village with certain conditions,” according to the referendum.

“As far as gambling, the people seem split to me, making a referendum the best way to determine the outcome,” Balich said.

Voters in the Franfort Park District will be asked to authorize the sale of land and voters in the Frankfort Square Park District will be asked to authorize the issue $1.5 million in bonds.

Other ballot questons in Will County involve schools and fire districts and include a proposition to issue $90 million in school building bonds in the Minooka Community Consolidated School District No. 201 and a proposition to create a new tax rate for pension fund purposes in the Troy Fire Protection District.

“I don't like the idea of a board of five to eight people deciding under the influence of their staff that often lives out of town,” Balich, who is seeking re-election in Will County's 7th District, said. “Government is for the people, not the people to serve the needs of the expanding government.”