Politics & Government
Batavia Hosts Meeting On Home Rule Referendum Question
Learn more about Batavia's home rule status question before it appears on the Nov. ballot.
BATAVIA, IL — Batavia voters can attend a meeting to learn more about the home rule question that is slated to appear on the city's ballot in November. On Oct. 8, city officials will host a meeting to provide voters with more information about the question, "Shall the city of Batavia cease to be a home rule unit?"
Currently, Batavia is a home rule city, which means that it "may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs including, but not limited to, the power to regulate for the protection of the public health, safety, morals and welfare; to license; to tax; and to incur debt," according to the Illinois State Constitution.
A home rule unit has the authority to make decisions on a local level without the state, but can be limited when it comes to other preemptions that are exclusively governed by the state. Home rule units are able to exercise greater control when it comes to zoning, taxing, and other economic development needs, according to a post on the City of Batavia website.
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Some of the local taxes that fall under Batavia's home rule include a 2 percent liquor sales tax and a 1 percent local home rule sales tax. Without these types of revenue, city officials say Batavia would have to depend on property tax increases to make up the difference in revenue.
City officials say there would also be a limit placed on property tax levies if the city did not have home rule status, which could result in some services being cut.
Find out what's happening in Bataviafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In Illinois, home rule status can be adopted by referendum when a city has a more than 25,000 residents. Since home rule went into effect in 1971, only Lombard, Westmont, and Rockford have opted out of home rule status, according to the City of Batavia website.
To learn more about the home rule question, head to Batavia City Hall on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.
What: Batavia Home Rule Status meeting
When: Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.
Where: City Hall Council Chambers, 100 N. Island Ave. Batavia
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