Home Rule Decision Upcoming For Homewood Voters

HOMEWOOD, IL - Much debate has surfaced in Homewood during recent weeks on the upcoming election, but there aren't any candidates involved in this debate. Residents are voicing their opinions on a question that will be on their ballots on Tuesday, March 20. The question will read: "Shall the Village of Homewood become a home rule community?"

Groups have formed on Facebook organizing those who are for and against the possibility of Homewood becoming a Home Rule community. The "Vote No Home Rule Homewood" group had 274 likes as of Monday, March 12 while "Homewood Citizens for Home Rule," which urges residents to vote "yes," had 181 likes at the same time.

Members of both groups have been impassioned in voicing their opinions on the matter.

Priscilla Cordero, a Homewood resident who works with small business owners for a small business development center, cites three reasons for why she is supporting the measure.

"It will allow us to higher police and firefighters faster and at a lower cost... allow us to do inspections on rental properties... (and) revenue generated would go to our schools, library and park district."

Home rule allows villages to self-govern and for officials to address local issues at a local level. The village of Homewood has released information, which has remained neutral on the subject, on their website here and here.

It gives more governing power to local officials. In Homewood, that would be the village president and six trustees.

That's one of the reasons why Debbie Hart has been part of the movement to ask residents to vote "no" on March 20 or during early voting.

"I don't support home rule because it takes power and control from the citizens of Homewood and gives it to six trustees and the village president - those in office now and those we elect in the future," Hart said. "Home rule takes away the residents' right to vote on tax and debt issues."

Cordero, however, says that while becoming a Home rule community will put a greater emphasis on electing good local officials in the future, that she is trusting of the local government here in Homewood.

"If there's anyone in government I trust, I certainly trust our local politicians more than the ones in Springfield," she said. "Without Home rule, we are allowing those in Springfield to decide what we do."

Home rule was first considered by Homewood in early 2016, Homewood Village Manager Jim Marino said. Trustees began heavier talks about the possibility after an issue with landlords at certain rental properties arose.

Marino said a financial situation with Homewood School District 153 also led trustees to eventually deciding to place the question on the ballot, as did a hiring issue when it comes to police and firefighters.

Brian Quirke, whose lived in Homewood for 40 years, said the village is at a disadvantage when it comes to the process of hiring police or firefighters. Home rule would allow Homewood to make lateral hires from other police departments, something the village can't do as a non-home rule community.

"There are many more reasons why I support it (home rule)," Quirke said. "The village needs additional authority to keep it tidy and clean."

Preemptive ordinances have passed limiting the village's authority in the event Home rule passes.

But Hart says the ordinances "have no teeth."

"Besides having broad exemptions (for example, they can raise property taxes without a referendum if they need the revenue to meet mandated pension obligations), they can be altered or rescinded at any time by this board or any in the future," she said. "Home rule opponents prefer the checks and balances we have now: if the Village wants a tax increase, they must make their case to the people, and the people can vote on the merits of the case."

But proponents like Cordero have talked up the current plan to raise the sales tax from $9 percent to $9.25 percent if home rule passes and "the ability to divert our own tax revenue."

Right now, there are 215 home rule municipalities in Illinois, according to the Illinois Municipality League. Cities, towns and villages with populations of 25,000 or more are automatically provided with home rule authority.

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