Town Hall Meeting Planned To Discuss Lemont Home Rule Referendum

LEMONT, IL — A town hall meeting will be held to discuss the home rule referendum that Lemont voters will see on the ballot on Nov. 6. The village said the Mayor and village board chose to give its residents the opportunity to consider becoming home rule as a way to obtain additional revenue streams in order to maintain current level of police and public works service, along with maintaining the village’s roads and water system.

A town hall meeting will be held Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the village board room at Village Hall, 418 Main St.

Right now, Lemont is a non-home rule municipality, which means that the village can only authorize those powers which are expressly granted by the State of Illinois. Pursuant to the Illinois Constitution, the village said home rule municipalities may exercise any power and function pertaining to its government and affairs. Home rule status can only be achieved through voter approval or the certification of a population above 25,000 residents.

The village said the Mayor and village board have pledged to utilize home rule powers only to the extent deemed necessary with a view to the long-term impact upon the community. The village has experienced significant revenue stream declines over the last several years, including a reduction in state shared income and motor fuel tax along with other revenues. The village has cut personnel and other costs over these years and must now address future needs.

If Lemont is made a home rule municipality, the board would have flexibility to consider additional revenue streams, ones that shift the burden to non-residents. The village said the board intends to impose a 1 percent home rule sales tax on most purchases in Lemont other than qualifying food, drug and medical expenses. The additional funding would be allocated towards investment in our roads, water system and other infrastructure.

Image via Village of Lemont.