Shorewood Voters Pass Home Rule Referendum

Shorewood voters passed a home rule referendum by less than 100 votes that will help the village pay for a pipeline to bring Lake Michigan water to local homes.

The measure passed 1,081 to 992, provided it holds up under canvassing by the Will County Clerk in the next few weeks.

Home-rule status gives the village additional taxing authority — and the means to generate revenue to pay for pipeline to Lake Michigan.

Home-rule status would allow the village to increase sales tax .75 percent, which would generate $29 million that could fund pipeline construction, the Bugle reported.

Shorewood does not purchase water from the city of Joliet, but comes from five shallow wells on the north side of the village and two deep wells on the south side. Village officials say the water source is being depleted.

Read the full story in Bugle