McHenry County IL. Plan would aid disabled : Editorial Nov 12 2011

The Northwest Herald Editorial Board
November 12, 2011

Our view: Plan would aid disabled

It’s no secret that state funding for social service agencies is evaporating and that those agencies are hurting as a result.

Now a plan to raise money from local sources – namely, local property owners – looks to be gaining momentum. The plan would ask voters to approve a referendum to set up a “377 Board,” a county-administered taxing body that would collect $33 for every $100,000 in assessed property value.

The property tax increase would generate an estimated $8 million to $10 million to provide services for McHenry County residents with physical and mental disabilities. The funds would be controlled by a new Board for the Care and Treatment of Persons with Developmental Disabilities.

The plan clearly is well-intentioned. We should not allow critical services for the county’s disabled citizens to disappear.

But we also recognize that, during these tough economic times, voters will be hesitant to approve any measure that will raise taxes, regardless of admirable intentions.

Proponents of this effort don’t plan to seek a referendum until 2013. That’s smart. They’ll need plenty of time to educate voters on the need, and to persuade them to approve the plan.

Outside of the economic concerns, we can think of a couple of others.

For one, if McHenry County voters show they are willing to raise the money for these services on their own, will it send a message to Springfield that the state’s help is not needed? McHenry County already is a donor entity, meaning we send far more tax dollars out of county than we get back in services. We’d hate to lose even more state funding.

Also, Illinois already leads the country in the number of taxing bodies that exist – almost 7,000 – and it is difficult to justify creating another. There already is a “708 Board” in McHenry County, also known as the McHenry County Mental Health Board, which dedicates about 15 percent of its budget toward helping those with developmental disabilities. Proponents of creating the new tax say that’s not enough, and that there is no way to increase the tax rate of the mental health board.

That said, programs that help integrate citizens with disabilities into society or just help them to have fulfilling life experiences are worthwhile. Avenues for ensuring they continue to exist should be explored.
It’s early in the process. We encourage voters to get familiar with the details.

That said, programs that help integrate citizens with disabilities into society or just help them to have fulfilling life experiences are worthwhile. Avenues for ensuring they continue to exist should be explored.

It’s early in the process. We encourage voters to get familiar with the details.

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