By WIFR Newsroom |
Posted: Tue 7:49 PM, Jan 09, 2018
Updated: Tue 10:43 PM, Jan 09, 2018
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – For more than two decades, the city of Rockford has worked without home rule. Now leaders and business owners are taking a look at the positives and negatives of taking power back from Springfield.
Winnebago County Board Member Ted Biondo believes bringing home rule back to Rockford would take the voice away from the community while yielding more power to present and future city councils.
Mayor Tom McNamara says accepting home rule would give the power back to the people because it gives the city an opportunity to control property and sales taxes.
Members of the Illinois Licensed Beverage Association say they have concerns about the impact home rule could have on businesses and their bottom line.
“If they go after us or realtors or whatever they are going after, it doesn’t affect them until some point its already there,” says ILBA president Jay Gesner.
“We’ve given all of our power and destiny to the state legislature. I’m sorry but they’re the only group that knows how to put the word fun into dysfunctional,” says Mayor McNamara.
Rockford city council voted back in December to add home rule to the March ballot to let voters decide if its something they want the city to move forward with.