Lawmakers send Rauner bill that would allow Belleville Township to dissolve

Legislation that would allow the Belleville Township board to vote on an ordinance that would dissolve the township is now headed to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk.

Rauner has yet to receive and review the bill, said his spokeswoman Catherine Kelly. But she added, “The governor is supportive of local government consolidation and reform, because it helps give taxpayers a better value for their money.”

The House on Sunday voted 111-0 to approve an amended bill that the Senate passed last week. The amended version specifies this legislation only applies to St. Clair County.

The House initially passed House Bill 3693 in April.

Belleville Township, which was founded in 1885, has the same borders as the city of Belleville. The bill calls for the coterminous city to take over the township’s duties of assisting needy families.

State Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, sponsored the bill and said it is worded so that it only would apply to Belleville Township and that a referendum by the public is not necessary.

“By allowing the city to perform the tasks currently performed by the township we can stop paying for duplicative expenses,” Hoffman said in a news release.

Belleville City Clerk Dallas Cook, who also serves as the township clerk and has called for the dissolution of the township, said the current township budget has total appropriations of $785,900 with $223,000 going to the general assistance program.

This story was originally published June 1, 2015 at 4:22 PM with the headline "Lawmakers send Rauner bill that would allow Belleville Township to dissolve."