Decades ago, the Aurora Election Commission was established by a vote of the residents. Now, at least one Aurora alderman is calling for another citywide vote — this time on disbanding the commission that handles elections for Aurora residents living in Kane, Kendall and Will counties but not DuPage County.
Alderman Lynda Elmore said inequalities between whose tax dollars support the commission and who receives its services are part of why she wants to discontinue it.
The commission is funded by Kane County and the city of Aurora. All Aurora residents contribute through taxes they pay the city, even DuPage County residents who do not receive the commission’s services. And Kane County Aurora residents pay twice — once through the taxes they pay the city and again through their county taxes.
“It’s a combination for me of the cost of maintaining it and the fact that it is double taxing at least a third of our population, which is an unfair situation,” said Elmore, whose ward is mostly in DuPage County.
Elmore said she wants to start a petition so a referendum about disbanding the Aurora Election Commission can be added to the ballot.
Aurora City Council last year approved the addition of such a question but did not gather signatures on a petition. The Aurora Election Commission ruled a petition is necessary to get the question added, so this time the city plans to go that route, said Carie Anne Ergo, chief management office.
“There becomes a question of what is the benefit for the citizens of Aurora,” Ergo said. “The Aurora Election Commission doesn’t cover the whole city; it only covers two-thirds of the city, but taxpayers in all of Aurora are having to subsidize it.”
Full Article: Is election commission worth it to Aurora? – DailyHerald.com.