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TOWNSHIP
GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
Lake County is divided into 18 geographic subdivisions called Townships. Each Township is comprised of two separate government entities; The Road District and Township which are separate taxing districts. Townships are managed by eight officers elected to a four year term as follows: Supervisor, Clerk, Assessor, four Trustees and Highway Commissioner. The Supervisor, Clerk (non-voting member), and Trustees serve as the Township Board and are the legislative branch of the township government. The duties of the Township Officers are limited to those powers specifically provided for in the State Statutes or necessarily implied from the grant of power.
The Supervisor is the Township's Chief Executive Officer who oversees the day to day operations of township government. He or she is responsible for the township funds and serves as treasurer for both the Township and the Road District. The Supervisor administers the State mandated program of General Assistance.
The Clerk is the custodian of the township records. He or she is responsible for keeping accurate records of all Township Board meetings as well as ex-officio clerk for the Highway Commissioner. The Clerk is responsible for posting and publishing all ordinances and notices of both the Township and the Road District.
The Assessor is responsible for appraising real property and maintaining property record cards on all parcels in the Township.
The Trustees are the legislative arm of the Township. In addition to setting policy and procedures, the Trustees audit all bills and pass the annual budgets of the Township, Assessor, and Road District.
The Highway Commissioner is responsible for construction and maintenance of all roads and bridges that are not part of the Federal, State, County or Municipal Road Systems.
The Annual Township Meeting is held on the second Tuesday in April. The purpose of this meeting is to publish the Supervisor's Annual Financial Report and the Road District Treasurer's Annual Report, to discuss and vote on issues of Township Business, to approve the sale of Township Equipment, and to allow electors to speak on any Township Government issues.
A Moderator is appointed by the Electors and the Township Clerk shall take the minutes. The Electors at the Annual Township Meeting have 36 powers enumerated in the State Statutes. Many issues can be voted on such as the purchase, sale, conveyance, regulation or use of its corporate property; take all necessary measures and give direction for the exercise of their corporate powers, make rules for fences, establish and maintain pounds, fix the hour at which the Annual townshipMeetings shall be held, maintain graves, provide for the purchase of insurance, hire a certified public accountant, feasibility studies, mosquito abatement, space for a courtroom, and increase tax rate for road and bridge purposes, etc. Copies of the Financial Reports are available at the Township Office prior to and at the Annual townshipMeeting.
Regular meetings of the Lake Villa Township Board are held on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. Special meetings are also held throughout the year with occasional workshop meetings on the fourth Tuesday of the month. You are invited to attend. Your input is important to us. If you can't attend feel free to call the office between 7 and 7:30 p.m. during the meeting to discuss your questions or concerns with a Board Member.
In February work begins on the Township Budget preparation for the next fiscal year which runs April 1 through March 31. Budget Hearings for the Road District and Township are usually held in March. Tax Levies for both the Township and Road are determined in the fall months preceding the next fiscal year. The Tax Levies must be filed with the County Clerk by the last Tuesday in December.
The Lake Villa Township Board appoints the three Trustees of the Fire Protection District Board. The Fire Protection District Board is responsible to see that their community has adequate fire and rescue services within the scope of the laws of the State of Illinois. It is their responsibility to learn the position and to know the laws and regulations governing the district's operations. The Trustees are responsible to the community for providing fire and rescue services to the citizens, to utilize the resources of the community in an efficient and reasonable manner, and to keep the citizens informed of the condition of their Fire Protection District. In addition, they have the responsibility to the fire fighters and officers of the fire department:
- To provide an organizational structure that allows the department to carry out its goals.
- To provide the tools, equipment, and apparatus necessary for the fire department to provide the expected level of service.
- To provide a reasonably safe work situation
- To see that the department is adequately trained.
- To provide a means for communication between the fire department and the Fire Protection District Board.
The Supervisor's Office maintains a current list of the association officers from all of the subdivisions/associations in Lake Villa Township. This information is made available to anyone requesting it. To keep this list current, associations should submit annual changes of officer's name, address, and telephone number to us through mail or fax as the changes are made. As an alternative, any member of the association may call the Supervisor's Office with the new information.
You may register to vote at the Township office during regular office hours. Anyone with a change of name or address needs to re-register. Two forms of identification are required and one must have your current address on it.
Residents unable to vote on election day may cast an absentee ballot at the Township Office during the 3 weeks preceding an election. Students away at college and disabled citizens can have ballots mailed to them by filling out a temporary absent student notice or a disabled voter card. Every registered voter should make an effort to go to the polls regardless of political affiliations.
Residents living in the unincorporated area of the Township may stop in to pick up vehicle stickers free of charge for each automobile owned. Identification is required. Vehicle stickers are in effect for a two year period with an expiration date of December 1999.
As you well know most of the money that buys the street lights, pays the policemen and firemen, operates the school system and repairs your roads, comes from your pocket in the form of local property taxes. Every year when your taxing bodies determine their budgets, they are deciding what services you will get and how much you will pay. The amount you pay in taxes is determined by the amount of money required by the taxing bodies to provide the needed services as well as the assessed market value of your property. This is to ensure that every property owner pays a fair share of the cost. As neighborhoods improve or decline and home and business owners improve their property or let it fall into disrepair, appraised values change. Unless those values are updated, property taxes will not reflect the worth of the property and will be unfair. The Assessor does not create value. The value of your property is determined by the market itself.
HOMESTEAD LIMITED EXEMPTION is given to a Homeowner who lives in his home as of January 1 of the taxing year. The amount of this exemption could be as much as $5,000 off the assessed value. This is done automatically by the Assessor's Office. You may check your tax bill under exemptions to see that it was applied.
SENIOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION is given to Seniors 65 years and older who live in their home as of January 1 of the taxing year. This benefit amount is $3,000 off the assessment. The senior must bring in the necessary documentation ie, a deed, title, etc.
HOMESTEAD IMPROVEMENT EXEMPTION is given to any homeowner who lives in his home and adds value by an improvement or addition he has made on his residence. The amount of this exemption given over a four year period is based on the type of improvement which is made and how much value was added to the original construction.
SENIOR CITIZENS TAX FREEZE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION is given to seniors 65 years of age and older with a maximum household income of $45,000. This exemption freezes the assessment on the property. Applications are available in the Assessor's Office.
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