4 Referendums on Nov. 3 Ballots in Kane County

4 Referendums on Nov. 3 Ballots in Kane County

/ October 27, 2020 / Comments Off on 4 Referendums on Nov. 3 Ballots in Kane County / Business, Communities, Consumers, Education, Elections, Events, Government, Kane County Clerk's Office, Local Economy, Public Safety, Public Service, State of Illinois, Taxpayers

LAST UPDATE: TUESDAY, OCT. 27

  • Editor’s Note: The following article is based on information provided on the Kane County Clerk’s Office election webpages. Kane County Connects encourages citizens to take part in the election process and to seek additional information sources to make informed voting decisions.

There are four referendums listed on the Kane County Clerk’s Office election webpage.

A brief summary of each is listed below.

Graduated Income Tax Amendment

According to Ballotpedia, the income tax amendment — sometimes referred to as the “fair tax” or “tax hike amendment” in media reports — would repeal the state’s constitutional requirement that the state personal income tax be a flat rate across income.

The ballot measure would allow the state to enact legislation for a graduated income tax.

Illinois is one of 11 states with a flat-rate income tax, meaning there is a constant rate across income before deductions and exemptions. In Illinois, income is taxed at 4.95%. Most (32 of 50) states have a graduated income tax, with different rates applied to different levels of income.

Here are the details and explanation of amendment as posted on the Kane County Clerk’s Office election page:

THE FAILURE TO VOTE THIS BALLOT MAY BE THE EQUIVALENT OF A NEGATIVE VOTE, BECAUSE A CONVENTION SHALL BE CALLED OR THE AMENDMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE IF APPROVED BY EITHER THREE-FIFTHS OF THOSE VOTING ON THE QUESTION OR A MAJORITY OF THOSE VOTING IN THE ELECTION.

(THIS IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A DIRECTION THAT YOUR VOTE IS REQUIRED TO BE CAST EITHER IN FAVOR OF OR IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSITION HEREIN CONTAINED.)

WHETHER YOU VOTE THIS BALLOT OR NOT YOU MUST RETURN IT TO THE ELECTION JUDGE WHEN YOU LEAVE THE VOTING BOOTH.

Explanation of Amendment

The proposed amendment grants the state authority to impose higher income tax rates on higher income levels, which is how the federal government and a majority of other states do it.

The amendment would remove the portion of the Revenue Article of the Illinois Constitution that is sometimes referred to as the “flat tax,” that requires all taxes on income to be at the same rate.

The amendment does not itself change tax rates. It gives the State the ability to impose higher tax rates on those with higher income levels and lower income tax rates on those with middle or lower income levels.

You are asked to decide whether the proposed amendment should become a part of the Illinois Constitution.||For the proposed amendment of Section 3 of Article IX of the Illinois Constitution.

Algonquin Village Clerk

Algonquin is asking voters whether the village clerk’s position should be appointed by the village president rather than an elected position.

The question reads:

Shall the Clerk of the Village of Algonquin be appointed by the Village President, with the advice and consent of the Village Board, rather than be elected, effective May 1, 2021?

Dundee Township Limiting Rate

Dundee Township is seeking an increase in the property tax limiting rate.

The referendum reads as follows:

Shall the limiting rate under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for the Township of Dundee, Kane County, Illinois, be increased an additional amount equal to .037005% above the limiting rate for levy year 2019 and be equal to 0.109815% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein for levy
year 2020?

Batavia Cannabis Question

Back in January, Batavia City Council members decided to let voters decide whether to allow the sale of recreational marijuana inside the city limits.

The January discussion in Batavia came too late for the question to be put on the upcoming March primary ballot, so the question will be asked in the Nov. 3 General Election.

The Kane County Clerk’s Office website posts past and upcoming ballot questions on its Referenda web page. Additional referendum questions are added as petitions are submitted, so it’s good to check that page from time to time to see if there is a referendum question in your area.

The Batavia referendum will read:

Shall the City of Batavia allow the sale of recreational adult-use cannabis within its jurisdiction, subject to statutorily permissible restrictions?

You can read the full resolution and ballot certification in PDF form by clicking this link.

Referenda

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