Riverside Township trustees on March 11 adopted a resolution opposing proposals at the state level to consolidate or eliminate township governments and approved routine payments and the agenda for the township’s annual town meeting.

The trustees passed the resolution after Supervisor Wilt read a draft that objected to the governor’s budget initiative and related legislation targeting townships with fewer than 5,000 residents. The board also approved the township’s March warrants, including a general warrant and several program-specific warrants, and accepted the agenda for the April annual town meeting.

The resolution, read into the record by Supervisor Wilt, said in part that research shows the change “would cost far more for another government to provide the same level of services that townships provide” and that townships account for “only around 2% of property tax bills statewide.” It also asserted that townships manage roughly “72,000 miles of roads compared to IDOT and counties” and described township services that the board said should be preserved, including general assistance, emergency assistance and the food pantry.

Supervisor Wilt said the resolution and associated outreach were in response to a legislative alert circulated by Township Officials of Illinois. The board voted by voice or roll call to approve the resolution; the motion was moved by Trustee Heilenbach and seconded by Trustee Carroll. The resolution passed on a voice vote with no recorded “nay.”

Trustees also approved a set of payment warrants presented at the meeting. The board authorized payment of a general warrant in the amount of $13,630.57. In addition the board ratified the following warrants for March 2025: utility, $1,856.32; payroll, $19,808.39; health, $6,421.52; community partnership, $26,500; general assistance, $9,629.89; township radio players, $180; and food pantry, $1,180.37. Clerk Reyes called the roll for the warrant approvals; trustees present voted yes and the motions carried.

The trustees also approved the proposed agenda for the township annual town meeting, scheduled for April 8 at 6:01 p.m., which Supervisor Wilt said will be “very basic and mostly just presentation of reports.”

The actions come as the township’s leadership urged residents and officials to contact state lawmakers about the proposed consolidation language. No formal changes to township services were adopted at the meeting; the resolution is a statement of opposition and a request for outreach to legislators.