Avon Township Posts $170,000 surplus, uses it for another tax cut

July 6, 2011

At the completion of its annual audit, Avon Township has posted in excess of a $170,000.00 surplus for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.   This surplus is larger than expected and follows a string of township efficiencies that include tax reductions, the return of elected official pay raises, and streamlining of operations.   

"All the attention is on federal and state fiscal problems," said Avon Township Supervisor Sam Yingling, "People don't realize the extent of over-spending and waste at the local level.  Since getting elected two years ago, our mission has been to make Avon Township more efficient, eradicate the culture of over-spending, and find creative ways to deliver the same services with less revenue from the hard working taxpayers of Avon Township."

In fact, Avon Township is entirely debt-free and plans to apply the surplus to already planned reductions in next year's taxes. 

While Yingling, the Avon Township Trustees, and Highway Commissioner Tom Brust work to undo a culture of over-taxation and over-spending, Yingling is determined to shed light and reform the Illinois Township Code and other antiquated laws that contribute to what Yingling describes as "a dysfunctional property tax system that rewards bad behavior."  Yingling adds that, "I can't sit idle while bloated property taxes are further exacerbated by the fact that Illinois has one of the highest numbers of taxing entities in the Country."

Yingling has spent recent months lobbying legislators to, among other things, give voters referendum power to determine how their townships should be organized and change the systemic problems that lead to abuse and higher taxes. 

Avon Township encompasses all or parts of Grayslake, Hainesville, Round Lake, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Heights, Round Lake Park, and Third Lake.