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January 11, 2016 • $1.00
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County Board urges consolidation Members push for state lawmakers to pursue government merging, tax relief efforts By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – Making state law more friendly to government consolidation and property tax reform dominates the McHenry County Board’s list of things it wants local state and federal lawmakers to push for this year.
The County Board’s travails last year in entertaining a citizen group’s effort to consolidate the county’s townships, and temporarily eliminating the levy for Valley Hi Nursing Home, heavily influenced its list of 2016 legislative priorities, which the board’s Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee ap-
proved Friday morning. Issues that McHenry County encountered in the consolidation attempt were referenced in, and influenced to a degree, the final report released Jan. 4 by the state Task Force on Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates. The task force, appointed
Illinois budget delay expected to dominate legislative session By IVAN MORENO and JOHN O’CONNOR
last year by Gov. Bruce Rauner, was tasked with finding ways to pare down the state’s almost 7,000 units of local government. “We’re working through some real-world roadblocks, and we think if we eliminate some of these, the goals can be attainable,” said committee Chairman Nick Provenzano,
R-McHenry. A group called McHenry County Citizens for Township Consolidation, with the blessing of several high-ranking county Republican officials, asked the County Board last March to put referendums on the March ballot to halve the number of townships from 17 to eight.
The group argued consolidation would save taxpayer money and improve accountability. But problems such as an unorganized approach to proving the claims and a lack of consensus aside, state law presented the biggest deal-killer
See BOARD, page A6
McHENRY COUNTY WORKS TO PREVENT SENIORS FROM FALLING
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The Associated Press
How would you grade Gov. Bruce Rauner’s first year in office? SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Vote online at NWHerald.com. has limped along without a budget since July, and solving that gridlock will be lawmakers’ top priority in the impending session, a time when they’ve traditionally turned attention to passing a fresh budget for the coming fiscal year. The epic budget fight that is crippling many state services will overshadow other key issues lawmakers want to address in the 2016 session, which begins Wednesday, including legislation to allow recall efforts against Chicago mayors and regulating fantasy sports gambling. Upcoming elections could weigh heavily and delay the budget deliberations. There are few session days scheduled before primaries March 15, and even if there’s a deal before then, some lawmakers may be reluctant to take on tough votes if they’re in tight contests. In fact, lawmakers will be off to a slow start. While the Senate is meeting Wednesday, House lawmakers won’t convene until Jan. 27, the day of the State of the State address, because the “workload was not there,” said Steve Brown, the spokesman for Speaker Michael Madigan. Despite rare, celebrated meetings last month between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and legislative leaders, there’s no indication he and Democrats who control the Legislature are any closer to bridging their ideological divide to end a seven-month stalemate.
Rep. David Harris, the Revenue and Finance Committee’s ranking Republican, said he’s not optimistic for a deal – but hopes he’s wrong. “I’m one of those folks who believes there can be a middle ground and that middle ground requires some compromise,” said Harris, from Mount Prospect. “And we have to get to a middle ground.” If compromise comes, it may be in the form of two budgets – the one that’s overdue and one for next year, Harris said. Also hovering over lawmakers is the state’s $111 billion pension debt. The state Supreme Court threw out the General Assembly’s suggested fix last year; but with no major proposals pending, any progress is likely to be slow. The state’s budget for the current year should’ve taken effect July 1, but Rauner rejected the plan lawmakers sent him. He has said a budget agreement should include reforms he believes will benefit the state’s economy, such as curbing the power of unions, setting term limits for lawmakers and passing measures to reduce businesses’ costs. Democrats say the things Rauner wants have nothing to do with a state budget. “He chose to put us into chaos and turmoil,” said Rep. Lou Lang, a Democratic leader.
See BUDGET, page A6
AP file photo
Retired state worker John Reilly takes part in a rally Dec. 10 in Springfield with Illinois state union members, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and supporters in favor of a fair contract and end to the state budget impasse. The spring legislative session starts Wednesday, and lawmakers will be focused on passing a budget agreement for the current fiscal year instead of focusing on the coming one.
Photos by Matthew Apgar – mapgar@shawmedia.com
“Fit and Strong” class instructors Joann Hecker (left) and Joan Lyons (right) hold their arms out to demonstrate a stretch for the class Wednesday at Senior Services Associates in Crystal Lake. The class aims to strengthen muscles and bones to help prevent falls and other accidents from occurring.
Experts: Falls contribute to local injury, death rates Area programs aim to curb spills
On the Web To see video and more photos from the “Fit and Strong” class at Senior Services Associates in Crystal Lake, visit NWHerald.com.
By CAITLIN SWIECA cswieca@shawmedia.com CRYSTAL LAKE – Claudia Aquilina was about to begin teaching a tai chi class at Senior Service Associates when she decided to pose a question to its participants: How many of you have fallen? Only one or two people said they had – until Aquilina started talking to them further. “I heard, ‘You know, when my grandson tripped me, that’s not really a fall,’ ” said Aquilina, the center’s activity director. “I said, ‘Did you hit the ground? Then you fell.’ “As it turns out, they had all fallen.” That small sample of seniors mirrors the national numbers on falls. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.5 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries each year, with more than 700,000
Ways to prevent falls
Martha Ottesen pulls an elastic cord up to her shoulders during a “Fit and Strong” class Wednesday at Senior Services Associates in Crystal Lake. of those patients hospitalized. One out of three people age 65 and older falls each year, but fewer than half tell their doctor, according to the CDC. As the population ages and people live longer, death rates from such falls have been climbing nationally.
Among accidental deaths in McHenry County, those from falls or complications because of falls have trailed only overdose deaths since 2013, with 85 deaths falling into that category, according
See FALLS, page A6
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• Talk to your doctor to evaluate your risk and review your medications. • Do strength and balance exercises. • Have your eyes checked at least once a year. • Make your home safer by getting rid of things you can trip over, adding grab bars in the bathroom and adding more or brighter light bulbs.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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