League of Women Voters to hold session on tax, auditor referendums

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CHAMPAIGN — As Election Day nears, Champaign County voters will have a chance this weekend to learn about two referendum questions that will be on the ballot in November.

The League of Women Voters of Champaign County will host an informational session on the referendums from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Champaign Public Library, Rooms A and B, 200 W. Green St. The event is free and open to the public.

“In the 2024 General Election there is so much public attention on the presidential candidates that voters may not be aware of local issues that are on their ballot,” said Trisha Crowley, president emerita of the league’s local chapter. “The outcome of these referendums will have a significant impact on the residents of our community. The League is hosting this event to help voters be informed, prepared, and engaged in the voting process.”

County officials have put two questions on the ballot for the Nov. 5 general election. According to the Champaign County Clerk’s Office, the official language is as follows:

1. “Shall the Office of the Champaign County Auditor be eliminated, effective December 1, 2024?”
2. “To pay for public safety purposes, shall Champaign County be authorized to impose an increase on its share of local sales taxes by one-quarter percent? This would mean that a consumer would pay an additional twenty-five cents in sales tax for every $100 of tangible personal property bought at retail.”

At the beginning of the voter information program on Sunday, local officials will discuss the state of county finances and their reasons for requesting the tax increase, league officials said.

Speakers on the tax referendum will include:

• County Executive Steve Summers.
• County Board Member and Finance Committee Chair Stephanie Fortado.
• County Board Member and Finance Committee Vice Chair John Farney.
• County Board Member and Finance Committee Member Elly Hanauer-Friedman.
• County Public Defender Elisabeth Pollock.

During the second half of Sunday’s program, former Champaign County Administrator Deb Busey and Crowley will discuss how the elected office of auditor “has historically functioned and why many believe it to be obsolete under 21st century government accounting and financial systems,” league officials said.

If approved, the referendum would make the outcome of the race between incumbent Democratic Auditor George Danos and Republican Alan Anderson a moot point.

More information on this and other league events is available at lwvchampaigncounty.org.

More information on local referendum questions for Champaign County and other municipalities is available at champaigncountyclerk.com/elections/.