Good evening. I’m Brent Porfilio, the new Homer Township Highway Commissioner. I am here to clarify and correct some of the comments made during Public Comments by Brian Kozar at the last Board meeting, with respect to the Road District.
On December 9th, 2020, the Homer Glen Village Board voted to form a new Public Works Department and levy a new Public Works and Municipal Tax increase in order to raise ~$1.5 million to fund it. In April of 2021, shortly thereafter, an IGA was signed by Mike DeVivo and Mayor Yukich transferring over $7M in Road District Assets away from the Homer Township Road District that has been in place since 1836 – including Vehicles, Accessories, Equipment, facilities, and property. This was done against the wishes of Homer Township residents as per last November’s election where Homer Township residents voted not to dissolve the Road District and transfer it’s assets to Homer Glen.
Subsequent to the IGA approval, the Road District was left with 2 employees, a paltry list of equipment to maintain the Road District assets with (including only a 1 ton and 2.5 ton dump truck and miscellaneous tools), no land, and ½ of a small new maintenance building to house all equipment and vehicles. This is ridiculously short of the required vehicles and equipment required to maintain the Road District assets – let’s remember the Road District used to have nearly $7.8 Million in assets.
There was also a statement 2 weeks ago about a $511k Road District Tax Levy budget – this is woefully short of what would be required. One needs to be aware of the fact that one half of the annual Road District tax levy is transferred back to all municipalities in the Township, as per statute – This would leave the Road District with a paltry budget of less than $300k– which of course is not feasible in any sense of the imagination as it would barely cover staff salaries and benefits. There would be no money for new equipment, materials, vehicle and equipment maintenance, roadway improvements, maintenance of sidewalks, ditching, culverts, lighting, trees, signing, and parkways – not to mention monthly bills, fuel, salt, etc.
Since taking office on May 17th, I have been in discussions with the Village and Township to figure out how to best serve both the Township and the Village residents at a reasonable cost that will be tax neutral to you, the residents. We’re not quite there yet, but getting close.
The transfer of the Road District assets to Homer Glen, via the IGA, was rushed, not well written, avoidable and should have waited until after the April 6th election, especially after having heard from the Homer Township residents who spoke loudly with their vote against this last November, as well as having elected new majority Boards for both Homer Township and Homer Glen.
So today, you the residents, are paying for annual road services via both the Homer Glen Public Works Municipal Tax and the Homer Township Road District Tax Levy, which needs to be optimized.
As such, as your Highway Commissioner I promise to work to the best of my abilities to stabilize taxes for the benefit of all Homer Township and Homer Glen Residents and taxpayers on behalf of the Road District. I am in discussions with the Village and Homer Township and intend to help craft a solution that ensures all of the Road District and Homer Glen assets will be properly maintained at a price that will not over burden you the taxpayers.
Thank You and God Bless.
