THE ROLE OF TOWNSHIPS AND MUNICIPALITIES Rebecca Hendrick, Ph.D. Karen Mossberger, Ph.D. Department of Public Administration UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO With support from THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST

Policy Problem  Shifting demographics of poor, working poor and immigrants to suburbs  Rising need with economic crisis  What is the current role of townships and municipalities in social service delivery?  What is their capacity for an enhanced role in the future?

 Multiple levels of government in the region have responsibility for social services, including Counties  Townships have statutory responsibility for General Assistance, but may do more  Municipalities have no statutory responsibility, but may deliver or collaborate on services  Nonprofits are important in contracting, grants, and collaboration with governments

Little is known about the role of townships and municipalities, and it varies widely across the region  How do social services correspond to needs?  What is the financial, administrative, and political capacity of townships to meet needs?  What are the prospects for municipal collaboration?  What strategies might help meet needs in the region?

 Survey all 114 townships in 6-county region (March- September 2008)  Survey all municipalities in Cook and DuPage Counties, plus Joliet, Aurora, Elgin, Waukegan, and municipalities in Round Lake area  Financial data on townships and municipalities (Illinois Department of Revenue, Illinois Office of Comptroller)  Data from U.S. Census

 Clear differences between high-density townships with little unincorporated area and those on metro edge with more unincorporated land  Urbanized townships tend to specialize in social services, but vary in level and types of services provide  Rural townships often provide fewer social services, and may lack administrative capacity to do more  Gaps – not all high-need areas have services, even in urbanized townships; poverty is growing in some rural areas

Service Type% that provide Disability programs56% Senior programs67% Youth programs35% Crime/drug abuse programs27% Employment/training29% Housing assistance32% Food assistance 53% Health/medical (non-GA)38% Energy assistance44%

 Depend heavily on property taxes, but cover larger area than municipalities with more diverse revenue base.  They receive little financial assistance from other governments  Poverty and demand for social services is unevenly distributed, even within some townships  Townships that tax & spend more for social services are either high-resource or high-need; not all high- need townships have much beyond GA

 Townships have strict limits on maximum tax rates and levy increases  However, only 20-30% say they can meet only a portion of need for social services  Only 15% have taken steps to reduce or eliminate social services or to raise tax levies  The need may be greater: economy has worsened

 Townships are small governments with few specialized social service staff  Active townships use contracts and collaboration with nonprofits and other governments  Most rural townships lack capacity to administer GA or other social programs  Voters are not willing to increase levies or add services through higher tax rates

 Provide senior and youth services primarily, but much less than townships  Median spending on health and welfare per capita is $3.40  Also use contracts and collaboration with nonprofits and other governments  Perceive fewer current or future unmet needs than townships

Wide variation in attitudes Cooperation is necessary68% More joint planning for social services needed41% Uncertain about joint planning31% Municipalities shouldn’t deliver social services40% Uncertain about whether municipalities should deliver social services23%

 Advantages: Can be responsive, innovative, collaborative, participatory (volunteers)  Disadvantages: Uneven provision (capacity and will); gaps between needs and resources; little state role in filling gaps

 Financial assistance from state and other sources for high-need/low-resource townships  Regional collaboration to target areas of need, promote more equal provision, share information for innovation and capacity. Multiple stakeholders, including townships, municipalities, nonprofits, counties  Information-sharing networks on county/sub-county scale