ROCKFORD — Mayor Tom McNamara will introduce a series of measures to limit the city's powers if voters agree to restore home rule authority during a March 20 referendum.
What McNamara calls "self-limiting" measures are in part a response to residents and critics who worry that home rule authority can too easily be abused.
McNamara's proposals would give voters the power to recall aldermen or the mayor if they feel elected officials are doing a bad job or are abusing home rule authority.
The measures would also place limits on property tax and sales tax increases, requiring a super majority vote of City Council, public notification requirements and automatic layovers before a vote can be taken on such issues. There would also be a limit placed on debt to be paid for from property taxes that the city can acquire without voter approval.
McNamara discussed the measures Wednesday morning during a news conference ostensibly called to re-launch the "Our Decisions, Our Solutions" home rule campaign as it enters a second gear. He will introduce the measures during City Council committee meetings on Monday.
And in response to a false argument McNamara has heard: No, even with home rule authority the city could not institute a real estate transfer tax without a referendum. Under state law a real estate transfer tax, charged when properties change hands, must be approved by voters no matter if a city is home rule or not.
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Jeff Kolkey: 815-987-1374; jkolkey@rrstar.com; @jeffkolkey