Decatur Township was formed in 1860 when the county was divided into 14 townships. In the late 1800's and early 1900's the
township supervisor was called "Overseer of the Poor". The township's main function was to take care of the indigent in their
community. They ran "poor farms" usually on the outskirts of the city where the "poor" were housed and fed. They took in men,
women and orphans if they had no where else to go. They also maintained the township roads and collected taxes.
Things have changed a bit today, but the basic functions of the township have remained the same. Illinois statutes now pro-
vide that townships are a unit of government with specific responsibilities for:
1. Administering a general assistance (welfare) program for citizens in need.
2. Providing highway maintenance for public roads within the township (that are not maintained as city or county roads).
In rural townships this is a significant responsibliity. However, in Decatur Township we are responsible for only 9.16 miles
of road and we contract with the county to provide any maintenance.
3. Providing assessed valuations for all real estate properties in the township* for taxation purposes. (Decatur Township has
approximately 26,160 parcels of real estate that must be regularly assessed.)
4. Undertaking to provide other services for the public that are not assigned to or assumed by other units of government. In
Decatur Township there are three formerly private cemeteries that had been abandoned (Greenwood, Sharon, and Spangler)
whose maintenance had to be assumed by the Township.
Every 4 years a Supervisor, Town Clerk, Assessor, Highway Commissioner and 4 Trustees are elected in the municipal elections
in the spring. The township is now responsible for handling 2.2 million dollars of your tax money each year.
TOWNSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
The primary function of almost 97% of the townships in Illinois is to maintain roads and bridges. A few townships, like Decatur,
are located in urban areas, and have relatively little responsibility for roads and bridges.
Decatur Township has three major responsibilities. We are not a very visible influence in the lives of most citizens. One
responsibility is to provide a general assistance program for the needy, another is to perform property tax assessments for
26,000 parcels of property located within our boundaries, and the third major responsibility is maintenance of three cemeteries
including Decatur's most historic cemetery, Greenwood Cemetery.
General Assistance Program
Every township is required to provide General Assistance to township people in need of assistance. Each township levies a tax
on properties to pay for providing this assistance. Decatur Township levies the maximum levy now permitted by law (1 mill per
$100 of all assessed valuation within our township). This levy will provide $556,446 this year to fund our General Assistance
Program.
Until June 30,2011, the State of Illinois provided additional funding of $850,000 per year to supplement our G.A. Tax Levy.
As of July 1, 2011, State supplemental funding will no longer be available. Decatur Township has now had to eliminate the work
programs we offered our needy citizens.
Our only source of income now to pay for General Assistance Administrative costs and the costs of our clients monthly cash grants and
covered medical expenses is our G.A. Tax Levy. We are considering asking property owners to approve an increase in the "Cap"
on our G. A. Tax Rate. To replace the $850,000 we formerly received from the State of Illinois, we will have to more than double our
current G. A. Tax Rate. You will be hearing more about this problem this fall.
Property Tax Assessments
For the property owners, the Township Assessor's job is to provide fair and equitable assessment of some 26,000 parcels of
property located within the boundaries* of Decatur Township. These assessments are then reported to the county who prepares
and collects your property tax bills.
* South to West Grove Road North to Pershing Road
East to Country Club Road West to Wycles Road
