Cannabis, electric aggregation questions fail; township questions pass
In addition to deciding municipal leaders, Sangamon County voters had a host of questions and referendums on their ballots this consolidated election.
The issues ranged from adult-use cannabis in Chatham, township consolidation and electric aggregation in Spaulding - measures that saw varying rates of success on April 4.
Cannabis in Chatham
Chatham voters saw two cannabis-related measures on their ballots, one allowing dispensaries to establish businesses and the other permitting growers, cultivation centers, and transporters to operate within the village.
Recreational use of marijuana has been legal in Illinois since in 2020 for people 21 and older, but the village passed an ordinance in 2019 that has prevented the presence of adult-use cannabis business has been in-place ever since.
Before 9 p.m., 100% of the 11 voting precincts had been tallied and the advisory questions failed. Slightly more than 1,500 voters cast their ballots on the questions, where neither levied more than 45% of the voter's support.
Related: These Springfield-area businesses are thriving in the virtual marijuana marketplace
Chatham village president Dave Kimsey previously projected a municipal tax of 3% - which it misses out on due to the ordinance - could levy approximately $200,000 for the village annually instead of this funding going to a bordering municipality. Chatham residents have been required to neighboring communities such as Springfield to acquire cannabis for recreational use, which receives that revenue.
Spaulding electric aggregation
Through the Illinois Power Agency Act, local governments are permitted to negotiate on the behalf of its constituents for electric package purchases. The process, known as electric or municipal aggregation, is believed by proponents to save taxpayers and municipalities money.
According to Plug In Illinois, a program of the Illinois Commerce Commission, several communities in Sangamon County have previously had these programs. The village of Spaulding was one of those and, following the election tally, results indicate it will not return to the village of less than 1,000 residents.
The three small voting precincts northwest of Springfield saw only 136 votes, with 53.7% voting 'no' and 46.3% voting 'yes.' The precinct tally was completed around 9 p.m. on Tuesday, almost two hours after the polls closed on Election Day.
Related: Ameren Illinois cites clean energy act, COVID-19, war for electric, gas rate hike request
Good Energy LP, a nationwide energy pricing solution with an Illinois office in Peoria, would be the contracted company. Residents are not required to participate, but would have to opt-out.
Township questions
The consolidated election had three separate votes regarding townships — one for Springfield voters and the others for residents of Springfield and Woodside townships. At the heart of these advisory referendums was whether these township areas inside the city limits should remain separate entities or if they should be annexed into Springfield.
Voters on the questions overwhelmingly voted 'yes' in the consolidated election, with no vote having less than 75% of the electorate's support. All of the questions are "advisory" votes meaning the results from the April 4 election are non-binding.
Springfield and Woodside townships are located within the corporate limits of Springfield with populations of 5,813 and 11,688 respectively as of 2020 U.S. Census Data. Their respective portions within the city limits in the 2010 Census were considerably smaller with only 481 Springfield Township residents living in Springfield and 13 residents of Woodside Township living in the city.
More: Township advisory question will go on April 4 ballot; Redpath calls it 'a political stunt'
Following years of annexing parcels into the city, Springfield City Council voted last September to make the township question an advisory referendum in the April election. From there, regardless of the vote, Mayor Jim Langfelder said council will request that the Illinois General Assembly close a loophole and dissolve the parcels from township jurisdictions so the city can provide property tax relief to affected residents.
The matter was a split vote, where proponents said property owners in these areas were paying taxes but not receiving services. Opponents said townships like Woodside and Springfield townships would lose money due to a smaller tax base.
Contact Patrick Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/pkeckreporter
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Cannabis, electric aggregation questions fail; township questions pass
