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Stewards Council
Wednesday 10/22
6:30pm
YMCA, Boardroom
On the agenda all members are welcome to discuss and vote on:
ENDORSEMENT OF THE CHAMPAIGN TOWNSHIP BALLOT REFERENDUM “PROPOSITION TO INCREASE THE LIMITING RATE”
On election day, voters in Champaign Township (concurrent with the city
of Champaign) will have the opportunity to vote on a referendum titled
“Proposition to Increase The Limiting Rate.”
A “YES” vote would fund the Township General Assistance program, which
provides aid to residents in extreme poverty, by enacting a property
tax increase of 0.02% (or about $10/year for a property valued at
$150,000).
Residents who earn less than $3000 per year and are ineligible for
other aid depend on the Township to provide basic assistance, which it
has been unable to do in recent years. A “YES” vote on this referendum
would restore the ability of the Township to provide minimal aid of
$225/month to Champaign residents in desperate poverty.
Last spring, 71% of Champaign residents supported an advisory
referendum urging the Champaign government to restore funding for the
Township. However, the wording of the current referendum does not
explain that revenue from the marginal tax increase will be used to
fund the Township General Assistance program.
As we stand in solidarity with all workers on campus, we stand in
solidarity with all workers in our community, especially those who,
because of disability or illness, do not have a steady income. It is
people in this situation that depend on the Township for financial
assistance.
The Graduate Employees’ Organization supports passage of this
referendum and commits to educate our members about the referendum and
to urge eligible members to vote “YES”.