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“Control over our destiny” has emerged as the theme of a campaign to inform New Lenox voters about home rule, according to Mayor John Nowakowski.
Residents will be asked in a November referendum whether they want the Village Board to have the expanded revenue-raising powers conferred by home-rule status.
Home rule is available to Illinois towns with populations of 25,000 or more. Smaller communities, such as New Lenox, with a population of about 13,000, need voter approval to gain home rule.
The theme came out of an informational meeting this week with about 15 residents, the mayor said.
Many like the idea that home rule would allow the village to recoup more of the costs of its rapid growth by charging developers higher impact fees, he said.