Disaster in governance

To the Editor:

McHenry County government has been a model that other counties in Illinois have attempted to emulate. With a bond rating of Aaa, the highest possible, taxpayers save with lowest-available interest rates for improvement projects.

Illinois, however, has a bond rating of A; only California has a lower rating. The most recent downgrade for Illinois is estimated to cost taxpayers an additional $1.5 million for every $100 million borrowed.

This is a result of one person having too much power over the decisions of the state. Despite having a front row seat to this disaster in governance, Jack Franks has gotten a referendum on the ballot that would consolidate power with one person: a county executive.

The county executive would create a budget; appoint members to boards, commissions, special districts; hire, fire and suspend deputies, employees, other administrative staff; and have veto power.

I’ll be voting “no” on the county executive referendum.

Jake Justen

Crystal Lake