A referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot asks McHenry County voters to fundamentally change how our county government works.

If the measure passes, the county would adopt an executive form of government, and in 2014 voters countywide would elect a county executive who would run the day-to-day operations of county government.

The county executive also would draft the county’s annual budget, make hiring and firing recommendations, and have veto power over County Board votes. That’s a lot more authority than the current County Board chairman has.