Levels of Government for Naperville Residents
Township
Township government is the oldest form of government that continues to function today. In Illinois, the township government began in 1849. The vast majority of Illinois counties, including DuPage and Will, operate under the township form of government. Illinois townships continue to hold Annual Town Meetings on the second Tuesday in April.
Naperville has six townships within its city limits- DuPage, Lisle, Milton, Naperville, Wheatland and Winfield. Township government in Illinois is charged with 1) general assistance for the indigent 2) the assessment of real property for the basis of local taxation and 3) maintenance of all roads and bridges outside federal, state, and other local jurisdiction.
Townships may additionally provide a food pantry, senior services, youth services, cemetery management, passport services, marriage licenses, recycling programs, selective Secretary of State transactions and medical lending closets. Townships are of primary importance to unincorporated Naperville residents as they are not eligible for most city services.
Townships are led by an elected Supervisor and four elected Trustees. Additional elected township roles are the Clerk, Assessor, Highway Commissioner and within some counties the Tax Collector. All terms are four years. These positions are paid and some have health benefits.
Townships are property tax levying entities; therefore, you will see line items on your annual tax levy. For example- Wheatland Township Town Funds and Wheatland Township Road Funds.
City
Naperville is classified as a home rule city.
Home rule authority in Illinois gives local governments greater flexibility and independence to manage their own affairs without needing specific permission from the state legislature. This authority allows communities to respond more quickly and effectively to local needs, whether by addressing public safety, enacting zoning changes, or implementing new taxes to fund services. It can also cut through bureaucratic delays and enable more efficient local governance. Home rule offers the opportunity to be more proactive and self-directed in meeting the challenges they face.
Naperville uses a Council-Manager form of government. This form of government combines the political leadership of an elected Mayor and eight elected at-large Council members with a hired City Manager who oversees the daily operation of the CIty. The Council sets the policy and the Manager and their staff enact it. The elected positions are for four years. They are paid and some roles may have access to health benefits.
The City of Naperville provides services such as Utilities (city operated electric and water/wastewater), Public Safety (fire/police), Public Works, Garbage and Recycling, Planning, Building and Development, Transportation, Environmental and Sustainability Programs, Community Amenities and Customer Service. These services are provided to residents of incorporated Naperville. Special arrangements may exist for unincorporated residents.
The CIty of Naperville is a property tax levying entity; therefore, you will see line items on your annual tax levy. For example- City of Naperville and CIty of Naper RD & BR.
County
Naperville resides in two counties: DuPage to the north and Will to the south.
DuPage County has a County Board governmental model. Eighteen elected Board Members representing all districts along with an elected Board Chair (who acts as the Chief Executive) make up the governing body of DuPage County. The Board Chair is charged with overseeing the administration of the County as well as leading the County Board. The term of Board Chair is 4 years. The term for Board Members is currently either 2 or 4 years. DuPage County is not a home rule county. These positions are paid and have access to health benefits.
Will County has a County Executive governmental model. The county has an elected County Executive (who runs the day to day activities of the county along with the power to appoint persons to boards and commissions) and twenty-two district specific elected County Board Members (who collectively act as the legislative branch of county government.) While the county has a County Executive and therefore eligible for home rule status, Will County voters voted against being a home rule county in 1988. The elected officials terms are four years and are paid positions with access to health benefits.
Additional county officials who are elected are County Clerk, Sheriff, State’s Attorney, Treasurer, Auditor, Clerk of the Circuit Court, and Coroner. These are four year terms and come with salary and access to health benefits. Circuit Court Judges are elected or retained by their district’s voters on a 6 year basis. These are paid positions with access to health benefits.
County government provides services such as Public Safety, Circuit Courts and Legal Services, Property and Tax Services, Elections, Vital Records and Licensing, Planning and Development, Recorder and Clerk Services, Public Health Initiatives, Human Services, Recreation/County Amenities, Environmental Services and Agriculture Support Programs. Unincorporated residents rely on the county for many services that incorporated residents get directly from Naperville.
Counties are property tax levying entities; therefore, you will see line items on your annual tax levy. For example- Will County.
State
Naperville is represented by 8 IL House Districts and 7 IL Senate Districts. Inclusion in a specific district is determined by address and can be found here. These elected officials serve in the Illinois General Assembly as the Legislative branch of Illinois government. IL House terms are 2 years and IL Senate terms are either 2 or 4 years depending on the timing within the redistricting cycle. These roles are paid and have access to health benefits.
Naperville residents also vote for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller and Treasurer. IL Supreme Court Justices are elected or retained by their district constituents on a cyclical basis as are IL Appellate Judges. These roles are paid and have access to health benefits.
Illinois State government provides services such as Driver & Vehicle Services, Taxes & Revenue, Elections, Health & Human Services, Public Safety, Jobs, Unemployment & Labor, Education, Environment, Transportation, Senior Services, Disability Services, Family Services, Business Services and Licensing Services. The majority of funding for the State comes from Income and Sales Tax.
Federal
Naperville is represented by two US Congressional seats- IL11th and IL14th depending on where the voter resides. These are two year elected positions with pay and health benefits. They have offices in various locations within their district as well as in Washington, DC. Naperville is represented by two US Senators from the State of Illinois. These are six year elected positions with pay and health benefits. They have offices in various locations within the state as well as in Washington, DC. Naperville residents also vote for the positions of President/Vice President who have terms of four years with pay and health benefits and work out of Washington, DC.
The federal government provides services such as Tax and Revenue Collection, Social Safety Net Programs, Healthcare Services, Mail Services, Emergency Management and Disaster Relief, National Defence, Education Services and Research Support, Transportation, Infrastructure, and Law & Justice Services. A large portion of funding for the federal government comes from individual income tax, payroll tax, and corporate income tax.
Special Districts- Special districts are local government units created to perform a specific service or set of services in a defined area—separately from cities, towns, or counties.
Naperville is serviced by county specific Forest Preserves, Naperville Park District, Naperville Public Library, DuPage Water Commission, local Community Unit School DIstricts and a Community College District. Each is a property tax levying entity and inclusion is dependent on the resident’s address. Some of these entities are run by elected officials in consort with a hired executive.