Todd Hitt is running for ST. JOSEPH TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR as a Republican.
Can you please provide some biographical information?
Lifelong resident of St. Joseph Township for 58 years. Married for 33 yrs to my wife
Jamie. We have raised our 2 daughters Jody (Perryville Missouri) and Jessie (St.
Joseph) who are married, and we have 5 grandchildren. I loved spending my entire
young adult and adult career in emergency services and serving St. Joseph locally in
many different capacities.
25 years with the St. Joseph Stanton Fire Protection District as a volunteer
30 years as a career firefighter for the City of Champaign, retiring in 2021 as a
Battalion Chief.
5 years Assistant Coordinator for Champaign County Emergency Services &
Disaster Agency
5 years as a 911 Operator for METCAD, serving the entire Champaign County
area.
12 years Village of St. Joseph Trustee
8 years St. Joseph Township Tax Assessor
4 years Supervisor for St. Joseph Township.
Sponsored and coached girls recreational softball in St. Joseph for 13 years
Coached the very first peewee (5yo) St. Joseph Ogden youth football team
St. Joseph Legion Post 634-Sons of the American Legion Honor Guard
Cofounder and board member of the St. Joseph Recreation Foundation
established to build our new Community Building.
How would you describe what the township board does to people who don’t
know?
Those that live within the Village limits of St. Joseph as well as outside the Village limits,
within St. Joseph Township are all residents of St. Joseph Township. While the Village
has an elected Mayor and Trustees (only by residents within the Village) responsible for
operations and policies within Village limits. St. Joseph Township has an elected
Supervisor, Clerk, Road Commissioner, Tax Assessor and 4 Trustees that are
responsible for outside the Village Limits, except for the Tax Assessor who assesses all
properties within the entire Township, including the Village Taxes are levied for the
maintenance of our roads and bridges outside the Village limits, as well as for our
Library. We also levy taxes for the administration of General Transitional Assistance
through strict regulations by the State of Illinois. These funds are used as for individuals
and families that qualify for the program and provides a monthly dollar amount to assist
in living expenses. We also administer Emergency Assistance for those that are facing
an Eviction Notice or a Utility Shut Off Notice in the form of payment directly to the
landlord or utility company to overt eviction or utility shut offs. Funds are also provided
to assist in local food pantry operations. The Township Trustees provide guidance and
set policies for the Township as well as approve all expenditures monthly. The
Supervisor establishes the budgets for the Township and the Road District, administers
the General Assistance/Emergency Assistance programs, operates as the Township
and Road District Treasurer, paying the monthly bills and working within a balanced
budget approved by the Trustees. The Road Commissioner manages and performs
maintenance on all Township roads and bridges with the assistance of part time
employees. The Tax Assessor works with the Champaign County Supervisor of
Assessments and manages all property assessments within the Township. They also
are required to be CIAO certifed in order to perform their duties. The Clerk maintains
our FOIA requirements, assists in budget preparations, keeps accurate minutes for
each meeting of the Board of Trustees and manage our Statement of Economic Interest
requirements. The Supervisor, Road Commissioner and Tax Assessor are required to
work 20hrs/week.
What motivated you to run for township board?
Community service is in my blood. My mother was the Township Clerk for 40 years and
asked if I would be interested in running for the Tax Assessor position as our long time
Tax Assessor was retiring. I did not have lifelong aspirations to become a Tax Assessor,
but wanted to fill a void that was needed. After 8 years I was interested in moving to the
Township Supervisor role and filling the Tax Assessor with a younger lifelong resident
eager to serve the Township also.
What are your short term goals for the township?
Continue to streamline our processes and our fiduciary responsibility to the citizens by
always evaluating our tax levy needs and expenses, not overspending and still provide
excellent services. We have recently supported the St. Joseph Sports Complex through
a contribution to the Village and working towards assisting in the building of the new St.
Joseph Community Building.
What are your long term goals?
Protect the existence of Township government. Fighting those that want to eliminate
Townships and limit services provided to those outside village limits.
Where would you like to see the township at in ten years?
Still providing the great services that we do while working on lowering property taxes to
the extent that we can do. Township government can be fluid at times as regulations
and laws are passed. Working on building a team to continue the Township into the
future.
What are the most pressing issues facing the township?
Property taxes are always on the top of the issues list. The upcoming TIF district that
the Village will be passing will certainly cut the amount the Township will collect as well
as have a potential adverse effect on our Library. We need to protect the Library from
any funding restraints as well as making sure our Road and Bridge funding remains
solid.
Why should people vote for you?
I am a Conservative Republican and have been my entire life. I work for the people,
listen to concerns (even criticism) and work on solving issues. It is important that we
continue to have experienced, vested, trusted, accessible citizens working to maintain
and improve our Township.
How will you make sure you work for the public and are accessible to your
constituents?
I am an open book and always accessible by cell phone, in person, email or text. Our
contact information, including my cell phone is posted in the window of our Township
offices. Government is for the people and by the people!
You must be logged in to post a comment.