A reform package that cuts out pensions and health care benefits for Rock Island County Board members survived its first test and will be debated again later this month.
At a governmental affairs meeting on Monday, a three to three tie vote was broken by Chairman Scott Terry, a Democrat, who voted in favor of moving the reform package forward.
Dissenting were Democrats Richard Brunk, Pat Moreno, and Don Jacobs.
The package also includes a plan to reduce the size of the county board from 25 to 15. That can't be done until after the 2020 census, but proponents of the plan say it's time to start the process.
"This stuff should have been done a long time ago. These issues have been debated to death", he said, addressing those who wanted to put off the vote.
The reform package will be discussed at another public meeting on Wednesday, and again at the county board meeting on February 17th.