CHAMPAIGN – The two women running for City of Champaign Township supervisor agree that the township needs to look for other sources of funding to provide assistance to the most needy people in Champaign.

But they disagree on whether the township also should raise property taxes to provide more general assistance.

The issue will be on the agenda again at 6:55 p.m. April 14, when the township holds its annual town meeting at the Champaign City Building. There, all township residents attending the meeting will vote on a proposal to place an advisory question on the ballot in 2010 to increase general assistance to the poor.

Republican Pam Borowski, a broker at Coldwell Banker Devonshire Realty and a real estate instructor, said she opposes increasing property taxes to expand general assistance.

Her Democratic opponent, D'Anne Winston, who has served as an accountant in the township supervisor's office for two years, says she supports an increase.

"I'm going to be in the audience at the town meeting," she said, "and I will support it."

Supervisor Linda Abernathy is not seeking re-election.

Expanding general assistance has been an ongoing controversy in the township. The township currently provides only transitional assistance of about $150 a month to about 30 people in Champaign. In Cunningham Township (Urbana), recipients of general assistance get payments of $243, Winston said.

"In this economy we have more people asking for assistance and we're not able to help them," Winston said.

Borowski said property taxes already are too high.

"As a Realtor, I hear it over and over that property taxes are too high," she said. "There is a real resentment about programs like this.

"The people of Champaign don't want to pay additional taxes. That's why we need to find other ways to fund the general assistance program."

She also said she wanted to increase government accountability by awarding assistance in another way besides direct cash payments.

"When people come in and walk out with cash in their pocket you have no idea where that money is going," she said. "I would like to use prepaid debit cards.

"If I found out they were spending the money on something inappropriate, the first time they'd get a warning. The second time they'd be off general assistance."

But Winston said the use of debit cards would cost money to both the township and the recipients.

Borowski said she would look into applying for federal grants to aid the township.

Winston agreed. She said grant money is available from both the state and federal governments.

"They have lots of grants out there for townships, so why shouldn't we go after that?" she said.

Borowski said she would not accept the pay raise scheduled to go to the supervisor in 2011. At that time the current salary of $58,994 is scheduled to increase to $60,174.

"We're in tough financial times, and our city is facing tough times," she said. "As a concerned citizen I want to do whatever I can."

She also said she would continue to work as a real estate broker.

"I would not give up my real estate license," she said. "The supervisor's job is a full-time job and I would be there form 8:30 to 5 or 6 every night. But I want to be able to do real estate in the evenings and on weekends. It's something I really enjoy."

Winston said her life experiences and her time in the supervisor's office make her a superior candidate. She said she has worked as a property manager, an accountant at a hotel and as a counselor with an energy assistance program in Sangamon County.

"I know what it's like to not have a steady income and to be ill," Winston said. "I really do understand the barriers that are out there.

"I would like to help move people in our community from poverty to opportunity."

Township supervisor candidates

Pam Borowski

Age: 57

Street address: 1111 B Plymouth Drive

Party: Republican

Occupation: Realtor

Political experience: None

Family: Single

D'Anne Winston

Age: 48

Street address: 1003 Laura Drive

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Accountant for City of Champaign Township for two years

Political experience: None

Family: Married, two children and four grandchildren