For the second time, District 4 Democrats running against incumbent John Hammerand for McHenry County Board have targeted him.
In 2012 Mary Margaret Maule did it. Hammerand ran second out of four candidates one hundred votes behind top vote-getter Sandy Salgado.
He received 11,765 votes, Maule got 9,806.
The weakest candidate, that is, the one who finished in the winning circle, but fourth, was newcomer Robert Martens. Martens received 10,777.
Arne Waltmire read his opening comments.
I didn’t think it was a good strategy then and, yet, the Democrat running this year in the McHenry-Richmond-Spring Grove area, Arne Waltmire, is using the same strategy.
Instead of going after the non-incumbent Republican candidate, Chuck Wheeler, Waltmire spent most of his opening statement at the McHenry County League of Women Voters Forum attacking Hammerand.
The entire attack was read from a script.
Head down and talking so fast that I could not keep up, the former regional teacher union official, who teaches auto mechanics and industrial technology at Crystal Lake South High School, charged that Hammerand had opposed his campaign issue—cutting the size of the County Board from 24 to 16 members, which he said would save about $320,000.
“He voted to block [it].”
Waltmire also said that Hammerand had voted to increase fees on seniors at Valley Hi, the county nursing home. He further charged that Hammerand wanted to sell it to a private corporation.
John Hammerand
Speaking next, Hammerand said in a pretty loud voice,
“[His] allegations are lies!”
“I voted against increasing fees at Valley Hi. I believe I was the only ones who did.
“I suggested that we go to two members in six districts.
“It’s a lie!”
In an interview, Hammerand said Waltmire also lied at the Northwest Herald interview of District 4 candidates.
Waltmire a former Teachers Union huckster and does the flippy flop over the top?
Sorry Arne, the more professorial and grounded Hammerand, is the real candidate here.
I cannot trust a man with a comb-over.
If he’s willing to lie to himself, he’s willing to lie to you.
Hammerand’s exceptional voting record and outspoken criticism of governmental waste speaks for itself.
The issue of Valley Hi financing would be a wonderful debate topic between well-informed Hammerand and Waltmire(who seems to be ill informed about Valley Hi and other County spending issues).
It is a complex issue and Waltmire appears to stating some misleading, partially accurate argument designed to frighten or enrage an audience for whom he must have too much contempt to address with all the facts and factors involved in that issue.
Unapproved Minutes – Public Health & Human Services September 24, 2014(Excerpt)
McHenry County Page 2 Updated 10/6/2014 3:33 PM
1. Resolution Authorizing Increasing the Daily Resident Room Rates at Valley Hi Nursing Home
Effective January 1, 2015
Mr. Hammerand questioned if there is a Medicaid wait list for Valley Hi?
Mr. Annarella stated there is a wait list for Valley Hi.
Mr. Hammerand then questioned if the county offsets the costs for the Medicaid residents? He was informed Valley Hi never receives back from Medicaid the dollar for dollar cost of the service provided.
Mr. Hammerand voiced concern as Valley Hi is supposed to be used for indigent care.
He reminded the committee members that this home was originally created as the poor farm and not luxury accommodations for private paying people. He stated he does not believe the private pay people should be provided a larger room and if they want the luxury of larger rooms they should go to a private nursing home.
Chairman Kurtz agreed and stated she has voiced the same concerns.
Ms. McCann called the question.
RESULT: RECOMMENDED [4 TO 1]
MOVER: Mary McCann
SECONDER: Paula Yensen
AYES: Kurtz, McCann, Miller, Yensen
NAYS: Hammerand
ABSENT: Salgado, Walkup
For the full minutes see
http://mchenrycountyil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=2737&Inline=True
John: You need to quit confusing voters with the facts!!
I wonder how many voters are aware that courts have approved violations of the Ninth Commandment during campaigns?
Many Democrat and Independent Candidates for office are taking full advantage.
At a recent Valley Hi Board meeting, the concept of ‘wait list’ was explained in more detail.
It seems that McHenry County residents are under the impression that we can sign up for the wait list and have a bed assured when the time comes that we may need it. (Like it used to be that couples who were engaged signed up for Bozo’s Circus wait-listed tickets, years in advance of children they might someday produce).
Actually, Valley Hi is required by law to take any referral whether they live in McHenry County or not, whether they pay a cost below breakeven or not.
Referrals for patients whose payment methods reimburse at higher than break-even tend to go first to private facilities throughout the county (for whatever reasons…think about likely rationales for profitable patients going to privately owned facilities vs. taxpayer subsidized facilities).
Board Members who refer to a Valley Hi funding referendum which took place a dozen years ago when times weren’t tough (indeed the economy looked quite rosy back then) might look again at the language and the spirit of that referendum, and ask themselves whether such a referendum would pass in 2014?
Were referendum voters in 2002 aware that they were funding a subsidized dumping ground for patients that other (privately owned) nursing homes rejected?
Were referendum voters aware that being a McHenry County resident and paying higher taxes all your life IN NO WAY assured any preferential Valley Hi admission ‘wait list’ status over any other patient whatsoever?
Were referendum voters aware that the levy money will by law be extracted from property owners whether or not it is needed for the running of Valley Hi, and that when too much surplus funds accrue there is political pressure on Board Members to spend that surplus money on a frivolous project to alleviate political pressure?
Voters who would form an opinion about Hammerand vs. Waltmire should do some research before serving as pawns, manipulated by emotionally provocative sound bites.
Now that Valley High is profitable it is time to let it fly on its own.
No need to support it we can get out of competing with the private sector.
Rebate the $35M back to the taxpayers!
Don’t keep it, it will only be spent in some other direction which is ill advised.
Time to pay back the taxpayers!
It’s helpful to understand the world in which Mr. Waltmire exists as to his thoughts on employee pay and benefits at the county.
The largest portion of any state and local government budget is for employee pay and benefits.
Here are the salary hikes Mr. Waltmire received while working for local government school districts.
Year – *Salary* – Years Teaching
2015 – $121,095+?
2014 – ?
2013 – ?
2012 – $120,538 – 27
2011 – $113,873 – 26
2010 – $107,323 – 25
2009 – $100,679 – 24
2008 – $095,603 – 23
2007 – $090,243 – 22
2006 – $086,370 – 21
2005 – $078,519 – 20
2004 – $071,453 – 19
2003 – $066,445 – 18
2002 – $060,197 – 17
2001 – $055,115 – 16
2000 – $057,370 – 15
1999 – $037,727 – 14
Sources:
http://www.d155.org > Human Resources > HR Quick Links > Salary > P.A. 097-0256.
http://www.familytaxpayers.org > Teacher Salary Database
http://www.bettergov.org > Payroll Database
http://www.OpenTheBooks.com > State: Illinois > Category: Employee Compensation > Employee Status: State/Local Employee Salaries > Area of Government: Public School Teachers > District Name: chsd 155.
http://www.isbe.net > Division & Program Areas > Data Analysis & Accountability > Teacher Service Record (TSR).
2013 and 2014 data would have to be obtained via FOIA to TRS.
2015 data would have to be confirmed by TRS.
TRS supplied data, not school district supplied data, is the definitive source for teacher and administrator pensionable income since there are so many sources of pensionable income.
Mr. Waltmire, as all public school teachers and most administrators will be eligible for retirement with full benefits after 35 years teaching in the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois (TRS) Pension Fund.
A few administrators that do not hold certain certificates partake in the iMRF pension fund instead of TRS.
Teachers can retire with full benefits with less than 35 years teaching under many scenarios, including exchanging unused sick leave, and Early Retirement Option (ERO).
Let’s consider exchanging unused sick leave for years of service credit.
First of all that should be illegal because a pension fund does not get funded one penny by exchanging an unused sick day for a day of service credit.
Thus the taxpayer funds the benefit, not the teacher or administrator.
Thurs money that could go to the classroom is being used so teachers can retire from the classroom earlier.
Some teachers will argue the perk prevents teachers from taking sick days when they really are not sick (which speaks to the integrity of such teachers), thereby saving the cost of hiring a substitute teacher.
This perk as with many teacher perks specifically and government perks in general were hiked through legislation over time.
Want to make the illegal, legal, just convince your State Representatives, Senators, and Governors to pass a benefit hiking law.
It’s an annual rite of passage in Springfield which receives little to no scrutiny.
Anyways the TRS pension fund considers a teacher year to be 170 days.
However the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) considers a teacher year to be 180 days.
http://www.isbe.net > Division & Program Areas > Funding and Disbursements > Public School
Calendars > Public School Calendar Guidelines.
http://www.isbe.net/funding/pdf/ps_guidelines.pdf
If one teacher year for pension purposes is 170 days, then two teacher years for pension purposes is 340 days.
Teachers and administrators can exchange up to 340 unused sick days to retire two years earlier with the same benefits.
No annual use it or lose it rule for sick day for teachers and administrators.
If you don’t use the sick days, no problem, roll them over for as many years as you want up to 340 days.
http://www.trs.illinois.gov > Publications > Topics & Report > Tier 1 Member Guide
http://trs.illinois.gov/members/pubs/tier1guide/guide.pdf
http://trs.illinois.gov/members/pubs/tier1guide/servicecredit.pdf
Note, every teacher or administrator in TRS who began their career January 1, 2011 falls under Tier II (Tier 2).
Tier II allows the same sick day rules as Tier I listed above.
No reform of the above sick day rules in Tier II.
What is the difference between Tier I and Tier II?
http://www.trs.illinois.gov > Tier II Members > Tier II Member Guide.
http://trs.illinois.gov/members/pubs/tier2guide/TierIIMemberGuide.pdf
http://www.trs.illinois.gov > EZ Guide to Tier I and Tier II.
EZ Guide to Tier I and Tier II Retirement Under Public Act 96-0889.
Tier I – Members Who First Contributed Prior to Jan. 1, 2011.
Tier II – Members Who First Contribute on or after Jan. 1, 2011.
At 11 sick leave days per year, a teacher or administrator accumulates 340 sick days in 30.9 years if no sick days were used.
At 12 sick leave days per year, a teacher or administrator accumulates 340 sick days in 28.33 years if no sick days were used.
So you can see how teachers can retire after 33 years worked instead of 35 years worked by exchanging unused sick days for years of service credit.
The number of sick days per years a teacher receives is listed in the the collective bargaining agreement a teacher union has with a school district.
The Crystal Lake High School District 155 (CHSD 155) teacher collective bargaining agreement (cba) states teachers receive 12 sick leave days per year.
Article VI
Leaves.
“The District shall provide sick leave, as detailed in the Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/24-6), of twelve (12) days yearly.”
Total amount of sick leave accumulation shall remain consistent within the extent of the provisions of TRS. However, the Board reserves the right to judge each case on an individual basis, as in the past when the period of illness exceeds the state maximum.”
http://www.d155.org > Human Resources > HR Quick Links > Current Teacher’s Contract > Article
VI Leaves > A. Sick Leaves.
Mr. Waltmire has 27 years teaching as of 2012.
Let’s just assume Mr. Waltmire has 35 years teaching to get an idea of his bare minimum pension (obviously his pension actual pension will be greater).
The beginning Teachers Retirement System of Illinois (TRS) pension is 75% of the average of the last 4 years pay.
$120,538 + $113,873 + $107,323 + $100,679 = $442,413.
$442,413 / 4 = $110,603.
$110,603 * .75 = $82,952 starting pension.
Mr. Waltmire’s pension will be greater than $82,952 per year.
The starting pension increases 3% annually per the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA).
That is the current law while a reform law is being challenged in the courts.
He will also be eligible for generous taxpayer subsidized Teachers Retirement Insurance Program (TRIP) healthcare insurance upon retirement.
Note the salary increases during and after the 2007 – 2008 financial crisis and the ensuing Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Note the salary increases as property values have decreased and property taxes have increased.
Is there any reason to believe Mr. Waltmire will not advocate to create a county government salary and benefit structure that is more along the lines of District 155?
If not, why not, does he believe teachers are entitled to better salaries and benefits than county employees?
Once again the largest portion of county and school district budgets is for salaries and benefits.
Would Mr. Waltmire be able to hold the line on salary and benefits in county government while being employed by school district government?
Mr. Waltmire is also an experienced union leader.
The local Crystal Lake High School District union is the High School District 155 Education Association, IEA-NEA.
Mr. Waltmire is no longer, but prior to the most recent IEA election, was also a leader in the state teacher union, the Illinois Education Association (IEA).
Mr. Waltmire was on the IEA Board of Directors.
More specifically he was the IEA Region 23 Chair.
Tammy Mootz a Vocal Music Teacher in Crystal Lake Elementary District 47 now holds the position of IEA Region 23 Chair.
Yes, Chuck Wheeler, you are on to something refund to the tax payer!
I support that idea 100%!!!
Let the Valley Hi spread it’s wings and fly!
Arne Waltmire’s son Neal Waltmire is the Communications Director at Illinois Freedom PAC.
The Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE) Committee ID for Illinois Freedom PAC is 25788.
http://www.elections.state.il.us > Committees > Search Options > Committee Search
http://www.elections.state.il.us/CampaignDisclosure/CommitteeDetail.aspx?id=25788
The Purpose of the Illinois Freedom PAC stated on the ISBE website: To support or oppose candidates through independent expenditures whose views reflect or do not reflect the mission of the organization.
The Illinois Freedom PAC home page on its website states, “Illinois Freedom is dedicated to educating Illinois families about the important issues at stake in the 2014 Illinois Governor election.”
Basically it’s an anti-Rauner PAC heavily funded by labor unions.
http://www.illinoisfreedom.com
Neal’s LinkedIn profile indicates his Democratic organized labor past:
– Communications Director, Illinois Freedom PAC.
– Deputy Communications Director, A Better Illinois.
– Communications Assistant, AFSCME.
– Legislative Assistant, U.S. House of Representatives, Office of
Congresswoman Betty Sutton (OH-13), Democrat.
– Field Organizer, We Are Wisconsin.
– Political Director, Andy Manar for State Senate, Democrat.
– Administrative Associate, The Feldman Group.
– Legislative Correspondent/Assistant, Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson
(IL-11).
– Regional Field Director, Illinois Victory 2010/Debbie Halvorson for
Congress.
– Intern, Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson (IL-11).
– Regional Field Director, Illinois Victory 2008.
– Field Organizer, Hillary Clinton for President.
– Planning & Zoning Coordinator, Barrington Hills, Village of.
– Intern, Tari Renner for Congress, Democrat.
A Better Illinois is a coalition of organizations to replace the flat tax with a progressive / variable tax.
AFSCME is a labor union.
We Are Wisconsin is a coalition of organizations including labor that heavily fought Scott Walker.
http://www.wearewisconsin.org
The Feldman Group assists clients with political campaigns, research, polling, etc.
The Waltmire’s are heavily involved in the labor movement and it’s probably not a stretch to believe Arne would bring that philosophy to the McHenry County Board.
It’s fine to have worker rights.
It’s not fine to indebt citizens without citizens knowing the full story as to how collective bargaining pay and benefit hikes and legislative benefit hikes have resulted in most levels of government in Illinois living well beyond their means, playing kick the can and hide and seek.