Except for the “Write-in” on the sign, you can’t tell the difference between Paul Serwatka’s campaign and a mainstream one.
Paul Serwatka’s sign hits property taxes, the Tax Increment Financing District and the SportsPlex.
On top this four-by-four foot sign talks about tax hikes. Lakewood’s Village Board has maximized its tax take under the Property Tax Cap each year I have looked.
The Tax Increment Financing District was passed in January, the primary purpose of which was to make it possible for infrastructure improvements for the SportsPlex, which has not yet been voted upon.
Write-in campaigns, of course, are really hard to win.
Serwatka did send an introductory letter to residents about a week ago.
You go Paul.
The residents need you !!!!
Hopefully people will write in his name identical to how it is registered with the County Clerk.
If the voter just writes Serwatka and NOT Paul Serwatka as registered, the election judges may exclude the vote.
If the results are close I would heartily recommend Paul ask for a recount to try to get all votes for ‘Serwatka’ counted.
Way to go Paul Serwatka! Fight those taxes!
We need hundreds more like you in local government.
Lead the way!
My belief is that it is intent that counts.
That’s what the hanging chad case said.
One of our new leaders!
Lakewood tif will send its children to Woodstock D200.
They will become a financial burden of D200 taxpayers.
Woodstock D200 taxpayers owe a debt obligation of at least 6.5% of total home value due to D200 borrowing.
This 6.5% debt compares to 0.62% of home value for Crystal Lake D155 taxpayers and 0.29% for D47 taxpayers.
D200 owes over $148 million dollars including unpaid accrued interest.
(Compare to McHenry County Conservation District debt of $128 million).
For one example, unpaid interest is accruing on a 2006 Capital Appreciation Bond in which $14 million was borrowed for a 17-20 year term; when due the debt will include $50 million interest in addition to the $14 million principal debt.
Woodstock D200 has 47 bond (or financial derivative) issues listed on municipal bond website emma.msrb.org for the years 1990-2015.
(D47 has 8 issues, D155 has 4 listed within the same time period).
Every bond issuance involves about 1% fees paid to financial advisors.
When phantom (NON-taxpaying) EAV due to the Lakewood tif statutorily enables D200 to borrow 13.8% of that phantom EAV, Woodstock D200 taxpayer will be obligated to also pay THAT debt, along with who-knows-how-much interest due to creative financing.