Franks Schedules Town Hall Meetings

All but one set for government buildings, State Rep. Jack Franks has scheduled outreach sessions over the next eight,

The first one is at 7 PM tonight at Crystal Lake South High School.

Read the words from his announcement email:

Jack Franks

Jack Franks

It’s been a great week in our efforts to bring reform and taxpayer savings to McHenry County government. Starting next week we will be holding town hall meetings throughout McHenry County. We are excited to be speaking with our neighbors about the issues and our tax-cutting plans. We have already knocked on over 40,00 doors, but we would love to speak to everybody. We hope to see you there! They are as follows:

  • 08/29/2016: Crystal Lake South High School 7:00-8:30pm[1200 McHenry ave, Crystal Lake, IL 60014]
  • 08/30/2016: Algonquin Eastgate Library 6:00-7:30pm [115 Eastgate Drive. Algonquin IL, 60102]
  • 08/31/2016: Woodstock North High School 7:00-8:30pm [3000 Raffel rd. Woodstock IL, 60098]
  • 09/01/2016: McHenry VFW 7:00-8:30pm [3002 IL-120, McHenry, IL 60051]
  • 09/06/2016: Huntley High School 7:00-8:30pm [13719 Harmony Rd, Huntley, IL 60142]

According to Franks’ web site, people will

“learn about my plan to cut McHenry County property taxes by 10% and discuss other key local issues.”


Comments

Franks Schedules Town Hall Meetings — 10 Comments

  1. Yeah, throwing pies, now that was in the good old days.

    Don’t worry, Franks will be stepping in his own poo poo anyway.

  2. Why is it that every time I see a picture of Franks
    it looks like he is up to no good ?

  3. He is just like a messy toddler, that
    Creates chaos wherever he goes.

  4. Please have your questions and cameras ready.

    This blog comment section doesn’t reach those who will come to these events.

    They need an education.

    Every single candidate should be there.

    The GOP leadership should be there.

    Everyone you can invite should be there.

    Be prepared.

    Jack will be.

    This is an amazing public opportunity to show Jack for what he represents.

    Take it.

  5. The one advantage Republicans have in the Republican Mike Walkup v Democrat Jack Franks for McHenry County Board Chair election is there are more Republican Precinct Committeemen than Democrat Precinct Committeemen.

    Ditto the Republican Steve Reick v Democrat John Bartman for 63rd District State Representative election.

    Whether the Republican Precinct Committeemen can be mobilized to get out the vote and register voters remains to be seen.

  6. Because he is the precise stereotypical image of a goombah, Honest Abe.

  7. Tonight’s Jack Franks for County Board Chair Town Hall Meeting is at Algonquin Eastgate Library, 115 Eastgate Drive, from 6-7:30.

    What exactly will he say about his campaign gimmick of cutting property taxes for every taxing district in the County by 10%?

    A perplexing claim as there is no position overseeing all taxing districts in a County.

    +++++++++

    The County Board Chair only oversees County Government, and is not allowed to vote on even those matters (the County Board Chair does not get a vote on County Board matters, unlike County Board members who can vote).

    There are 6 county board districts, each with 4 county board members.

    Each of those 24 county board members can vote on County Board agenda items.

    But the County Board Chair cannot vote on County Board agenda items.

    ++++++

    That’s what’s called scope creep.

    Jack Franks is creeping past the scope of the County, to all taxing districts in the County.

    But the role of County Board Chair is not all taxing districts in the County.

    The role of the County Board Chair is for County Board matters.

    ++++++++++

    If Jack Franks wants to reduce property taxes for all taxing districts in McHenry County, perhaps he could start a non profit to do so.

    +++++++++++

    The introduction at tonight’s campaign event is by Algonquin Village President John Schmitt.

    John Scmitt endorses Jack Franks for County Board Chair on the Jack Franks campaign website.

    A central part of Jack Franks’ campaign is to reduce taxes in every taxing district in McHenry County by 10%.

    So does John Schmitt agree with cutting the Village of Algonquin tax revenues by 10%?

    If so, what’s his plan to reduce village property tax revenues by 10%, even a rough draft?

    If he doesn’t agree that village property tax revenue should be cut 10%, why is he endorsing Jack Franks?

    That would be a little confusing to voters to endorse a candidate but not a central part of the candidate’s campaign, with no explanation or indication that’s the case.

    ++++++

    Here are the statistics from the Village of Algonquin Police Pension Fund.

    The source of the statistics is the Illinois Department of Insurance, Public Pension Division, Biennial Report 2015 (covering the two year period 2013 & 2014…the report is issued every two years).

    Amount underfunded 2005: $5,213,667

    Amount underfunded 2014: $11,062,231

    Percent the underfunded amount increased from 2005 to 2014: 112%

    Percent the pension was funded in 2005: 52%

    Percent the pension was funded in 2014: 64%

    +++++++

    Note the pension became more underfunded by approximately $6 million dollars between 2005 and 2014.

    Yet the percent the pension was funded increased 12%.

    That seems counter-intuitive at first glance.

    That’s why it’s important to look at not only the percent the pension is funded, but also the amount the pension is underfunded, and to compare the statistics over time.

    +++++++++

    So if approximately $6 million is owed to the police pension fund as of April 30, 2014, does it make sense to cut village property tax revenue by 10%?

    ++++++++++

    Since the salaries and pension benefits were hiked over time, and money which could have gone to fund pensions was diverted to salary hikes, the end result which hikes the pension payout, perhaps there could be some negotiation if taxpayers are under stress.

    However, one sentence added to the Illinois State Constitution on December 15, 1970 states that retirement benefits are contractual and cannot be diminished or impaired.

    +++++

    Legislative pension benefit hikes by state representatives, state senators, and Governors, were typically unfunded mandates, or underfunded mandates.

    Jack Franks was (is) a state representative from 1999 – 2016, from the 91st General Assembly to the 99th General Assembly (there’s a new General Assembly every 2 years).

    He voted for unfunded mandates.

    +++++++

    The Village of Algonquin is a member of the Illinois Municipal League.

    The Illinois Municipal League has a list of unfunded Mandates that were passed by the Illinois General Assembly and signed by Governors.

    Those unfunded mandates, mayors claim, increase costs to villages / towns / cities.

    Yet Jack Franks says he’s never voted for a tax hike.

    Apparently he doesn’t call unfunded mandates a tax hike.

    That may be technically true.

    First comes the unfunded mandate, then comes how to implement it.

    Either a tax hike, service cut, efficiencies found, etc.

    There have been so many unfunded mandates from Springfield to local towns / villages / cities, it’s hard to imagine none for which Jack Franks voted yes, that became law, resulted in a tax hike.

    ++++++++++

    Illinois Municipal League

    Report to the Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates Task Force

    Task force was chaired by Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti

    Report dated March 4, 2015

    http://www.iml.org > Advocate > Legislative > Legislative Home > Mandate Reports > Report to the Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates Task Force

    +++++++++++++

    Jack Franks was a legislative member of the Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates Task Force

  8. Tonight’s Jack Franks for County Board Chair campaign event will feature an introduction by McHenry Mayor Susan Low, whom is endorsing Jack Franks in this election, at 7PM.

    +++++++++++

    Some McHenry finances follow.

    ++++++++++

    Illinois Department of Insurance

    Public Pension Division

    2015 Biennial Report, covering years 2013 – 2014 (report is issued every two years)

    Report dated October 1, 2015.

    Figures as of April 30, 2014.

    McHenry Police Pension Fund

    – 52% funded

    – $18,242,250 unfunded liability (taxpayer IOU)

    $18M is the amount that should have been in the pension fund, but was not, on April 30, 2014.

    The employer, and thus taxpayers whom fund the employer, is responsible for 100% of the unfunded liability.

    The employees are not responsible for 1 penny of the unfunded liability.

    The Illinois State Constitution has 1 sentence added December 15, 1970, that retirement benefits are contractual and cannot be diminished or impaired.

    However, the sentence permits unlimited legislative pension benefit hikes and unlimited salary hikes, irregardless if existing pensions are 1% funded or 100% funded, and irregardless if the pension benefit hikes are unfunded (resulting in an unfunded mandate) or underfunded (resulting in an underfunded mandate).

    Jack Franks was on the Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandate Force chaired by Illinois Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti, but he’s not talking about the unfunded mandate problem during this election cycle, likely because legislators including himself voted for unfunded mandates that were passed into law, some of which resulted in tax hikes.

    +++++++++

    Unfunded Liability History of McHenry Police Pension Fund

    Year – Unfunded Liability – Average Active Salary

    2014 – $18,242,250 – $82,474

    2013 – $17,169,046 – $80,403

    2012 – $16,448,524 – $77,706

    2011 – $16,680,252 – $75,275

    2010 – $15,003,372 – $74,761

    2009 – $14,758,070 – $73,701

    2008 – $09,392,799 – $69,265

    2007 – $08,895,432 – $65,444

    2006 – $08,693,204 – $64,241

    2005 – $07,905,160 – $57,553

    There is a correlation between increasing salaries and increasing unfunded liability in that chart.

    Higher salaries result in bigger pension contributions and bigger pensions.

    ++++++++++++++++

    Labor union locals in McHenry (collective bargaining agreement for each labor union):

    Name of Local – Category of workers

    FOP Civilian – Telecommunicators, Community Service Officers, Records Clerks

    FOP Patrol Officers – rank and file police

    IUOE Local 150 – Public Works

    Collective bargaining agreements are on Better Government Association website.

    http://www.bettergov.org > Tools & Data > View All > Collective Bargaining Database

    +++++++++

    Abbreviations

    FOP = Fraternal Order of Police

    IOUE = International Union of Operating Engineers

    ++++++++++

    McHenry Fiscal Year 2015 Audit Report

    Regarding IMRF.

    The calendar year IMRF employer contribution rate, which varies annually, was 13.37%.

    The employee contribution rate is fixed at 4.5%.

    Worth noting, there is no shared sacrifice in IMRF employer vs employee contributions in the sense the employer contribution rate is variable and higher, and the employee contribution is lower and fixed.

    That’s how the legislators designed IMRF.

    Those employees contributing to IMRF also contribute to Social Security, and thus upon receive both an IMRF pension and Social Security benefit.

    The net pension obligation, roughly the unfunded liability (taxpayer IOU to the pension fund) was $19,282 as of December 31, 2014.

    McHenry pension unfunded liabilities in 2014:

    Police: $18,242,250

    IMRF: $19,282

    $19,282 / $18,242,250 = .001.

    That’s 1/10 of 1%.

    Or one tenth of one percent.

    The IMRF pension unfunded liability is one tenth of one percent of the McHenry Police pension unfunded liability.

    ++++++

    IMRF pension covers most workers other than police.

    ++++++

    Recent history of the IMRF Net Pension Obligation (roughly unfunded liability aka taxpayer IOU to the pension fund):

    2014: $19,282

    2013: $18,878

    2012: $18,483

    The point being, it’s slowly increasing and manageable.

    Police pension unfunded liability is a far bigger problem.

    The police pension benefits are more lucrative than the IMRF pension benefits and have been hiked over time by the Illinois General Assembly, then approved by Governors into Public Acts (laws).

    ++++++

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