What the proposed library property would look like from above.
Tonight at its 7:30 meting at City Hall, the Crystal Lake City Council will consider whether to allow new Library supporters a second chance to obtain a majority in favor of borrowing $30.1 million.
In the November election, the vote was abou5 55% to 45% against such a tax hike.
Election results of the Crystal Lake Library bond referendum.
There will be many fewer voters in the April 4th election and, if experience is to be believed, supporters will marshal more “Yes” ballots than opponents.
On December 22nd Crystal Lake Library Board President Teresa Reece wrote the following letter to the City Council:
Yesterday, McHenry County Blog revealed that tonight the City Council will consider whether or not to authorize a second referendum.
No one has provided the voters with the proposed annual debt service schedule for the life of the proposed bonds.
That would looks something like this:
Year 1 – Principal – Estimated Interest – Estimated Total
Year 2 – Principal – Estimated Interest – Estimated Total
Year 3 – Principal – Estimated Interest – Estimated Total
etc.
Grand Totals – Grand Total Principal – Grand Total Estimated Interest – Grand Total Estimated Total
++++++++
Don’t buy anything unless they provide you with the estimated payment schedule.
++++++++
The estimated interest rate expressed as a percentage should also be provided.
This nitwit just called the voters stupid.
That is her total argument for trying to pull off this fiasco yet AGAIN!
An abbreviated review for property taxpayers not tuned in to bond referendums and how they affect property taxes.
+++++++++
The Crystal Lake Library is within the City of Crystal Lake property taxing district.
One would have to look at the existing City of Crystal Lake bond debt service schedule (principal, interest, total payments), and look at the proposed bond debt service schedule for this referendum (which has not been provided to the voters), to determine how this referendum would impact the Crystal Lake property tax levy.
Irregardless, when voters approve a $30.1 million dollar bond referendum, the property taxpayers are obligated through property taxes, to pay the $30.1 million principal, plus an additional amount for interest.
Bond payments by property taxpayers fall outside the property tax cap.
The property tax cap is the lesser of 5% or CPI, which is the maximum amount that property taxes should increase per year for a property taxing district (the City of Crystal Lake is a property taxing district).
Thus, bonds allow a property taxing district to hike property taxes more than 5% or CPI.
The City apparently has not provided the estimated interest on the $30.1 million bonds, although Steve Willson did provide an estimate in a previous comment.
+++++++++
Where Jack Franks bully pulpit to reduce the City of Crystal Lake property tax levy?
The centerpiece of Jack Franks’ campaign for the inaugural voter elected McHenry County Board Chair in November 2016 was a pitch to reduce the property tax levy 10% in every property taxing district in McHenry County.
++++++++++++++++++++++
Northwest Herald
Endorsement: McHenry County Board Chairman: Jack Franks
October 8, 2016
“Franks promises to reduce the county’s levy by 10 percent and use his bully pulpit to persuade other local taxing bodies to reduce their levies.”
http://www.nwherald.com/2016/10/05/endorsement-mchenry-county-board-chairman-jack-franks/a80cle1
++++++++++
The Mayor of Crystal Lake, Aaron Shepley, endorsed Jack Franks for the November 8, 2016 McHenry County Board Chair election.
But Aaron Shepley has not committed to reduce the City Crystal Lake property tax levy by 10%.
Little liar, Jack Franks chaired TWO commissions created to come up with ways to reduce the number of government units in Illinois.
Had he done his job, we would not have any Library Boards!!!
Republican voters in McHenry just elected a ‘pig in a poke’ for County Board Chairman.
Nineteen County Board members just showed us how easily they are led by the ‘pig in a poke’.
I suspect that there at least two County employees laughing their butts off about the tax increase vote!
Peter and Ralph!!
I resent having this shoved down our throats on every election cycle.
What makes it worse is the “rah-rah” city council having the final say.
Be on notice…names will be taken for any of them that approve this repetitive fiasco, and voted out at the next opportunity.
We said no already, live with the wishes of the majority.
The on-line availability of every piece of reading material in that building makes the library useful only to homeless people in the winter.
Haven’t heard of any major efforts to eliminate boards appointed by a municipality.
The nine Crystal Lake Library board members are appointed to 3 year terms by the Mayor of Crystal Lake with approval by the City Council.
The Crystal Lake Library falls within the City of Crystal Lake property taxing district.
++++++++++
The major consolidation efforts, such as the Governor Bruce Rauner administration’s Task Force on Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates, have primarily been focused on eliminating property taxing districts.
DuPage County had an effort to consolidate boards entirely or partially appointed by the County.
But in the case of the fire protection district they consolidated, it resulted in hiked property taxes when an Special Service Area (SSA) was created.
SSA’s levy a property tax to parcels in the SSA.
Some of the highest property taxes in Illinois are those parcels that fall in some SSAs.
They tend to fly under the radar as there is little focus and reporting on SSAs.
+++++++++++++++
Some libraries are separate property taxing districts which have elected rather than appointed boards.
The library property taxing districts in McHenry County are (each have an elected board):
– Algonquin Public Library District
– Cary Area Public Library District
– Fox River Grove Public Library District
– Huntley Public Library District
– Johnsburg Public Library District
– Marengo Public Library District
– McHenry Public Library District
– Nippersink Public Library District (Richmond)
– River East Public Library District (formerly McHenry – Nunda Public Library District)
– Woodstock Rural Public Library District (the 9 City of Woodstock Public Library Board trustees are appointed by the Mayor; the 7 Woodstock Rural Public Library District trustees are elected)
The CL Library Board thinks that they deserve another bite at the apple during an off year election because they didn’t word the original referendum properly?
That’s nuts.
I don’t think we should even hold off year elections.
They make it too easy for committed special interest groups to circumvent the will of the people.