The Harvard Library tax hike referendum. If passed, this will allow the library to collect 14% more for operating funds than it got last year.
The following tax hike referendum is the only one on the ballot this spring:
Harvard Republican Precinct Committeeman William Matteson had the audacity to recommend that people vote against the proposal in his precinct letter.
As he put it in an email,
“I also enclosed a sample ballot in which I requested a no vote on extending the Library bond which will be paid off next year….
“good grief
“that opened phone calls from left ….
“which prompted me to come out with this Face book post”
I didn’t want to talk about the Library, I was going to leave my recent conversations go, but after giving them a second thought, here they are.
As Republican Precinct Committeeman, I sent out about 200 letters to fellow Republicans recommending certain votes in the primary coming up on March 20th…
in my letter, I posted my home phone number in case there are questions or any statement I made in the letter that needs clarifying …
well I got a few calls…
mostly about the Library referendum which I asked people to vote no ….
some calls were even from, I suspect, Jack Franks minions…
the more I thought about the calls and the arrogant attitude of some of the callers I decided to come out with this letter
First I love the Library and all the people in it ..I
use it a lot..
I go there with grand kids and attend special functions..
but will it close down if this referendum doesn’t pass…
I think not
what our city officials want is to keep the taxes going for ever or to the next eternity..
which ever comes first
The Library Board and Harvard seems to think that as long as you have been paying this Extra Tax you wont mind to keep paying it………….
because it wont raise your Taxes….
I do believe the same school of thought is used for the tollway system..
it was payed off many many years ago
Next year the Library bond will be paid off..
and all residents were promised tax relief and a reduction in their 2019 tax bill
But the City wants that money..
they even say they need it for maintenance on the Library and some for the Park District
I even had one guy tell me they could build new senior citizen hiking trails…
Wow, that’s a great idea could we could call them sidewalks which is what our community really needs
But I was really hoping for a senior citizen skate board park…
They want this tax money and they even threaten, if they don’t get it they will have to close down a lot of services and activities they have for us and our children…….
Standard Harvard School scare strategy….
Now for the last 20 years the library did just fine as they were funded by your tax dollars…
they will still continue to be funded by those same tax dollars….
But Harvard says they wont have any funds to maintain the Library or parks without additional funding and I ask what is being done with all the found money that the video gambling has brought in…
This is Found Money…
where is it going?
and what is it used for?….
we have had income from video gambling since 2012 and right now Harvards share is about $9,500 per month in excess of $100,000 per year…h
ey here’s a great library and park fund….
with out any increase in taxes..
and that is just the gambling part…
I do not know how much is made off the gambling and liquor licenses…which is even more found money
I was told by a caller that The City/Library hired an architectural firm to evaluate future needs at the Library ..and for a new roof and HAVC,,,and I ask myself …how much did this cost…
who okayed that expenditure as I know they don’t work for free and then I see another cost for signs and 4/c mailers plus postage and wonder that a lot of money that could have been well saved
I believe we have a great Mayor and he is backed by some great people and I am sure we can find an alternative solution.
I Love Harvard,
We have a great well run community with a great police force
and as a community. we can come up with an answer.
Bill Matteson
Harvard IL.
That’s the old Mason Lodge in Harvard.
IDK what it’s being used for now, but I don’t think it’s part of the library, unless I totally missed something.
The Diggins Library is a fairly new building.
Want to see a picture of the library, go to: https://www.facebook.com/Harvard-Diggins-Library-216452861706657/
They have overhead shots of the new library (about 20 years old now).
Harvard property tax rates are above 4% of total fair market home value.
One sample tax code area 01004 is 12.34% of EAV which equals 4.115% of total fair market value of taxable property.
The nayptional average property tax rate is about 1.3% of total fair market value.
Chicago property tax rates are in the 2% range.
Indiana has a property tax rate cap of 1%of fair market value.
Communities all over Illinois and America manage to run within some normal range of spending relative to the means of their community.
That is what a property tax rate is: public spending ratio relative to the means of the taxed community.
A group of taxing bodies that demands over 4% of home value from citizens is doing something very wrong to begin with.
if they have the nerve to ask for even more than that, citizens should be aware that those taxing bodies have no self control over their own spending, nor any willingness to be frugal on behalf of taxpayers.
Picture has been updated.
The budget for the City of Harvard is always available for public viewing. I’m sure everyone would love someone to come in and take a look, and offer real solutions to lower funding requirements. With our population, and housing count, those in charge do a very good job with what they have. It’s easy to criticize from outside the city. Hey Cal, why don’t you move to Harvard and help us with our city, instead of opening your big mouth from afar? This invitation comes from me, one of the staunchest Republicans you will ever meet.
And, Bill Matteson, I consider you my friend, but you couldn’t be more skewed in your thinking on this one. It’s easy to comment from your armchair. Walk the walk before you talk the talk. This advice comes courtesy of me, a two term, former Alderman for the city who came out from behind his curtains to try to make a difference.