Maine Township Attacks Illegal Surplus by Totally Eliminating Tax Levy

Maine Township is a big one. Its main cities re Park Ridge and Des Plaines.

Here is a press release from Township Trustee Susan Sweeney, who won a tremendous victory for her taxpayers this past week.

Maine Township Trustees Vote for Unprecedented Tax Abatement
Move Will Save Taxpayers Over $1.2 Million Dollars

A majority on the Maine Township Board finally succeeded Wednesday night in obtaining a significant savings for its taxpayers at a special Township meeting to discuss an abatement of previously agreed-
upon 2019 property taxes.

The Township decided for the first time ever to “abate” – or suspend – a portion of property taxes for its citizens.

Abatement is a rare action which lifts some or all of a previously agreed-upon tax levy.

The 3-2 Township Board vote will provide a 100% tax abatement in 2019 for the Township’s General Assistance (“GA”) Fund and a 10% tax abatement for the Township Fund.

“Local officials owe it to the taxpayers to use money already collected, for its stated purposes, before they seek another dime,” said Township
Trustee Susan Sweeney.

Illinois law caps Township reserve funds at 2.5 times their annual expenditures. 

Maine Township’s total reserves is well over $11,000,000.

One of the funds, the General Assistance Fund, has about $2.7 million in surplus with expenditures around $830,000. 

Given this disparity, Trustees Sweeney, Dave Carrabotta, and Claire McKenzie voted for a 100% reduction in the 2019 GA fund tax levy and a 10% reduction in the Town Fund levy.

This will save taxpayers over $1,200,000.

Sweeney expressed concerns back in 2018 over the unusually large surpluses.

Though the vote for an abatement initially failed in January 2019, Trustees Sweeney and Carrabotta raised the issue again in February and were denied any consideration on the issue after it was tabled to a Special Meeting in March.

Township Supervisor Laura Morask and Trustee Kim Jones, who both wanted no more than a 5% cut to the levy in December 2018, also voted against the proposed abatements and, instead, sought to minimize the abatements and reduce fund surpluses through pre-payment of future pension liabilities.

Trustee McKenzie joined Trustees Sweeney and Carrabotta to pass the full abatement.

“Maine Township has previously overtaxed citizens – for years – to the point of legal non-compliance.

Let the example set by the Maine Township board majority inspire all Illinois local governments to reconsider the over-taxation of citizens that unnecessarily builds up fund balances,” said Sweeney.

Wirepoints ran the following article, which is re-posted with permission:

Maine Township $1.25 million tax abatement: Hard-fought tax relief for local residents

By: Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner

Maine Township, located in Chicago’s northwest suburbs, has agreed to give property owners a $1.25 million tax break by eliminating this year’s levy for one of the township’s funds and reducing it for another. That’s thanks to the efforts of two trustees who fought to prove the township’s reserves were bloated and far higher than what the township needed.

It’s a rare example in Illinois of government officials fighting to make local government finances more transparent, affordable and resident-friendly.

Many governments across Illinois – from school districts to townships to library districts – continue to tax their residents even as government reserve positions are often way in excess of what’s needed to operate. Wirepoints recently reported on how some Illinois governments are hoarding taxpayer funds and Maine Township was featured.

The township has more than $11.6 million in reserves, enough to run the township for more than 1.6 years without new taxes. And the General Assistance Fund, earmarked for support services, is even more over-reserved, with enough on hand to run its operations for 2.8 years without new taxes. That fund’s levy will be eliminated this year as a result of the township decision.

Trustees Dave Carrabotta and Susan Sweeney pushed for the tax abatement and were joined by Claire McKenzie in voting in favor of the reduction. Supervisor Laura Morask and Trustee Kimberly Jones voted against it.

Illinoisans need more officials to take on the status quo that’s left Illinoisans paying the highest property taxes in the nation. Tax abatements are a needed start.


Comments

Maine Township Attacks Illegal Surplus by Totally Eliminating Tax Levy — 8 Comments

  1. Another great project we assisted on from day one.

    Susan deserves a huge shout out for ensuring people are not overtaxed and when they are, their is relief!

  2. You are a shameless self promoter.

    The article doesn’t even mention you or your organization.

    So pat yourself on the back and take credit.

  3. Hey Poo-Korny, since that’s the name that seems to fit, buzz off.

  4. Hi,

    I attended the Maine Township meetings.

    People in power make statements that lowering taxes is short-sighted, saying they should levy for every dollar than can, so they can do good work.

    I say the money in my pocket can do good work.

    Also the Road and Bridge group always wants as much as they can legally get, but can never say why they need more money this year than the last, just that they need it.

    It is laughable if this were a comedy, but it is not, it is our tax dollars, which makes it very sad.

    Also in government, a rule of thumb is that if you stand for the truth and the taxpayer, you will be ATTACKED!!!

    Don’t forget that, evil will disguise itself by looking so innocent.but if you watch what goes on, you will see it for what it is.

    So thank you to all patriots that stand for the truth, and fight for the taxpayer not self-interests.

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