Three McHenry Township Vendors Help Finance Opponents’ Campaign to Thwart Consolidation of the Road District with the Rest of McHenry Township

“Follow the money.” That was the strategy of the Washington Post reporters in their Watergate investigation. A week ago I sent a Freedom of Information request to McHenry Township asking for payments since the beginning of 2017 to any of … Continue reading

Opposition to McHenry High School and McHenry City Tax Hike Bond Referendums Shows Up in Mailboxes

The committee to hike taxes in McHenry High School District 156 got $2,000 from each of the car dealers in McHenry, so they are rolling in cash. Until now, no opposition has reared its head except, McHenry County Board member … Continue reading

Reader Mark Offers Thoughts on McHenry High School Referendum Tax Hike Proposal

From McHenry County Blog reader Mark, who has return after too long an absence: One of the big problems in school district reorganizations is what to do about the pay of employees in the lower paid district, which in this … Continue reading

John Reinert: Shift McHenry High School Students to Crystal Lake to Avoid $44 Million Bond Issue

McHenry County Board John Reinert has researched how the McHenry High School Board could meet the needs of its students without voters approving the borrowing of $44 million. That is the amount of the bond issue on the November ballot … Continue reading

Citizen Inaction Gives CL Park District Ability to Borrow $3.5 Million

The Crystal Lake Park District could have asked voters for permission to borrow $3.5 million to pay for these purposes: 2 playground replacements 1 dump truck 1 pickup truck with plow Lippold synthetic turf replacement Lippold flood relief projects Several … Continue reading

CL Library Outreach Spending: Fall 2015 vs. Fall 2016

McHenry County Blog has filed Freedom of Information request to find out how public relations costs this year, when the bond referendum was being run, compared with last year’s. Below is what was found: Listed below are the amounts spent … Continue reading

Message of the Day – Signs

Found this combination of signs in Crystal Lake. One is for Democratic Party District 2 McHenry County Board candidate Dominique Miller and the other is urging people to vote in favor of the Crystal Lake Library’s advisory referendum concerning a … Continue reading

CL Library Bond Referendum Opponents Surface Literature

The folks behind the signs asking people to vote against the Crystal Lake Library advisory referendum on borrowing $30.1 million have a handout. You can read it below: The contact information is StoptheTrustees@gmail.com. … Continue reading

Where Does Jack Franks Stand on the Crystal Lake Library Bond Referendum?

That’s a question that commenter Mark thinks Franks should answer. Of course, Franks won’t say anything, any more than he did at the McHenry County League of Women Voters candidates’ night that he skipped. Here is Mark’s commentary: Will Jack … Continue reading

Some Facts You Probably Don’t Know about Crystal Lake and the Library Bond Referendum

This information was developed by commenter Mark: A major reason property taxes are high is because property taxing districts omit pertinent details during bond advisory and bond referendums. +++++ Do not even think about voting yes for a bond or … Continue reading

Tryon Moves Conservation District Tax Hike Bill Out of Committee

On a 9-1 vote, McHenry County State Rep. Mike Tryon has moved Senate Bill 3341, the bill to allow the McHenry County Conservation District to borrow money without a referendum, from the House Revenue Committee. That will, of course, lead … Continue reading

MCC Board Candidate Tom Wilbeck Holding Reception

For $35 you can meet and mingle with those who support Lakewood’s Tom Wilbeck for McHenry County College Board. On his invitation, Wilbeck stresses, “Tom is opposed to MCC issuing bonds for expansion without voter approval.” The event will be … Continue reading

McSweeney and Franks Make Chicago Tribune with Alternative Bond Reform Bill

David McSweeney knows how to pick ’em. And Jack Franks has been a master of gaining publicity for virtually his entire 14-year legislative career. McSweeney came up with the idea to reform the alternative revenue bond process and had a … Continue reading

Health Club at Moraine Valley & McHenry County Community Colleges Could Tap Faculty Salaries

I’m looking at the alternative revenue bond statement approved by bond counsel Chapman and Cutler. How does the document say they will be paid off? “…payable from the construction/infrastructure improvement fee imposed upon students of the District (the “Improvement Fee”), … Continue reading