Multiple sources have told McHenry County Blog that the McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s Office is making contact with the three newly-elected members of the County Board to advise them of the conflict of interest that would exist if … Continue reading
Category Archives: Cook County
And, according to this email today from Defend the Vote‘s Sharon Meroni, the Democratic Party election officials won’t even tell who the judges will be who take votes from nursing home residents. The voting will be Friday and she seeks … Continue reading
A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office: TWO COOK COUNTY BOARD OF REVIEW ANALYSTS CHARGED WITH ACCEPTING $1,500 BRIBE TO FACILITATE $14,000 PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION CHICAGO — Two analysts for the Cook County Board of Review were arrested today … Continue reading
Over the weekend I became convinced that McHenry County Republican Party Chairman Mike Tryon is the only one who can either take steps to allow Tea Party activist Tonya Franklin a chance to get on the ballot to run against … Continue reading
The inequity of the Illinois real estate tax system hit home again last Thursday as I read Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mark Brown’s piece. In it, he points out that Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has her Water Tower Place condo … Continue reading
Imagine my surprise when I saw the billboard going east on Route 176 just before Route 31. It reminded me of the real thing. No “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” however. I’d recommend eating at the restaurant that’s part … Continue reading
This past Friday there were stories in the Chicago Sun-Times and Tribune about the request by David Koschman’s mother for a Cook County Special Prosecutor to be named by Judge Michael Toomin. It caught my interest because of McHenry County … Continue reading
At 3 PM Friday, Judge James Zagel will have former Alderman and County Commissioner William Beavers in his courtroom foe his arraignment. Somehow the sign you see above seems appropriate. … Continue reading
A Home Rule unit capable of raising taxes without a referendum, Cook County, lowered its sales tax by a quarter of one percentage point today. That doesn’t sound like much, and it isn’t, but trend lines are sometimes important. The … Continue reading
The Tax Foundation has some remarkable work comparing property tax burdens across the United States. Want to know what part of the country to look at for retirement, if cutting your property taxes is one of your goals? Take a … Continue reading
As the sponsor of the overlapping tax district bill in 1973, I think there may be a way to tweak it to make sure what happened in Sun City won’t happen again. A weighted average is now used. That works, … Continue reading
Former State Rep., State Senator and GOP candidate for the Cook County Board Presidency last year has decided enough is enough in Illinois. He is moving to Texas. Here is his good-bye letter: GOOD BYE AND GOOD LUCK As we … Continue reading
Front page news on both of Chicago’s papers today was the Cook County Board’s vote to phase out its hefty sales tax under the now out-of-office Todd Stroger. The Crystal Lake City Council’s March, 2008, 75% city sales tax increase went … Continue reading
McHenry County popped up as number one in front page stories in the Chicago Sun-Times Sunday and the Chicago Tribune Monday. News about food stamp use increasing was the page one story in the Sun-Times. Foreclosures on homes was the … Continue reading
Rod Blagojevich doesn’t understand how he could have been found guilty on any count, of course. He is clueless. But the governor who increased the state budget by $1 billion a year–with the complete cooperation of Democrats who control the … Continue reading
That’s the headline on the BGA promo below. It certainly did not apply to McHenry County Circuit Court Judge Michael T. Caldwell’s courtroom last Tuesday in the Grafton Township trial. Participants pretty well closed the courthouse. They left about 6 … Continue reading
Update of June 15, 2012. There is now a way to find people in the McHenry County Jail. Look here for the link. = = = = = A friend of McHenry County Blog was trying to find out if … Continue reading
OK, McHenry County residents. Get a double plastic bag out before you go to SpeakerMadigan.com and take a look at the homes of some Cook County state representatives. See what their property tax bill is. Compare it to your own. … Continue reading
Seeing the above editorial in the Chicago Sun-Times yesterday was the first I knew that there was a movement to ban video slot machines in unincorporated Cook County. The editorial pointed out, “The Chicago Outfit is on record as embracing … Continue reading