McHenry County Blog

This article started with a press release from the Illinois Church Action Council on Alcohol and Addiction. There are so many bills expanding gambling (despite the loss of the one to give Chicago, Danville, Rockford and the Waukegan-area casinos) that I am adding the roll calls. In order not to make an article too long, I shall run one a day.

Gambling Bills Passed by the Legislature – Part 6

Senate Bill 1738 is an expansion of video gambling.  More specifically,

• defines “electronic card” (and removes a cross-reference to the Illinois Administrative Code);
• provides that the central communications system vendor may be licensed as a video gaming terminal manufacturer or a video gaming terminal distributor, or both, but in no event shall the central communications system vendor be licensed as a video gaming terminal operator; [emphasis added]
• provides that the Board shall not permit the development of information or the use by any licensee of gaming device or individual game performance data;
• provides that nothing in the Act shall inhibit or prohibit the Board from the use of gaming device or individual game performance data in its regulatory duties;
• requires the Board to adopt rules to ensure that all licensees are treated and all licensees act in a non-discriminatory manner and develop processes and penalties to enforce those rules;
• adds language authorizing the Illinois Gaming Board to adopt rules establishing standards for advertising video gaming; removes language prohibiting the Board from disseminating information that is specific to individual licensed locations (and removes corresponding changes to the Freedom of Information Act); and,
• in provisions amending the Criminal Code of 2012, provides that video gaming terminals for sale to a licensed distributor or operator (rather than a licensed establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, licensed veterans establishment, or licensed truck stop establishment) under the Video Gaming Act are exempt from seizure.

FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION

The ICACAA recommends contacting Governor Quinn and ask him to VETO the gambling expansion bills: House Bills 996, 1140, 1570, 2520 and Senate Bills 70, 1738, 1884, 2234, 2371.  Phone:  800-642-3112, 312-814-2121 or 217-782-6830 or Click here to send the Governor an e-mail.

Share this Alert with your faith community and ask them to CALL and PRAY for the Governor.

This article started with a press release from the Illinois Church Action Council on Alcohol and Addiction. There are so many bills expanding gambling (despite the loss of the one to give Chicago, Danville, Rockford and the Waukegan-area casinos) that I am adding the roll calls. In order not to make an article too long, I shall run one a day.

Gambling Bills Passed by the Legislature – Part 5

Senate Bill 70 is an exemption to allow video gambling in retail liquor establishments, fraternal or veteran’s organizations closer than 100 feet from a church or school.

FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION

The ICACAA recommends contacting Governor Quinn and ask him to VETO the gambling expansion bills: House Bills 996, 1140, 1570, 2520 and Senate Bills 70, 1738, 1884, 2234, 2371.  Phone:  800-642-3112, 312-814-2121 or 217-782-6830 or Click here to send the Governor an e-mail.

Share this Alert with your faith community and ask them to CALL and PRAY for the Governor.

This article started with a press release from the Illinois Church Action Council on Alcohol and Addiction. There are so many bills expanding gambling (despite the loss of the one to give Chicago, Danville, Rockford and the Waukegan area casinos) that I am adding the roll calls. In order not to make on article too long, I shall run one a day.

Gambling Bills Passed by the Legislature – Part 3

House Bill 1570 expands video gambling in restaurants that have Off Track Betting Parlors.

FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION

The ICACAA recommends contacting Governor Quinn and ask him to VETO the gambling expansion bills: House Bills 996, 1140, 1570, 2520 and Senate Bills 70, 1738, 1884, 2234, 2371.  Phone:  800-642-3112, 312-814-2121 or 217-782-6830 or Click here to send the Governor an e-mail.

Share this Alert with your faith community and ask them to CALL and PRAY for the Governor.

This article started with a press release from the Illinois Church Action Council on Alcohol and Addiction. There are so many bills expanding gambling (despite the loss of the one to give Chicago, Danville, Rockford and the Waukegan area casinos) that I am adding the roll calls. In order not to make an article too long, I shall run one a day.

Gambling Bills Passed by the Legislature – Part 2

House Bill 1140 legalizes electronic raffle machines in bars, which would be under local control, not regulated by the Illinois Gaming Board, and could be ripe for corruption.

I assume the raffle machines are the lineal descendent of the jar games that I saw in various bars in 1966 when I was running for the Republican nomination for McHenry County Treasurer. Later I remember seeing one in the Elks Club in Woodstock. There were illegal then.

FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION

The ICACAA recommends contacting Governor Quinn and ask him to VETO the gambling expansion bills: House Bills 996, 1140, 1570, 2520 and Senate Bills 70, 1738, 1884, 2234, 2371.  Phone:  800-642-3112, 312-814-2121 or 217-782-6830 or Click here to send the Governor an e-mail.

Share this Alert with your faith community and ask them to CALL and PRAY for the Governor.

This article started with a press release from the Illinois Church Action Council on Alcohol and Addiction.  There are so many bills expanding gambling (despite the loss of the one to give Chicago, Danville, Rockford and the Waukegan area casinos) that I am adding the roll calls.  In order not to make an article too long, I shall run one a day.

Gambling Bills Passed by the Legislature – Part 1

While Legislators and reporters awaited changes to the massive gambling expansion bill, SB 1739, both the House and Senate passed the following bills to expand gambling:

House Bill 996 is an expansion of charitable gambling that also allows video gambling machines in the same facility, turning the events into full casinos. Gambling companies, not charities, will rake in most of the money. The Department of Revenue does not have enough investigators to adequately monitor and enforce this law.

FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION

The organization urges people to contact Governor Quinn and ask him to VETO the gambling expansion bills: House Bills 996, 1140, 1570, 2520 and Senate Bills 70, 1738, 1884, 2234, 2371.  Phone:  800-642-3112, 312-814-2121 or 217-782-6830 or Click here to send the Governor an e-mail.

Share this Alert with your faith community and ask them to CALL and PRAY for the Governor.

A message from State Rep. David McSweeney:

Dear Neighbor,

I would like to express what an honor it is to serve as your State Representative.  I was sworn in on January 6th and immediately focused on fulfilling my pledges. I declined a legislative pension, voluntarily took a 10% pay cut, reduced my office budget by 10% and filed a bill to repeal the 67% income tax increase of 2011. I’m proud of those actions and I believe it set a positive tone for my performance during the entire session.

The state’s financial situation remains dire. There are $7 billion of unpaid bills; the unemployment rate is 9.5%; Illinois’ credit has been downgraded and the pension crisis looms. Yet in spite of all this, the Legislature’s reckless spending habits continue to spiral out of control. Most importantly, the Legislature failed to adopt badly needed pension reform.

I also plan to continue to lead the fight against the adoption of a graduated income tax in Illinois that would hurt families and kill jobs. My fight for meaningful property tax relief continues and I will strive for better government efficiencies while leaning on my financial expertise to carefully analyze bills that come before me on the House Revenue Committee.

By visiting www.davidmcsweeney.org you can click on the legislation tab to see my accomplishments this session, including passing bills to protect against property tax hikes and eliminate the office of Lieutenant Governor, which would save the state approximately $2 million a year.

In this newsletter, please find an update on the state’s budget, concealed carry, fracking, pension reform and an invitation to my next townhall meeting.

It is a pleasure to serve you in Springfield.  Please like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date.  Please contact me anytime with your thoughts or concerns.

Sincerely,

David McSweeney
State Representative – 52nd District

Budget

The General Assembly enacted a fiscal year 2014 $35,446,000,000 State budget.

The spending plan for fiscal year 2014, which will begin on July 1, 2013, increases the drain of the state budget by approximately $2 billion more than was originally passed for fiscal year 2013.  The state is insolvent and we can’t continue to spend taxpayer’s money like drunken sailors.

We need to cut spending.

My Legislation/Accomplishments

Considering my financial expertise, I was assigned to serve on the House Revenue Committee, a slot not traditionally assigned to freshman members.

For weeks, I worked with Representatives on both sides of the aisle on my constitutional amendment to abolish Lt. Governor’s position, which advanced with overwhelming House support. I have been told that it is a rare feat for a freshman legislator to pass a constitutional amendment. There are now 35 Senate sponsors of my constitutional amendment and it will likely be enacted next spring and if so, will be on the ballot in 2014.

Eliminating the office of Lieutenant Governor will save approximately $2 million per year.

I’ve also filed and supported a series of property tax relief measures.

I supported

• a three year freeze on all property tax levies
• freezing property tax levies when housing values decline
• a two year freeze on Township property tax levies.

I’m pleased to report that my HB 983 passed both the House and Senate and is now on the Governor’s desk to be signed.   HB 983 reforms the process for governmental units to issue alternate revenue bonds and makes it easier for taxpayers to stop bad projects that could result in higher property taxes.

Specifically, the bill reduces the number of signatures required to force a referendum on the issuance of alternate revenue bonds. A special thanks to, Sen. Pam Althoff (Chief Senate sponsor), Sen. Dan Duffy and Rep. Jack Franks who helped with its passage.

Concealed Carry

General Assembly, in the final day of 2013 session, enacted concealed-carry bill. The concealed-carry language was approved by both houses as HB 183 on Friday, May 31. The House vote was 89-28-0.

This is a shall issue bill and there are no home rule exemptions.  It will set one statewide concealed carry standard.  The legislation requires 16 hours of training and a criminal background check for a person to carry.  The bill also prohibits concealed carry in certain location such as schools, government buildings and gambling venues.

Fracking

Jobs will be created in Illinois as the General Assembly legalizes production of oil and gas through the modern technology of horizontal, chemical-enhanced drilling.  Called “fracking,” this process is already in wide use in North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, and many other states.  These new technologies are the centerpiece of SB 1715.

Approved by the House on Thursday, May 30 by a vote of 108-9-0, the measure could generate a lot of new revenues for the state and approximately 45,000 new jobs.  In an unusual nod towards compromise, the negotiations over the fracking bill brought together U.S. oil and gas industry and representatives of some of America’s largest environmental-advocacy groups, such as the Sierra Club. I strongly supported this bill.

Pensions

Pension reform was my absolute top priority this session.

I serve on the Personnel and Pensions Committee and was a leader in the fight for real pension reform.

Our state cannot move forward until we address this crisis that is darkening the economic future of our state and crowding out other essential government services.

Nothing substantial was accomplished on pension reform this session, but I remain committed to being part of the solution.

We need to stop the madness and immediately adopt pension reform in a special legislative session.

Townhall Meetings

date, I have hosted three town hall meetings in which I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with district residents to hear their concerns and ideas on how to address the state’s most pressing issues. My next Town Hall meeting will be on Saturday, June 29th from 10-11AM at Cary Park District Community Center located at 255 Briargate Road in Cary. I encourage all constituents to attend and look forward to meeting you in person.

It won’t be Ghostbusters.

The Senate roll call of override of Governor Pat Quinn’s Senate Bill 9. which overrides an Illinois Commerce Commission decision,  is below:

Besides two of three State Senators representing McHenry County–Pam Althoff and Karen McConnaughay–potential candidates for the Republican nomination for Governor–Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard–voted for the electric rate hike.

State Senator Dan Duffy voted to uphold the Governor’s veto.

= = = = =
The House voted Wednesday to override the veto. You can see who voted in favor of raising electric rates in the roll call below:

Voting in favor were all local state reperesentatives:

• Jack Franks
• David McSweeney
• Tim Schmitz
• Mike Tryon
• Barbara Wheeler

State Rep. David McSweeney is proposing at amendment to Senate Bill 1937 that would prohibit township governments throughout Illinois from increasing the amount of money they extract from taxpayers’ pockets for the next two years.

Unlike some legislators and local officials who try to tinker with property taxes, McSweeney knows the key word is “extension.”

The “extension” is the amount of money that a tax district is allowed to collect in a given year. It is usually well below the levy, which can be seen as a “wish-fulfillment.”

For example, McHenry County College increased its levy by nine percent, giving it bad publicity in the Northwest Herald, but having no impact on the Property Tax Cap-imposed limit of three percent (plus new growth).

Just as an aside, any tax district official that wants to cut taxes should vote to make his or her tax levy the same as the extension for the year before.

In any event, McSweeney is probably on a mission impossible, because there are thousands of townships in Illinois.

Plus, the record of what is happening to the bill show that his amendment has been assigned to the House Rules Committee, the place legislation where House Speaker Mike Madigan kills amendments he doesn’t like.

David From, State Director of the Illinois chapter of Americans for Prosperity, informed me of this amendment via the following email:

“I’m writing to ask you to take just a moment of your time to support legislation to place a two-year moratorium on the property taxes levied by townships. The legislation sponsored by State Representative David McSweeney (R-Cary) will be the subject of a committee hearing tomorrow morning in House Revenue Committee. We need to let committee members know that we support this common-sense moratorium on higher local taxes.

“Please take a moment to submit an electronic witness slip in favor of SB 1937 today!

“Illinois faces a dual problem when it comes to property taxes; they’re rising fast while Illinois’ median household income is dropping. In the four most recent years for which census data is available, Illinois median household income dropped by more than $3,000. At the same time, the suburban Daily Herald reported in November that “property tax levies were up nearly $4.8 billion” between 2005 – 2010.

“Click here to file an electric witness slip with the committee on behalf of Rep. McSweeney’s efforts to curb the increase of property taxes! Be sure to check “Proponent” in Section III (Position) & “Record of Appearance Only” in Section IV (Testimony).”

McHenry County has seventeen townships. Each township has two separate governments.  One is run by the Supervisor; the other by the Highway Commissioner.

The following made a good faith effort not to take every dime that they could. I put them on my “Honor Roll.”

ALDEN TOWNSHIP
2011 – $138,551.71
2012 – $125,589.92 (-9.4%)

ALGONQUIN TOWNSHIP
2011 – $1,812,281.41
2012 – $1,818,540.52 (+0.3%)

ALGONQUIN TOWNSHIP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $3,989,082.24
2012 – $3,989,081.94

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP
2011 – $177,096.32
2012 – $168,120.44 (-5.1%)

HARTLAND TOWWSHIP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $257,147.74
2012 – $249,843.80 (-2.8%)

HEBRON TOWNSHIP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $223,260.02
2012 – $218,264.61 (-2.2%)

MARENGO TOWNSHIP
2011 – $303,002.43
2012 – $299,000.30 (-1.3%)

MARENGO TONSHIWP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $496,211.57
2012 – $496,964.36 (-0.2%)

McHENRY TOWNSHIP
2011 – $1,876,425.79
2012 – $1,876,437.35

McHENRY TOWNSHIP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $3,406,895.19
2012 – $3,406,912.40

NUNDA TOWNSHIP
2011 – $1,125,172.20
2012 – $1,125,172.20 (+0.3%)

NUNDA TOWNSHIP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $3,332,592.47
2012 – $3,332,591.92

RICHMOND TOWNSHIP
2011 – $258,886.96
2012 – $262,771.67 (+1.2%)

SENECA TOWNSHIP
2011 – $172,300.92
2012 – $168,000.60 (-2.5%)

SENECA TOWNSHIP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $266,055.92
2012 – $266,053.68

But let’s put the role of township government in perspective.  Below is what each type of government has billed (extended) this year:

• Schools – $499 million (Only four districts are taking less money this year than they did last year.)

All the rest take $93 million will be funneled to special districts, as follows:

• 

  Huntley Village Hall

  Municipalities – Almost $67 million (municipal Tax Increment Financing Districts will receive $2.3 million more)

• Fire Protection Districts – $41.1 million
• Community Colleges – $32 million
• Townships – $26 million
• Conservation District – $19.6 million
• Library Districts – $16.1 million
• Park Districts – $15.6 million
• Miscellaneous Districts – $698,000
• Sanitary Districts – $672.000
• Cemetery Districts – $44,000

= = = = =
Other articles about the real estate tax bills that will be paid in 2013:

• Most Tax Rates for McHenry County’s Upcoming Tax Bills – Up 15% in Algonquin Township Part of Lakewood
• McHenry County Multiplier Increases Assessments 1.0243 for This Year’s Tax Bills, $1 Billion Assessment Loss Sends Tax Rates Soaring
• Property Tax Rates – Comparing This Coming Year’s to Last Year’s
• McHenry County Tax District Honor Role
• The McHenry County Taxman Cometh – Tax Bills on the Internet

A press release from State Rep. David McSweeney:

Springfield –State Representative David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) marked tax day by announcing House Resolution 241; a measure to oppose a graduated income tax in Illinois. An opposing constitutional amendment has also been filed in the House calling for a progressive income tax which McSweeney calls “disastrous for a modern economy”.

“Under a graduated income tax, income tax rates would increase as family income rises,” said McSweeney. “We need to be incentivizing work effort, investments and entrepreneurship and not punish families when they make more money.”

Illinois’ income tax has been levied at a non-graduated rate since its inception in 1969. The current flat rate structure is a commitment from the Constitution of the State of Illinois. Resolution 241, if passed in its current form, would show strong opposition to an attempt to pass a progressive tax in Illinois as outlined in HJRCA2.

Representatives David Harris, Joe Sosnowski and Ron Sandack are lead co-sponsors of McSweeney’s resolution.

Representatives Ed Sullivan, Dennis Reboletti, Brad Halbrook, David Reis, Pam Roth, Jeannie Ives, C.D. Davidsmeyer, Charlie Meier, Darlene Senger, Barb Wheeler, Jim Durkin, Tom Morrison , Jill Tracy, Dwight Kay, Mike Tryon, John Cabello, Kay Hatcher, Patti Bellock, Renee Kosel and Tom Demmer have also signed on as supporters of McSweeney’s effort to get this resolution adopted.

State Rep. David McSweeney passed his House Bill 383 yesterday by a vote of  101-6-2.

Here’s the amended version of the bill:

Amends the Local Government Debt Reform Act.

In a Section concerning alternate bonds, provides that, in governmental units with fewer than 500,000 inhabitants, the petition for a backdoor referendum must be filed with the clerk or secretary within 45 days of publication of the authorizing ordinance and notice.

Provides that, in governmental units with fewer than 500,000 inhabitants, the petition must be signed by the lesser of

1. 5% of the registered voters or 5,000 registered voters in a governmental unit with more than 4,000 registered voters, and
2. 15% of the registered voters or 200 registered voters in a governmental unit with 4,000 or fewer registered voters.

5,000 signatures or 5%, if that is a lower number, is way too high, but in the Illinois General Assembly sometimes one must take baby steps.

Increasing the time period from 30 to 45 days is a step in the right direction.

In any event, after the upheaval on the McHenry County College Board, taxpayers don’t have to worry the reconstituted MCC Board will try to shove a huge bond issue down residents’ throats.