McHenry County Blog

Because Governor Pat Quinn announced Wednesday, the day after the McHenry County 377 Board referendum to impose a tax to fund $9 million in services for the Developmentally Disabled, McHenry C0unty Blog is running the following article published on June 14, 2011.

Woodstock Sheltered Village Resident Wins Federal Class Action Lawsuit for Less Restrictive Living Arrangements

Back in the 1990′s I was on the House Appropriations Committee before which the budget of the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities came.

When Governor George Ryan took office, he named a former Director of McHenry County’s Pioneer Center, Ann Patla, Director of the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities.

Each year I had asked the percentage of the budget going to state institutions and the percentage to community groups.

The bureaucracy, AFSCME union and its Democratic Party legislators wanted the money to keep flowing to state developmentally disabilities institutions.

Jobs for state employees were the main priority, not caring for those institutionalized in what might be characterized as the most restrictive location.

Ryan’s Director was the first to propose a budget with a majority going to community care.

Illinois ranks at the bottom, according to statistics developed by the University of Colorado in this Tribune graphic.

Now I see in the Chicago Tribune that a suit with its lead plaintiff, Stanley Lilgas, living in Sheltered Village’s 96-bed facility in Woodstock, has won a 2005 lawsuit to allow him to move to a less restrictive place to live.

Progress has been made. One of two Tribune articles on the suit reports that most of the money no longer goes to AFSCME-organized state institutions.

But Illinois is still a backwards state.

States like Alaska and Vermont have 98% of their people with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in settings of six or fewer.

Illinois ranks 50th (out of 51) with 38% in such community settings.

Blame it on the public employee union and politicians supporting them.

One source quoted in this article says it costs $55,000 a year to support an individual in a group home, but $192,000 in a state institution.

Part of the reason is undoubtedly that those working in group homes are paid much less than state employees.

Part of the problem is that parents of adults who need support or supervision of one sort or another are getting older.

The Tribune shows where those with developmental disabilities live in Illinois.

When I was still in office, I would get calls pleading for help when a parent would be in failing health.

They had spent their lives making sure their children were cared for as well as they could, but were at a loss as to what to do as they became unable to continue such care.

Sometimes a phone call would help.

Sometimes there were no openings.

McHenry County’s mental health tax has long been a magnet for such families. Parents know their children are more likely to receive appropriate care here than elsewhere.

Now, as University of Illinois at Chicago Professor Mary Kay Rizzolo puts it, Illinois will have to “either reallocate money that is going to state-operated developmental centers or come up with new funding for community support services,” the Tribune reports.

In a state with as many financial problems as Illinois, the cost-reducing mandate of the Federal court should be a no-brainer.

It’s not only the compassionate thing to do, it is the way to save money.

When I was running against Rod Blagojevich for Governor in 2002, Blagojevich attached Governor Ryan’s proposal to close the Lincoln DD Center.

Ryan was acting logically, while Blagojevich was acting politically.

Votes over cost savings.

Votes over the best interests of the clients.

Below is a press release from Governor Pat Quinn.  It was issued the day after the election when a referendum failed about 2-1 to create a 377 Board to distribute $9 million of newly-levied property taxes in McHenry County.

I heard this story on the radio, but have not seen it in print.  Considering the discussion prior to election day, I think its contents should be more widely know in McHenry County.

Talking to state officials I learned that this initiative is partially a result of a class action law suit won in which Woodstock’s Stanley Lelgas was the lead plaintiff.   You can read the story here, but I’m going to republish the 2011 piece so those interested in the adequacy of service to the developmentally disabled can have the background close at hand.

Besides the court-ordered mandate to change the way that the State of Illinois treats the developmentally disabled, I certainly am willing to give Governor Quinn for continuing the efforts of former Pioneer Center Director Ann Patla, who served as Governor George Ryan’s Department Director for Mental Health and Developmentally Disabled.  For the first time, she put more money into community services than into institutions.  (You can find the current difference in cost in the press release below, not to mention the humane arguments for not having the developmentally disabled institutionalized.)

Governor Quinn Addresses “Going Home” Rally

Governor’s Rebalancing Initiative is Increasing Community Care and Reducing the Number of Outdated, Expensive Institutions

SPRINGFIELD – Governor Quinn today addressed the “Going Home” rally, hosted by several disability advocacy groups, and emphasized his commitment to improving the lives of people with developmental disabilities and mental challenges in Illinois.

As part of his agenda to ensure all people have the opportunity to follow their dreams and reach their full potential, Governor Quinn launched his Rebalancing Initiative in 2011 to increase community care and reduce the number of outdated, expensive institutions.

In the last several years, the governor has closed two State-Operated Developmental Centers (SODCs), and increased community care options in Illinois which are proven to provide

• a higher quality
• more independent life

according to numerous studies. A third institution – the Warren G. Murray Developmental Center – is slated for closure later this year.

Illinois ranks at the bottom, according to statistics developed by the University of Colorado in this Tribune graphic.

“This is a historic time for Illinois as we continue our commitment to change the status quo and improve life for people with disabilities and mental health challenges in Illinois,” Governor Quinn said.

“Moving from outdated institutions to community care is improving Illinois’ quality of care and allowing people to lead more independent and fulfilling lives.”

Hundreds of supporters and advocates gathered today in support of the governor’s Rebalancing Initiative.

Numerous studies show that individuals living in the community have a better quality of life than those living in large institutions.

Community settings allow individuals to receive the care they need, including 24-hour care.

In addition, community care is also significantly less costly than institution-based care.

The average cost for Murray Center is $239,000 per year per resident, while the average cost for a Murray resident living in the community while receiving the supports they need is estimated at $120,000 per year.

The governor’s proposed fiscal year 2014 budget will move 1,150 individuals into community living, home-based services including 500 individuals off of the waiting list.

The Quinn Administration has developed a comprehensive, person-centered plan to transition residents safely into the community, ensuring that each individual’s new home meets their specific needs.

The plan is being implemented carefully and responsibly over the next several months to ensure a smooth transition for residents.

“We are working closely with families and guardians using a person-centered planning process to ensure safe transitions for residents of Murray Center,” Kevin Casey, director of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Division of Developmental Disabilities said.

“We developed a comprehensive, well thought out plan to transition Murray residents safely into the community and ensure that each individual’s new home will meet their specific needs.”

The anti-tax wave that the Tea Party movement capitalized on has not run its course in McHenry County.

With 64 of 212 precincts reporting, it is obvious that the referendum to add $9 million to the property tax bill in McHenry County has failed.

The margin is wide enough to predict the referendum will fail.

The proposal would have increased real estate taxes by $30 per $100,000 of actual value.

The extra money would have gone to aid agencies that provide services to the Developmentally Disabled.

The in-person results for the 377 Developmentally Disabled tax hike referendum showed more than two people voting against it for every one person in favor.

The results for Algonquin 7 and 19 precincts, both of which vote in the Crystal Lake Main Beach House follow:

The in-person election day results for the 377 Board tax hike in Algonquin 7 were 78-34.

In Algonquin 19, those voting in person went 58-27 against the tax hike.

Andrew Gasser

Andrew Gasser, a Republican Precinct Committeeman from Fox River Grove has been active in his opposition to the referendum to hike taxes $60-$90 a year (the cost for $200-300,000 homes).

He was even interviewed by the Chicago Tribune for its article last Sunday. Maybe that’s why his web site was shut down by an 20,000 hits in fifteen minutes.

In any event, Gasser called me today to tell me he was opposed to the referendum to raise $9 million more in real estate taxes to help the Developmentally Disabled.

I have weighed in on the reasons for my opposition, as recently as yesterday.

That’s when I learned from the Tribune that the 708 Board is only giving 10% of its $13 million a year to DD services. (In that article I explain that when I was McHenry County Treasurer in the late 1960′s I delivered the first checks. My memory tells me I took $25,000 to Pioneer Center and $25,000 to Family Services. A 50-50 split, in other words.)

In any event, here is Gasser’s telephone message:

“Hi, this is Andrew Gasser, a concerned neighbor, calling to ask you to vote NO tomorrow on a ballot Proposition to increase your property taxes.

“We live in the 29th most expensive county… in the nation, yet the political class wants more.

“Why should we continue to tighten our belts to live within our means while they use our homes as personal ATM machines?

“Join me tomorrow and vote NO.

“Thank you.

“This call was paid for by Citizens of McHenry County Against Higher Property Taxes. (708) 320-1073.”

As I have stated since last fall, when I was McHenry County Treasurer I delivered the first checks approved by the new 708 Board.

To repeat myself, the referendum to approve the tax hike was supported by the McHenry County Association for the Retarded and the mental health advocacy group at the time.

I’m remembering that the checks I delivered were $25,000 for Pioneer Center (located then in the old Terra Cotta School) and $25,000 for Family Services down the street from now-McHenry East High School).

A 50-50 split.

Now I read in Bob McCoppin’s Chicago Tribune article that only “10 percent gotes to developmental-disabilities assistance.”

That sentence really deserves an exclamation point.

From 50-50, mental health to DD, to 10% for DD and  90% for mental health.

Talk about a governing board that has lost its way.

The folks at Pioneer Center think the answer is to pass a referendum Tuesday that will raise $9 million the first year.

The 708 Board billed $12,694,903.91 last year from property taxpayers.  (I think I overestimated the amount in previous articles at $15 million.  My apologiy.)

The 708 Board’s taxes bill more this spring.

If the 708 Board were giving DD services the 50% that I remember was the case in the late 1960′s, Pioneer Center and other agencies servicing the Developmentally Disabled would be getting about $6 million a year.

The other $700,000 ought to be enough for administration.

Actually 5% ought to be enough.

So, if DD services are now getting $1.2 million, as I deduce from the Tribune article, passage of the 377 referendum on Tuesday, would increase that amount to $9 million, plus what seems to be about today’s $1.2 million from the 708 Board.

Or, after passage, would the 708 Board forget why it was created and start giving DD services nothing?

There is an alternative.

And, maybe it will be considered if the referendum fails.

This is McHenry County Board’s Public Health Committee. Consisting of Donna Kurtz, chairing the meeting at the head of the table, and members (from left to right) Mary McCann, Sandy Salgado, Paula Yensen and Mike Walkup.  John Hammerand is missing from the picture.

The McHenry County Board has ultimate budget power over the 708 Board.

If the County Board does not approve the 708 Board’s levy, its tax take would be zero.

So, why doesn’t the County Board set guidelines for the next levy?

Tell the Board it gets 5% for administrative expenses.

And require the grants to service agencies to be 50% to DD and 50% to mental health.

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If you haven’t read my updated critique of the tax hikers’ deceptive robo-call, which came a second time Friday nigh, you can do so here.

In the article is the chart showing McHenry County having the 29th highest property taxes.

Not in Illinois.

In the United States of America.

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Editor’s note: I’m leaving this story near the top because I am so infuriated at the misleading recorded telephone call I received Friday night asking me to vote for the 10 cent per $100 of assessed valuation tax increase. I don’t mind emotional pitches, but saying voting for a tax will save us money is too, too outrageous to let pass unnoticed.

Since writing this, Fox River Grove Republican Precinct Committeeman has published the table you see below on his blog.

Look near the bottom and, then, the right hand column.

You will see residents in McHenry County are the 25th highest taxed in the whole country when taxes are compared to income.  We have the 29th highest property taxes.

McHenry County homes are the 26th highest in the country.

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Written Thursday night, April 4th-

Even as I was listening to the 377 Board tax hike robo-call, I couldn’t believe my ears.

Misleading at best and deliberately deceitful at worst, I concluded.

I dealt with the frustrations of parents with developmentally disabled children the entire sixteen years I served as State Representative, eight years in the 1970′s and eight years in the 1990′s.

“Vote No, Tax Referendum,” reads the generic sign.

I know that the state employees union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), does everything it can to protect state employee’s jobs.

Even if it means housing DD individuals in state facilities which cost $100,000 a year per person, as the robo-caller said.

Cost-benefit analysis does not make any difference to such unions.

It certainly is cheaper, but, more importantly, more humane, to house those who cannot fully take care of themselves in neighborhood locations.

Whether it costs the small amount (which I did not jot down, but seemed low to me ) asserted in the robo-call is true or not, I do not know.

I do know it is not the job of taxpayers in McHenry County to pay for services State government should be providing.

The admonition of the robo-caller to “keep tax dollars right her in McHenry County rather than send[ing] them off to Springfield” is made of the stuff that used to be below my grandmother’s outhouse in Crumpton, Maryland.

No one is going to reduce State taxes on McHenry County residents if people vote to raise their property taxes by ten cents for every $100 of assessed valuation.

And our real estate taxes don’t get sent to Springfield.

The quoted assertion above would never hold up in an open forum.

It is too ridiculous.

It is meant to delude the–what do the pundits call them?–low information voters.

If people vote “Yes” on the 377 Board referendum, State taxes will not be cut for us.

But that is what the robo-caller wants people to believe.

Passage of the referendum will mean property taxes will be increased $9 million next year, with more to come every year thereafter.

$60 for a $200,000 home to start; $90 for a $300,000 home.

More if the real estate market increases the value of your home.

My memory of sixteen years in the Illinois General Assembly tells me that raising taxes in McHenry County for the 708 Mental Health Board encouraged Springfield decision makers to send us less than our fair share.

That’s because State bureaucrats perceived that other parts of the state without local funding needed the state subsidies more.

So, by increasing our property taxes still more for purposes for which the 708 Board funding was created, we will probably be contributing to our getting even less than comes now.

Let me give another reminder of the pushers of this tax hike with memories that do not go back to the late 1960′s when the Mental Health Board was created by referendum.

It was supported by both those seeking mental health funding and those seeking funding for those who were then called “retarded.”

As McHenry County Treasurer, when tax anticipation warrants were issued after the first tax levy was passed, I personally took $25,000 checks to both Pioneer Center, then housed in the old Terra Cotta School, and to Family Services, headquarted down the street toward the Fox River from McHenry East High School’s campus.

The 708 Board got about $15 million last year.

If half of it did not got for DD services, why did the McHenry County Board approve its budget?

The Board members certainly did not have to.

And, if this referendum fails, as I hope it will, the County Board can tell the 708 Board what type of a budget it will approve and what will be unacceptable.

By the way, I fought to shift money from such DD state institutions to community care, finally seeing Governor George Ryan’s Mental Health and DD Department Director Ann Patla, a former head of Pioneer Center, submit such a budget.

That’s the fight proponents of this referendum should be fighting…rather than trying to pry money out of our pockets.

When there were so, so many tax hike referendums, Libertyville’s Jack Martin had these generic signs printed.

I guess progress is being made.

The Northwest Herald did not endorse the creation of a 337 tax district to funnel $9 million more dollars into carrying for the developmentally disabled in McHenry County. (The 337 designation is from the number of the section in the Illinois statutes that authorizes the referendum to approve the tax.)

There was a time when every tax increase proposal seemed to automatically receive the NWH stamp of approval.

But the paper’s editorial board could not bring itself to recommend a “No” vote.

I can.  You can read why in these articles:

• 11-9-12 McHenry County Board Resolution for 377 Board Tax Hike Referendum Seems to Endorse It
• 3-8-13 Tax Hike Referendum Set for April 8th
• 3-22-13 Campaign Against 377 Board Referendum

I guess taxpayers should be grateful passage of a referendum is required before this ten cents per $100 of assessed valuation tax is imposed.

The majority on the current McHenry County College Board seem bent on borrowing over $40 million to build a health & fitness club, plus almost double the size devoted to classrooms and labs without allowing a public vote.

A friend of McHenry County Blog chides me and other local medias for not informing pe0ple of the 377 Board tax hike on the April ballot.

Here’s what I have written so far (click on the title):

McHenry County Board Resolution for 377 Board Tax Hike Referendum Seems to Endorse It

In that article I tell of how the money was distributed right after the 708 Mental Health Board was created.  It was a 50-50 split between Family Services and Pioneer Center.  The 708 Board no longer gives 50% of its money to the developmentally disabled.  No reason they could not, however.

As in any low-turnout election, supporters of the tax increase try to mobilize their supporters without alerting the general public.

Here’s the email I received:

“You might want to highlight that the 377 Tax Proposal that is going to be on the ballot on April 9, 2013.

“The powers that want it passed are keeping the issue on the down low with no campaign hoping that only their supporters will show up to pass this new tax and that the general public will not even be aware that this possible new property tax increase will be on the ballot.

“They are promising that it will not turn into the 708 Board Mess but what stops it from turning into the exact same type of mess (Nothing).

“Also, it should be noted that many of these social services organizations already have a great deal of tax dollars and that their spending of these dollars is already questionable?

“Fancy executive type cars paid for by the organizations they represent, expense accounts and little if any transparency of how they spend their monies.

“Not to mention six figure salaries and benefit packages for some social service administrators.

“Being a Republican I am not in favor of any new taxes and making property taxes higher to support more government.

“Yet, I am caring and would vote for a tax to help Developmental Disabled, if I though the money would get to them directly, but it will only pay for more highly paid administrators.

“Seems to work the same way as in school districts.

“I hope you will at least alert your readers to the upcoming issue of the 377 tax proposal on the upcoming election ballot and that they need to get out and vote their opinion and not to let a select few make this decision for everyone in McHenry County.“

Below is a fly that has been developed by the 377 Board supporters:

Flyer putting forth the reasons for voting for the 377 Board tax hike.

Here’s a resolution that the McHenry County Board’s Public Health Committee is considering.

Please read it carefully and tell me if you think any County Board member who votes for it is saying that he or she is saying that passage of the tax hike is a good thing. I have put in italics what makes me think so.

WHEREAS, the McHenry County Board does hereby find and determine that there are insufficient funds available providing for facilities and/or services for the developmentally disabled in McHenry County; and

WHEREAS, it has hereby been determined by the McHenry County Board that the need exists for a levy and collection of a tax not to exceed .1% of the value as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue of all taxable property in the County; and

WHEREAS, the McHenry County Board is authorized to submit the proposition of such levy to the voters of McHenry County pursuant to the Illinois County Care for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act (55 ILCS 105); and

WHEREAS, such proposition must be approved by a majority of the voters of the County voting on such proposition at an election to be held in and for the County; and

WHEREAS, the McHenry County Board has hereby deemed it advisable, necessary, and in the best interests of the County that the proposition of levying and collecting said tax as above referred to, be submitted to the voters of the County at an election to held and conducted in accordance with general election law.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the County Board of the County of McHenry, Illinois as follows:

Section 1. Incorporation of Preambles: The McHenry County Board hereby finds all of the recitals contained in the preamble to this Resolution are full, true and correct and does incorporate them into the Resolution by reference.

Section 2. Need for Tax: It is necessary and in the best interests of McHenry County, in order to provide sufficient funds for the provision of facilities and/or services for the developmentally disabled, that the County levy and collect a tax not to exceed .1% of the value as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue of all taxable property in the County for said purpose.

Section 3. Submission to Voters: The proposition herein referred to shall be submitted to the voters of McHenry County in accordance with the general election law at the consolidated election to be held on Tuesday, the 9TH day of April, 2013, between the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. on said day (hereinafter “Election”).

Section 4. Voting Precincts and Polling Places: The Election shall be held in the voting precincts and at the polling places established by the McHenry County Board, for voters of McHenry County at the Election.

Section 5. Election Notice: The County Clerk of McHenry County shall give notice of the Election in accordance with the general election law by (1) publishing the Notice not more than 30 days nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the Election in a local community newspaper having general circulation in the County, and (2) posting a copy of the Notice at least 10 days before the date of the Election at the principal office of the County Clerk.

Section 6. Newspaper of General Circulation: It is hereby found and determined that the Northwest Herald is a local, community newspaper having general circulation in McHenry County as is required by Section 12-5 of the Election Code of the State of Illinois.

Section 7. Form of Notice: The Notice shall appear over the name or title of the McHenry County Clerk and shall be substantially in the following form:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that at the election to be held on Tuesday the 9th day of April, 2013, the following proposition will be submitted to the voters of the County of McHenry, Illinois:

Shall McHenry County levy an annual tax not to exceed .1% upon the equalized assessed value of all taxable property in the county for the purposes of providing facilities or services for the benefit of its residents who are intellectually disabled or under a developmental disability and who are not eligible to participate in any program provided under Article 14 of the School Code, 105 ILCS 5/14.1-1.01 et. seq., including contracting for those facilities or services with any privately or publicly operated entity that provides those facilities or services either in or out of the county?

YES _______
NO ________

The Polls of said election will be open at 6:00 A.M. and will continue to be open until 7:00 P.M. of that day.

Dated this _______ of ______________, 2012
____________________________________

County Clerk of the County of McHenry, Illinois

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It seems to me that it is up to the public, not the County Board to determine whether there is adequate money.

I vividly remember taking the first checks from the 708 Board tax, approved by referendum first to Pioneer Center in its first location at the old Terra Cotta School and second to Family Services in a building east of what is now McHenry East High School.

I believe each agency got half of the proceeds.

So, there is obviously no reason that the 708 Board money could not now be evenly divided between those with Developmental Disabilities and those with mental health needs.

Could money spent on this Mental Health Board building have been allocated to services for Developmentally Disabled people?

The 708 Board has earmarked so much of its money to its new structure, showing  by such votes that the building was more important that providing additional funds to the Developmentally Disabled.

Without extensive County Board hearings on how the 708 Board has husbanded the money it gets every year, I surely would not vote for this resolution.

But, instead of trying to pry more of our tax money out of the 708 Board, supporters of the Developmentally Disabled have embarked on a path to pry more money out of taxpayers pockets through a new “377″ tax.

So at the next and lame duck County Board meeting eight of 24 votes will be cast by people who have no citizen mandate after the first week in December.

What the social service supplicants don’t recognize is that the more money that is pried out of McHenry County homeowners’ pockets, the less that state government puts in.

That’s not fair, of course, but most who receive tax dollars really don’t care where their funding comes from…as long as it comes.

The tax would be 10 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.