Skillicorn Goes After Municipal League Conference Costs

A press release from State Rep. Allen Skillicorn: SKILLICORN CALLS ON ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE TO END ANNUAL CONFERENCE CRYSTAL LAKE, IL—It is time for the Illinois Municipal League to end its taxpayer funded annual conference. The Daily Herald reported that … Continue reading

Gravel Pit Company Gives Franks $2,500 Four Days Before Citizens Come to Complain about Expansion

At Tuesday’s meeting of the McHenry County Board, citizens from the Spring Grove-Fox Lake area appeared to object to additional gravel pits in their area. One of those who spoke mentioned the Thelen Sand and Gravel company. Hearing the name … Continue reading

McHenry County Taxpayers Owe Over $130 Million for Underfunded Police and Fire Pensions…as of Two Years Ago

Commenter Mark has laid out all of the municipal police and fire pension fund money owed by McHenry County taxpayers. Let’s review police and fire pension funding status in McHenry County. Remember, Jack Franks says he has a plan to … Continue reading

Tax Takes for Cities and Villages

Below is what cities and villages in McHenry County did to property taxpayers last year and what can be expected this year: City or village INCR / DECR INCR / DECR 2015 – 2014 2014 – 2013 IN TOTAL TAX … Continue reading

Effective Tax Rates in McHenry County

The only way to compare property tax burdens is to divide one’s property tax bill by the value of one’s home. That’s what the Chicago Tribune did in November of 2015. The effective tax rates found for McHenry County towns … Continue reading

Lake County Sheriff’s Spokesman Running for GOP Committeeman in Cary

Seeing Chris Covelli on the news Wednesday night with regard to the indictment of Fox Lake’s GI Joe’s wife reminded me that I met him at State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally’s Meet and Greet last week at Crystal Lake Rib House. His … Continue reading

Rauner Orders Flags at Half Staff to Honor Police Lt. Charles Gliniewicz

A press release from the Crystal Lake Police Department: U.S. and Illinois Flags will be lowered to half-staff for Fox Lake Police Lieutenant, Charles J. Gliniewicz Honoring Illinois’ Fallen: United States and Illinois flags at half-staff from Sunrise, Saturday, September 5, … Continue reading

Comparing City & Village Tax Takes

Yesterday, we took a look at what school districts requested to be collected last year and this year. Today we’ll look at municipalities. A number of McHenry County municipalities overlap into adjacent counties. If you see “McH only,” that is … Continue reading

Income Tax Revenue Sharing Loss Would Cost McHenry County Governments $16.9 Million

The McHenry County Council of Governments (McCOG) has calculated how much money each village and city in the county would lose in state subsides should Governor Bruce Rauner’s budget recommendations be enacted. The Govenror suggests cutting the subsidy in half. … Continue reading

Candidates for McHenry County Cities and Villages

I’ve finally pinned down all who are running for municipal office in cities and villages having all or part of their boundaries within McHenry County. The names have been listed in ballot order.  That makes little difference unless there are … Continue reading

Filings for Municipal Office

Here’s my best effort to find out who filed for village and city offices in McHenry County’s thirty municipalities. Most who didn’t file last week probably waited until late Monday afternoon. Why? Best place on the ballot is first.  With … Continue reading

McHenry County Slot Machine Gambling Loses

With the Crystal Lake City Council again being courted by local liquor serving establishments for permission to install slot machines, the Illinois Church Action on Alcohol & Addiction Problems organization sent me gambling losses from December, 2014, though May, 2014. … Continue reading