McHenry County Blog

McHenry Grade School Board member John O’Neill says that the location of the Board meeting which will set next year’s tax levy has been changed to the District Office at 1011 N. Green St., in  McHenry.

Below is a repeat of what is at stake:

The following email has arrived from McHenry Elementary District School Board member John O’Neill:

At the McHenry School District #15 Board of Education meeting held Tuesday, November 13th at Landmark School in McHenry we voted on publishing the “Notice of Proposed Property Tax Increase” in the Northwest Herald.

his will satisfy the Truth in Taxation requirement for the district to propose an increase in its tax levy. Imagine my surprise when I read it and at first glance I was drawn to the words,

“This represents a 52.96% increase over the previous year.“

My blood pressure shot right up there but then my heart nearly stopped when I saw the bottom showing the notice was submitted by…

John O’Neill, Secretary
Board of Education
McHenry School District #15

…part of the duty of secretary is that notices of meetings, agendas, etc go out in the name of the secretary.

At the meeting we discussed the tax levy at great length and the district’s Finance Committee Chairman and Business Manager both gave an overview of the Tax Cap Law or PTELL which really makes it difficult for taxing bodies to create their budget without enacting a tax increase.

One of the difficulties is that if there has been any new construction in the previous year, without taxing to the maximum the district will forever lose the ability to receive taxes from the new construction.

When Our illustrious State Rep. Jack Franks was pushing for a fundamental change in the governance of McHenry County with his County Executive referendum one of his talking points was that McHenry County sought the maximum tax for each of the past 21 years.

District #15′s tax levy is the type of “maximum tax” he was referring to.

Taxing districts overwhelmingly tax to the max under the so-called “Tax Cap” law in order to share the tax burden with all properties in a district, not just those which were built in previous years.

While Franks railed against the County for levying the maximum amount, there was a deafening silence from him regarding other taxing bodies such as

• School Districts
• Municipalities
• Library Districts and
• Fire Protection Districts

which regularly tax to the max.

This is typical of the Liberal Left when they give you the “truth” but not the whole truth.

After all the dust settles, McHenry School District #15 is seeking an increase in the neighborhood of 3.24% along with a bond repayment of 1.22% for a total increase of 4.46%.

This does not mean that a homeowner’s property tax bill will necessarily increase by 4.46% due to the convoluted nature of property tax calculations; not to mention the fact that a homeowner may win a property tax appeal and have their taxes lowered – in some cases.

The attached notice is, in fact an invitation to the Public Hearing which will be held at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 11, 2012 at the District headquarters on Green Street McHenry Middle School, 2120 W. Lincoln Road in McHenry. I hope to see many taxpayers there.

The following email has arrived from McHenry Elementary District School Board member John O’Neill:

At the McHenry School District #15 Board of Education meeting held Tuesday, November 13th at Landmark School in McHenry we voted on publishing the “Notice of Proposed Property Tax Increase” in the Northwest Herald.

his will satisfy the Truth in Taxation requirement for the district to propose an increase in its tax levy. Imagine my surprise when I read it and at first glance I was drawn to the words,

“This represents a 52.96% increase over the previous year.“

My blood pressure shot right up there but then my heart nearly stopped when I saw the bottom showing the notice was submitted by…

John O’Neill, Secretary
Board of Education
McHenry School District #15

…part of the duty of secretary is that notices of meetings, agendas, etc go out in the name of the secretary.

At the meeting we discussed the tax levy at great length and the district’s Finance Committee Chairman and Business Manager both gave an overview of the Tax Cap Law or PTELL which really makes it difficult for taxing bodies to create their budget without enacting a tax increase.

One of the difficulties is that if there has been any new construction in the previous year, without taxing to the maximum the district will forever lose the ability to receive taxes from the new construction.

When Our illustrious State Rep. Jack Franks was pushing for a fundamental change in the governance of McHenry County with his County Executive referendum one of his talking points was that McHenry County sought the maximum tax for each of the past 21 years.

District #15′s tax levy is the type of “maximum tax” he was referring to.

Taxing districts overwhelmingly tax to the max under the so-called “Tax Cap” law in order to share the tax burden with all properties in a district, not just those which were built in previous years.

While Franks railed against the County for levying the maximum amount, there was a deafening silence from him regarding other taxing bodies such as

• School Districts
• Municipalities
• Library Districts and
• Fire Protection Districts

which regularly tax to the max.

This is typical of the Liberal Left when they give you the “truth” but not the whole truth.

After all the dust settles, McHenry School District #15 is seeking an increase in the neighborhood of 3.24% along with a bond repayment of 1.22% for a total increase of 4.46%.

This does not mean that a homeowner’s property tax bill will necessarily increase by 4.46% due to the convoluted nature of property tax calculations; not to mention the fact that a homeowner may win a property tax appeal and have their taxes lowered – in some cases.

The attached notice is, in fact an invitation to the Public Hearing which will be held at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 11, 2012 at McHenry Middle School, 2120 W. Lincoln Road, in McHenry. I hope to see many taxpayers there.

Here’s the summary for McHenry Elementary School District #15 new Five-Year Teacher’s Contract:

Compensation changes for the life of the contract include the following;

• New compensation increase = 0.47%
• Investment in professional learning communities = 2.20%
• Total compensation increase = 2.67%

Other parts of the contract with financial implications:

• Tuition savings
• Retirement savings
• Reduction in lane changes
• Stipend savings and health screenings

A press release from McHenry’s District 15 Grade School District concerning the replacement of Patrick Miller, who was forced to resign because he did not file his Statement of Economic Interest in a timely fashion:

Vacancy on District 15 School Board

McHENRY – Residents interested in serving on the McHenry Elementary District 15 school board have until July 7, 2011 to apply.

Board member Patrick Miller resigned his position on June 20, 2011. Any resident of the school district who is 18 or older is eligible to fill the vacancy. The appointee will serve until the remainder of the term which ends in April, 2013.

Superintendent Alan Hoffman said those interested should send a cover letter and résumé to him, in care of Cindee Nootbaar, at McHenry Elementary District 15, 1011 N. Green St., McHenry, IL, 60050. Or, interested candidates can send the information by e-mail to cnootbaar@d15.org.

The board has 45 days from the date of the resignation to fill the post.

This is an significant time for the McHenry Grade School District because this board will negotiate the next teachers’ contract.

Below is Miller’s resignation letter:

Patrick Miller, a member of the McHenry Grade School District 15 Board, is the most prominent person to fail to file a Statement of Economic Interest this spring.

The penalty is the forfeiture of his board seat.

Miller was part of the incumbent coalition that homeschooling Dad John O’Neill cracked in 2007 when he came in third beating, Miller ally Geoffrey Sponholtz.

There was no contest this year as Miller and two newcomers ran for four-year terms and O’Neill sought re-election to a two-year term.

Besides Miller, there was a Lakemoor Park and Recreation Department Advisory Board member, a Hebron police officer and a Greenwood Planning Commissioner who failed to file what I call the “None, None, None” form.  To say it does not reveal much information is a large understatement.

The letter from the State’s Attorney’s Office informing Miller than he has forfeited his office by not filing the Statement of Economic Interest follows:

I’ve run the increased cost side of the numbers for merging McHenry Grade School District 15 and Wonder Lake’s Harrison School District 36 with McHenry High School District 156 and the numbers verify the judgment of the seven school board candidates Wednesday night.

When asked if they favored consolidation, as proposed Democratic Party Governor Pat Quinn, the answers were

“No,” “No,” “No,” “No,” “No,” “No,” “No.”

When I calculated the addition cost that bringing grade school teacher salaries up to those enjoyed by Crystal Lake’s High School District 155 teachers, the number was an extra $27 million.

I didn’t know how to calculate the savings from fewer administrators, but Quinn estimated the total to be $100 million statewide.  Would it be even a million dollars savings in District 155?

 

Elementary school teachers in McHenry District 15 earn an average of $53,496   a year, according to its 2010 School Report Card. (The link can actually be found on the front page of the district’s web site.)

In Harrison, the figure is $46,653.  You can see the whole report card here.

The weighted average of the two is $52,853.

If you are into source data, it’s below:

Average salaries and number of teachers

• McHenry High School District 156 – $68,228 – 158 teachers
• McHenry Grade School District 15 – $53,496 – 282 teachers
• Harrison Grade School District 36 – $46,653 – 29 teachers

So, if we subtract the average grade school salary ($53,496) from the average high school salary ($68,228) the difference is $14,732.  (The link to the high school 2010 School Report Card can be found here.)

With a total of 311 elementary school teachers, the total salary differential is $4,581,652.

Not as much as for District 155 to the south, but still a hefty number.

There were two questions about consolidation of high school and grade school districts at the McHenry High School Board candidates night sponsored by the McHenry County League of Women Voters Wednesday night.

Beth Taylor’s reply to the first question, which focused on possible administrative savings:

“The wage adjustments outweigh administrative savings by 8-10 times.”

Steven White pointed out there are “significant differences in average salary between elementary and high school salaries that would eliminate (any administrative savings).”

Incumbent Board member Mellody Ahrens agreed. “We would have a big salary increase…”

“Consolidation doesn’t seem to be a good idea,” agreed Timothy Byers. “It would cost the district a great deal of money.”

The other candidates made similar remarks.

All had compared the costs of raising elementary school teachers to the higher level of high school teachers and decided it wasn’t a good idea.

Then, the moderator asked for a “Yes,” “No” answer on the topic of consolidation, evoking Governor Pat Quinn’s name.

“No,” “No,” “No,” “No,” “No,” “No,” “No,”

said the seven candidates present.

Besides the ones mentioned above, the others in attendance were Steve Bellmore, Tracy Simon and Darnell Qualls.

Missing the meeting were Alexandra Coy and Daniel Koruna.

Why two questions when the answers to the first question were all negative?

I can only image that the Illinois League of Women Voters favors the bill that would bust the budgets of taxpayers on the eastern side of McHenry County where there are not unit districts. (I emailed the state League early Thursday morning asking whether it had taken a position on the legislation, but my email went unanswered.)

Tomorrow, the math.

The filing has just ended, but lots of grade school board candidates in McHenry County are assured of election.

Here at Election Central, McHenry County Blog declares the fifteen candidates listed below elected.

In Fox River Grove Grade School District 3, there are four openings and four candidates, so there is no contest.

4-year Term (three to be elected)

• Jertry Blohm
• Thomas Mollet
• Devin Bright

2-year (one to be elected)

• Stephen Pickering

McHenry Grade School District 15 is another district where there is no contest.  Get enough signatures to place yourself on the ballot and you won.

2-Year-Term (one to be elected)

• John O’Neill (incumbent)

4-Year-Term (three to be elected)

• Mike Hettermann
• Paul Santopadre
• Patrick Miller (incumbent)

In Cary Grade School District 26, the candidate for the two-year term is assured of election:

• Floyd Myers (one to be elected)

There are four seats that will be on the ballot in Wonder Lake (Harrison) Grade School District 36 and four candidates.  All will obviously win.

Two-year term (one to be elected)

• George Wood

Four-year term (three to be elected)

• Linda Amettis
• Karen Parks
• Laurie Alsot

Prairie Grove Grade School District 46 has but two candidates for three vacancies. Democratic Party candidate for County Board, Lori McConville is one of them.  She will win pubic office, as will the other candidate who filled.

• Khushali Shah
• Lori McConville

The deadline for filing a write-in candidacy with the McHenry County Clerk is Thursday, February 3, 2011.  Get more votes than any other write-in candidate and you’re elected.

McHenry Elementary School District 15 has four candidates for four seats up for election next spring.

Here are the details:

2-Year-Term (Vote for one)

• John O’Neill (incumbent)

4-Year-Term (Vote for three)

• Mike Hettermann
• Paul Santopadre
• Patrick Miller (incumbent)

Chicago gets it, but, sadly, McHenry County doesn’t.

Except for McHenry’s Landmark School. http://www.d15.org/landmark/home/default.htm

(If there are others, I am certain I shall hear of them.)

Bull Valley’s Mary Leibman advanced the idea decades and decades ago—in 1959!

What is the idea all about?

Kids go to school the same number of days, but the schools are open in the summer, as well as the rest of the seasons.

What are the advantages?

For taxpayers, it means that school capacity can instantly be increased by one-third.

At least in districts with air conditioning.

Is there any other business or institution that has buildings used only three seasons out of the year, maybe summer camps excepted.

The next time some local school district comes forth with a bond referendum to build new schools, use the argument. I certainly will if Crystal Lake’s District 47 wants more buildings.

It makes complete sense.

And, what do you know?

The Northwest Herald agrees.

And, now Chicago School CEO Ron Huberman is expanding his system’s year round schools because it keeps students “on a continuous learning cycle.”

The argument is that students retain more information with more frequent, but shorter breaks, so there is less time spend on catch-up.

So, thr 65 schools now on the year-round schedule will more than double to 132, according to the Chicago Sun-Times article you see above.

From her contributions, by the way, Liebman seems to be a Democrat.