McHenry County Blog

I’ve been remiss on looking at school board election results…probably because I don’t know as much about them as about the races about which I written.

Today I looked at McHenry Grade School District 15′s results and discovered that School Board President Ted Pillow lost by 164 votes. (This number might change a bit as absentee ballots received after the election are counted.)

I haven’t written much about the McHenry Elementary District other than when Home School Dad John O’Neill won in 2007.

O’Neill ran unopposed for a two-year term this year.

Erik Sivertsen is the man who beat the School Board President 3,208 to 3,044. The other winners were

• Kimberly Qualls with 3,686
• Amanda Geyer with 3,605
• Patrick Miller with 3,601

When last mentioned, Sivertsen had won a court case along with Cary District 26 Grade School Board member Chris Jenner to remain on the ballot for both the grade school board race and for McHenry County College.  Sivertsen placed fourth with four to be elected in the District 15 race and eighth our of nine for the MCC Board.  Jenner placed second in the race for three openings on the college board.  He withdrew his name from the District 26 contest before the court hearing.

Grade school board members will be sworn in by May 7th after the election canvass, which is taking place this week.

Both O’Neill and Sivertsen are Republican Precinct Committeemen.

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

It may not be a big, important law, but Illinois does have a very weak income disclosure law.

All elected officials are required to file it annually.

Lots of notice is given.

District 15 School Board member Patrick Miller ignored those letters of reminder and missed the deadline.

Before he was removed from office, he resigned.

He, among four others applied for the vacancy.

Here’s an observation of what happened from someone on the scene:

Of four candidates who submitted their resumes and letters of intent to stand for appointment to the D15 School Board in McHenry, one Debra Hanlon emerged with impeccable credentials.

Two other community members,

• Erik Sivertsen and
• Deb Smith,

applied for the appointment, showing the drive and determination to step-up when the call went out.

Unfortunately, four board members felt compelled to appoint the same board member, Patrick Miller, who is alleged to have broken election law, ignored numerous requests for information from officials, and was ultimately forced by the State’s Attorney to resign or face prosecution.

Of the two remaining board members, one voted for Hanlon, the other abstained.

Breakdown as follows:

Paul Santopadre	Miller
Mike Hetterman	Miller
John O’Neil	Hanlon
Kim Qualls	Abstain
Ted Pillow	Miller
Melanie Orendorf	Miller

At the end of the day, it appears that it is politics as usual at McHenry’s D15.

Another source tells me that Miller did not show up for the meeting.

As you had reported on June 21st, Patrick Miller resigned from the District 15 Board of Education, with a note at the end of his resignation letter asking for the board to consider reappointing him to the vacancy.

The original deadline for resumes to be submitted was July 7th. A meeting was then held on July 12th, to appoint a replacement.

There were 2 people who submitted their resumes to be considered for the vacant position.

I was one of those two along with Mr. Miller.

The board decided to postpone their decision, until tomorrow night, August 2nd at 7:30pm, presumably due to a desire to get more than 2 people to submit their resumes.

They reopened the opportunity for those interested to submit resumes until July 28th.

In a phone call to the district office this past Friday, I was informed that there are a total of 4 people who have submitted their resumes and are being considered to fill this vacancy.

The idea that Mr. Miller might be reappointed to this position is very upsetting.

In his letter of resignation he used the term “oversight”, to explain his failing to submit his statement of economic interests.

Even if you assume that is was an oversight (regardless of the fact that he was sent 3 letters by the County Clerk, and probably reminded as he filed his statement of candidacy, as well as the numerous references to the required filing in Illinois candidate’s guide), a decision to reappoint him to this vacancy would be irresponsible to say the least.

To simply miss 3 letters requesting that you file an important document, should be enough that the board would no longer even consider him for the opening, but it seems that is not the case.

We need several concerned citizens to come out to this meeting and address the board on this issue.

We need to let the board members know that we don’t want Mr. Miller to be on the board if he is unable to respect the citizens of the district to meet the states minimal requirements.

While I am hopeful that I will be appointed to this position, I think the most important point here is that Mr. Miller cannot for the sake of the district be appointed.

If you would be kind enough to pass on this information, that would be great. Thank You for the great service that you do for the citizens of the county in keeping us informed of issues such as this.

Sincerely,

Erik Sivertsen

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:

“While Democrats say Teachers ‘Have Kept Their Part of the Deal?’“

is the title of an April 5, 2011, article by former Huntley School District 158 Board member Larry Snow.  (The quote was in the Chicago Tribune Marcy 31, 2011.  It is from Executive Director Dick Ingram of Teachers’ Retirement System.)

The article was published in “The Champion” with this teaser:

“82,981 of 132,502 Illinois Teachers Pay Nothing or Little into Their Pensions“

That’s 63% of all teachers in Illinois.

The State Journal-Register is reporting that State Rep. Kevin McCarthy (D-Orland Park) is promoting a bill where state and local governments would all pay six percent of payroll toward employee pensions.

In a revealing sentence in reporter Chris Wetterich’s article, he writes,

“What’s unclear is how much more employees themselves would have to pay.“

Because no one has done the research except, I believe, the Illinois Education Association and Snow, how much extra teachers would have to pay if their so-called contribution rate was raised from 9.4% to 13.77% is a really good question.

While not covering every school district in Illinois, Snow did research the teachers’ contracts for all of the large school districts (by law all are supposed to be on the internet) in order to find out how much teachers pay in order to get a “full 75 percent pension after working only 27 years.” He points out, “Most adults work for 27 years before they turn age 50.”

As way of background, Snow notes that teachers are not in the Social Security System and, therefore, are not forced to pay Social Security taxes.

“Ordinary workers get hit with a 6.2 percent deduction for Social Security,” Snow writes. “It’s a deduction they have to pay federal and state income taxes on.

“Democrats gave teachers a huge loophole of not paying income taxes on any of their pension deductions” he continues. “This enormous no-tax handout to teachers amounts to billions of dollars each year.”

Snow’s research leads him to this conclusion:

“Over 51,000 of the total 132,502 teachers in Illinois contribute nothing from their K-12 paychecks into their pensions. Illinois law says it is to be 9.4 percent.

“About an additional 32,000 teachers pay little into their pensions. It is 1.81 percent to be precise for these 31,956 teachers.“

How many teachers pay not a dime toward their retirement?

51,025 teachers in 186 school districts pay nothing for retirement benefits.

They “don’t pay a penny into the 9.4 percent called out by Illinois law.

“There are a total of 868 districts in Illinois.

“The pay-zero teachers listed are 39 percent of all teachers in Illinois,” Snow reveals.

No agency in state government seems to keep track of this information.

Not the Downstate Teachers Retirement Fund, which boldly and incorrectly claims,

“Active TRS members are required to contribute 9.4 percent of their creditable earnings each year…”

The State Board of Education doesn’t keep track either.

My guess is that only the Illinois Education Association has a matrix showing what school districts have given what benefits in contract negotiations.

Snow discovered this about Lockport:

“…on page 14 of the Lockport Township HS 205 teachers contract it reads:

1. The Board will pay the current level of retirement contribution to the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois.”
2. It is expressly understood that figures appearing on this salary schedule include a sum equal to the current level of TRS contribution of the base salary of each Teacher which is, in fact, payable to the Teachers’ Retirement System on the Teacher’s behalf.”

“The ISBE report shows this board paying nothing. A Democrat bureaucracy doesn’t check the teachers contracts to see if what is reported, matches what’s in writing.”

And, if legislation is passed requiring 4.37 percentage points more, how long do you think it will take Lockport taxpayers to pick up the difference?

Given that local teachers’ unions pretty much control school boards wherever they are elected (read everywhere but Chicago), my guess is will be on the top of the collective bargaining list.

Do you wonder if Rep. McCarthy knows that?

Is his proposal just a setting up local taxpayers for an even bigger fall?

Five years from now will 39% of teachers still be paying nothing for their pensions?

Even better for teachers is that this pension payment ups their pension payments.

Take a look at the chart below.  Chances are your school district is on it.

Chart of Pension Contributions by 82,981 District Teachers of 132,502 Total Illinois K-12 Teachers

Name of District	No. of Teachers	Percent of Pension Contributed by Teachers
Thornton Twp 205	428	Zero
Proviso 209	281	Zero
Waukegan 60	1,098	Zero
Morton 201	455	Zero
Kankakee 111	348	Zero
Joliet 204	340	Zero
Round Lake 116	387	Zero
Rockford	1,843	Zero
Decatur 61	454	Zero
Crete Monee	340	Zero
Danville 118	382	Zero
Valley View 365	1,068	Zero
Aurora West 129	706	Zero
East Peoria 309	69	Zero
Galesburg	281	Zero
Bremen 228	313	Zero
Freeport	317	Zero
Leyden 212	219	Zero
Elgin U-46	2,332	Zero
Rock Island	388	Zero
Mattoon	225	Zero
Collinsville	394	Zero
Massac 1	143	Zero
Sterling	219	Zero
Belvidere	531	Zero
Quincy	436	Zero
Dixon	179	Zero
West Chicago	248	Zero
Cook County 130	289	Zero
Cicero 99	738	Zero
Joliet 86	617	Zero
Harvey 152	163	Zero
Crystal Lake 155	412	Zero
Crystal Lake 47	564	Zero
Wheeling 21	489	Zero
Champaign 4	717	Zero
United CUSD 304	68	Zero
Riverdale 100	76	Zero
Reed Custer 255	114	Zero
Wilmington 209U	84	Zero
United Township 30	90	Zero
Summit Hill 161	213	Zero
Plainfield	1,695	Zero
Schiller Park 81	98	Zero
Dolton 149	176	Zero
Township 211 Palatine	799	Zero
Ball Chatham 5	248	Zero
Taylorville 3	152	Zero
Williamsville 15	81	Zero
Harrisburg 3	130	Zero
Belleville 201	281	Zero
Dupo 196	76	Zero
O’Fallon 203	145	Zero
O’Fallon 90	207	Zero
Rochester 3A	142	Zero
Pekin 108	248	Zero
Morton 709	175	Zero
New Lenox 122	287	Zero
Frankfort 157	158	Zero
Marion 2	219	Zero
Carterville 5	110	Zero
Kinnikinnick 131	122	Zero
Tolono 7	116	Zero
Mahomet-Seymour 3	161	Zero
Champaign 4	717	Zero
Urbana	346	Zero
Charleston 1	180	Zero
Park Ridge 64	319	Zero
Evanston 202	222	Zero
Maine HSD 207	508	Zero
Arlington Heights 214	753	Zero
Niles 219	350	Zero
Berkeley 87	165	Zero
Berwyn South	263	Zero
Lyons 204	239	Zero
Lemont 113	144	Zero
Palatine 15	713	Zero
Schaumburg 54	1,003	Zero
Oak Lawn 123	203	Zero
Oak Lawn 229	114	Zero
CHSD 230 Orland Park	519	Zero
Argo 217	111	Zero
Homewood 233	174	Zero
Genoa 424	137	Zero
Sycamore 427	231	Zero
Dekalb 428	362	Zero
Lombard 44	216	Zero
Downers Grove 58	277	Zero
Hinsdale 86	296	Zero
Elmhurst 205	538	Zero
Naperville 203	1,063	Zero
Effingham 40	176	Zero
Canton Union 66	175	Zero
Morris 54	61	Zero
Morris 101	50	Zero
Coal City 1	138	Zero
Jersey 100	164	Zero
Central CUSD 301	224	Zero
Kaneland 302	275	Zero
St. Charles 303	880	Zero
Cahokia	298	0.4
Chicago Public Schools	23,219	2
Peoria 150	988	0.4
Springfield	1,105	0.4
Moline 40	461	0.4
Harvard	149	0.87
Dolton 148	236	1.4
Belleville 118	228	0.4
Pekin 303	125	0.4
Hononegah 207	118	0.4
Arlington Heights 59	444	3
Leyden 212	219	0.4
Summit 104	103	0.4
Palos 118	130	0.4
CHSD 219 Orland Park	519	0.4
Bensenville 2	145	1.4
DuPage 88	266	0.4
CHSD 94	122	0.9
CUSD 300	1,189	4.4
Hawthorn 73	253	1.4
Lake Forest 115	132	0.4
Wauconda 118	273	0.4
Johnsburg 12	158	0.4
Cary 26	192	4.9
Woodstock 200	385	1.4
Keeneyville 20	107	0.4
Winnebago 323	117	0.4
LaSalle-Peru Twp. 120	88	0.7
Prairie-Hills 144	187	0.4
Geneva 304	367	Zero
Herscher 2	126	Zero
Manteno 5	160	Zero
Bourbonnais 53	160	Zero
Bradley 61	103	Zero
Bradley Bourbonnais 307	114	Zero
Momence 1	88	Zero
Yorkville 115	329	Zero
Plano 88	154	Zero
Oswego 308	827	Zero
Streator 44	132	Zero
Ottawa 141	140	Zero
Ottawa 140	102	Zero
Glenview 34	343	Zero
Zion 6	177	Zero
Grayslake 46	266	Zero
Elmwood Park 401	181	Zero
Libertyville 70	159	Zero
North Shore 112	374	Zero
HSD 113 Highland Park	249	Zero
Grant 124	91	Zero
Zion-Benton 126	156	Zero
Evanston 65	547	Zero
Grayslake 127	187	Zero
Meridian 15	64	Zero
Mt. Zion 3	133	Zero
Edwardsville 7	480	Zero
Alton 11	467	Zero
Macomb 185	130	Zero
McHenry 15	282	Zero
McHenry 156	158	Zero
Nippersink 2	92	Zero
Columbia 4	111	Zero
Waterloo 5	166	Zero
Hillsboro 3	114	Zero
Meridian 223	113	Zero
Illinois Valley Central 321	139	Zero
Carbondale 165	76	Zero
Carbondale 95	105	Zero
Riverton 14	85	Zero
Auburn 10	90	Zero
Pawnee 11	47	Zero
Panhandle 2	35	Zero
Sullivan 300	75	Zero
Centralia 135	93	Zero
Litchfield 12	83	Zero
Harlem 122	505	Zero
Granite City 9	617	Zero
Princeton 115	86	Zero
Princeton 500	43	Zero
Bond County 2	120	Zero
Duquoin CUSD 300	101	Zero
Rocton 140	102	Zero
Rochelle Twp. HSD 212	71	Zero
Rochelle CCSD 231	131	Zero
Byron 226	127	Zero
Oregon 220	104	Zero
Farmington Central 265	85	Zero
Porta 202	75	Zero
River Bend 2	71	Zero
Red Bud 132	73	Zero
Sparta 140	105	Zero
Southwestern 9	107	Zero
Staunton 6	87	Zero
Gillespie 7	81	Zero
Hamilton County 10	83	Zero
Midwest Central 191	85	Zero
Tuscola 301	86	Zero
West Carroll 314	99	Zero
Oakwood 76	64	Zero
Hoopeston 11	94	Zero
Westville 2	80	Zero
Beardstown 15	98	Zero
El Paso-Gridley 11	99	Zero
Murphysboro 186	137	Zero
Monticello 25	111	Zero
Paris-Union 95	74	Zero
Mt. Vernon Twp. 210	80	Zero
Mt. Vernon 80	109	Zero
Jasper County 1	101	Zero
Steger 194	128	Zero
Calumet City 155	77	Zero
North Boone 200	116	Zero
CCSD 93 Carol Stream	294	Zero
East Maine SD 63	254	Zero
Lockport Township HS 205	205	Zero
Above Teachers Total	82,981

 

That happened four years ago, too, when homeschoolers John O’Neill was elected to the McHenry Grade School Board and John Ryan won a District 300 seat.

This year, O’Neill was re-elected without opposition and Steve Rooney won a seat on the Johnsburg Unit School District 12 Board of Education.

John Ryan has moved out of Illinois and the woman appointed to replace him on the District 300 Board, Karen Plaza, the wife of Lake in the Hills Village President Ed Plaza, failed to win election to retain her seat.