McHenry County Blog

A press release from State Rep. Kent Gaffney:

House Republicans: Democrat Pension Shift would be Disastrous for Local Schools, Property Taxpayers

Springfield…A Democrat-backed plan to shift a portion of the state’s pension obligation to local schools and universities would be disastrous for the schools and for the taxpayers that fund them, a group of House Republicans stressed today.

At a Capitol press conference, the lawmakers said that simply shifting the pension funding burden does nothing to solve the core problem, and would inevitably lead to property tax increases and teacher layoffs.

Ed Sullivan

“Illinois has the worst funded pension system in the country, simply shifting a portion of the financial responsibility to local school districts and public universities does nothing to reduce long-term costs or stabilize our pension systems.

“This is basically rearranging deck chairs while the Titanic continues to sink,” said Representative Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein).

Kent Gaffney

Representative Kent Gaffney (R- Lake Barrington) said the Democrats’ pension shift would eat up about 9% of local school districts’ total payroll budgets. For the Wauconda School District 118 in his area, that would mean about $2.24 million.

“Schools are already waiting months for reimbursement from the state and school transportation dollars have been slashed.

“If the Democrats move forward with the shift, schools will have even fewer payroll dollars to pay teachers’ salaries, and will be forced to enact layoffs,” Gaffney said.

Rich Morthland

Representative Rich Morthland (R-Cordova) said he’s also extremely concerned about the certain impact the shift would have on family budgets already stretched to the breaking point.

“This shift will leave schools no place to go but back to their local property taxpayers. It will lead to huge property tax increases and tuition increases for our university students.

“Families are already struggling under the 67% income tax increase Democrats’ forced upon them last year. Adding property tax and tuition increases on top of that would be absolutely devastating,” Morthland said.

“Nearly one year ago Quinn signed into law massive tax increases on working families, seniors and businesses, and now Quinn wants to move forward with another ill-advised plan to reform pensions by raising taxes. . . property taxes,” said State Representative Paul Evans (R-O’Fallon)

“I am in strong support of reforming our state’s pension system which faces $83 billion in unfunded liabilities, but I am adamantly opposed to shifting that massive financial burden on homeowners’ property tax bills.   The Governor must stop seeing tax hikes as a solution to every state problem and come to the table to discuss with lawmakers long-term reform plans to get our state back on track.”

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Here’s how much the Democrats teacher pension payment shifting plan will cost McHenry County taxpayers:

Nippersink School District 2   $6,426,544.26
Fox River Grove CSD 3                2,957,690.47
Johnsburg CUSD 12                   12,905,616.00
McHenry CCSD 15                        21,799,110.51
Riley CCSD 18                                1,540,489.81
Alden Hebron SD 19                     2,362,422.73
Cary CCSD 26                               13,393,572.90
Harrison School District 36         1,8419,44.57
Prairie Grove CSD 46                     527,0855.16
Crystal Lake CCSD 47                 41,022,943.64
Harvard CUSD 50                         9,992,328.99
Marengo CHSD 154                        456,6891.59
Community HSD 155                   46,971,492.57
McHenry CHSD 156                     14,307,461.66
Richmond Burton HSCD 157       4,293,500.77
Huntley CSD 158                            37,778,116.01
Marengo-Union ECSD 165             417,9408.47
Woodstock CUSD 200                  31,476,784.34

Yesterday, I started telling you about my annual Family PAC cruise. I ended that installment before we boarded the boat.

14th District Congressional candidate Randy Hultgren and his wife Christy.

Before walking up the gangplank, I got a couple more politicians’ photos. Next was Randy Hultgren.

Betsey and Rich Morthland, Rock Island County Board member and state representative candidate in the 71st District.

I met Rich Morthland and his wife Betsey on the dock.

He’s the only Republican on the Rock Island County Board, but he flexed his political muscles and managed to get “dramatically” higher salaries for his countywide candidates completely rolled back. I think this was during the time that Governor Pat Quinn was raising his employees in the 20% range. He must have gotten great local press.

Baby Jerry is the star in this photo of State Senator Bill Brady talking to John O'Neill. His wife Basia is holding the child.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady arrived.

Algonquin's Gene Brown was one of many who talked to the top GOP candidate on the cruise, Bill Brady. Mark Kirk did not attend.

You can guess that Brady was a big attraction.  He stayed for the whole cruise.

Trying to find the politicians, I stood next to the gang plank.  There I found Richard Grabowski, who is running for state representative in the Oak Lawn area.

Hard to escape the cameraman standing next to the gangway, right state rep. candidate Richard Grabowski?

Next came Issac Hayes, the man bold enough to run against Jesse Jackson, Jr., for Congress. Hayes called Jackson “Senate candidate number 5″ when he spoke.

Issac Hayes, running against Jesse Jackson, Junior.

Even those no longer holding or seeking office could not escape the camera clicker.  Next was Family PAC Executive Director Paul Caprio’s long-time friend and former Illinois Republican National Committeeman Bob Kjellander.

Bob Kjellander

Former Huntley School Board member Shawn Green was next up the boat ramp.

Shawn Green

I caught Kirk and Stephanie Dillard before they made it to the walkway up to the boat that would take us out for a Lake Michigan cruise.

Right after they arrived, I got this shot of State Senator Kirk Dillard and his wife Stephanie.

More tomorrow.