McHenry County Blog

Although primary election voters approved the imposition of a one percentage point sales tax hike in Lawrence County, former State Rep. now Sumner Press Publisher Roscoe Cunningham is calling for a delay in the county board’s imposing it.

“While changing the rules under which we live, Lawrence County Board of Supervisors should take another look at the 1% (really one percentage point) tax increase and repeal same in toto.

“There is a limit to which a community can be taxed and continue to progress.

“Our county is 1% above that toleration limit.

“Board could postpone the implementation of the tax for a year.”

That’s what Cunningham wrote in his April 29, 2010, column entitle, “Roscoe’s Journal.”

He refers to implementation of legislation sponsored by State Rep. Roger Eddy.

The law says that the county board has to approve levying the new sales tax after passage.

If any school board sells bonds based on paying them back from sales tax proceeds, this non-attorney believes the tax may not be repealed until after the bonds are paid off.

Campaign piece from Champaign County.

The new tax idea passed in Champaign County in 2009. A bit more about the Champaign County effort can be found here.

An article on the winners and losers in such a tax change appears here.

In Southeastern Illinois lies the County of Lawrence. I subscribe to the Sumner Press and saw the ad you see below:

The required referendum passed 1,557 to 1,385, according to Daily Record.

Money collected from the new tax will be distributed to all local school districts in proportion to the number of students in each district.

Once bonds are issued, the tax cannot be abolished until the bonds are paid off.

That, of course, means never.

Two Thursdays before the election (January 21, 2010), one of the local school superintendents wrote this letter to the Sumner Press:

Dear Editor:

Our elected school board members are obligated to assure our community the best possible school systems and facilities, all without excessive burdens on taxpayers. To balance our educational needs and costs is a difficult task.

On February 2, voters of Lawrence County will decide whether a 1% hike in sales tax on certain items (not the most essential) is the best solution to provide much needed improvements and upgrades to our school buildings and facilities.

The referendum on a County School Facility Sales Tax is the result of legislation sponsored by State Representative Roger Eddy and passed by our Legislature which, if approved by our voters, gives us a chance to assure needed improvements to our school facilities (including Lawrenceville High School) and for retiring bonds for Unit 10 construction, without raising taxes on essential items such as groceries, medical drugs and appliances, licensed vehicles, agricultural supplies and machinery, and without raising property taxes.

As taxpayers, we have created a Capital Development Fund which will pay 60% to 70% of the cost of such needed improvements and construction. But if we do not have the necessary “matching funds” (30 or 40% of the costs), our tax money is left on the table for other communities to obtain the facilities we need. The proposed sales tax on other items will provide the needed matching funds.Please attend the Public Forum at the Lawrenceville Central Christian Church this Thursday, January 21, at 5:00 p.m., to hear Rep. Eddy and school officials explain the effect of your vote. Please be an informed voter.

Our community needs, and cannot afford to lose, the educational upgrading and facilities this proposal will provide. I urge a “Yes” vote.

Sincerely,

Philip B. Benefiel

Can you see why I wrote my former legislative colleague, now Publisher Roscoe Cunningham and told him the superintendent was “math impaired.”

I wrote,

“He apparently thinks a one percentage point increase in the local sales tax is the same as a ’1% hike in sales tax.’ (See letter posted online: ‘On February 2, voters of Lawrence County will decide whether a 1% hike in sales tax on certain items (not the most essential) is the best solution to provide much needed improvements and upgrades to our school buildings and facilities.’)

“Really!

“Let’s assume the local sales tax is 6.25%. If so, dividing one percentage point by and a quarter percentage points would yield a 15% sales tax hike.

“Politicians lie all the time about political issues, but wouldn’t you think a school superintendent would tell the truth?

“Or, doesn’t he really know the difference?

“I don’t know which is worse, deliberate deception or not knowing enough about percentages to get out of junior high school.

“Wishing we lived closer together and enjoying your now self-identifed weekly views of the world.”

And he published it with this reply,

“Cal, you are too hard on Supts. Seaton and Steagall. Each is a straight arrow. Antecedent on the numbers isn’t clear.

“We yet remember and appreciate the skill with which you skewered the ‘bad guys,’ across the aisle, in the General Assembly.

“Local GOP, to use Paul Powell’s line, ‘smell the meat a cookin’,’ are confident that either McKenna, Dillard or Ryan will win November 2.

“See you in Springfield for victory celebration.

“Best to you and family,

“roscoe”

I can’t wait for school districts to try this in McHenry County. Rest assured that every county board member who votes to put such a referendum on the ballot will think my McHenry County Republican Cat Tax campaign was mild.

My former legislative colleague Roscoe Cunningham (who used to buy a pan of sweet rolls to induce his Appropriations Committee members to attend his pre-meetings) bought the Sumner Press and opines each week in “Roscoe’s Journal.”

The end of March I wrote how the Lawrence County attorney (The Law Factory), turned newspaper publisher, was pushing for imprisonment of the Guantanamo terrorists in the local state prison.

Yesterday—yes, the Post Office delivered his May 7th edition in one day—Cunningham writes,

“Newest Time has a prominent article on Hardin, Montana, reporting the effort of that impoverished community to land the prisoners to be released from Guantanamo.

“Such moment in the spotlight could have been Lawrence County’s had any of our masters recognized the potential of the Press’ proposal made in December the Sumner Correctional Facility be Guantanamo’s replacement.

“Tragically, $50 million has been ear-marked to be sent overseas for their care.”

That’s what former Illinois State Representative Roscoe Cunningham says in a front page letter to United States Senator Roland Burris in his Sumner Press.

Cunningham, with whom I served in the 1970′s before he, like I, caught congressional fever, continually pleads the case for the poverty of his Southeastern part of Illinois. He seeks additional prisoners for the Lawrenceville state prison.

“RE: Transfer of Guantanamo Releasees to Lawrence Correctional Facility

“Dear Friend of 40 Years:

“We implore you to inform Attorney General Eric Holder today that the Press’ suggested transfer has the overwhelming support of this poverty stricken area.

“We are authorized by the Mayors of Sumner, Bridgeport, Lawrencville and Olney to add their names to our plea. We are assured by the state legislative leaders that designation of a portion of the facility ‘Federally controlled,’ is a formality.

“The community wants this transfer because it is our civic duty to accept the burden of the releases’ further care and the economic boost such relocation will bring. Unlike Leavenworth’s ‘Jayhawk’ Rich, our area needs the business.

“If the Attorney General wishes to make a personal inspection of this facility, remembering that he went to Guantanamo, we’ll appeal to Warden Ryker to unfurl the red carpet any day chosen.

“Lawrenceville Correctional Facilty is located 15 minutes from Mid-American Air Central, the state’s fourth largest, one mild runways.

“We need your help.

“Best wishes,

“Sincerely,

“The Sumner Press”

Every week former State Representative Roscoe Cunningham (R-Lawrenceville), my 1970′s legislative colleague, publishes “Roscoe’s Journal” in the paper he bought, The Sumner Press.

Since McHenry County is so far from Lawrence County, the paper usually takes a week to arrive.

When I read the following paragraph in his January 10th commentary, written after the New Hampshire primary, I started chuckling.

Maybe you will, too.

After the Obama Express came back down to earth, the candidate should have sent a one word telegram to Louis Farrakhan

Many find that powerful leader’s huge mosque on Stoney Island, Chicago, with the lighted Muslim crescent, inimical to the well being of this nation.

Cunningham has some views that some might find offensive, but he has such a way with words.

Every week former State Representative Roscoe Cunningham (R-Lawrenceville), my 1970′s legislative colleague, publishes “Roscoe’s Journal” in the paper he bought, The Sumner Press.

Since McHenry County is so far from Lawrence County, the paper usually takes a week to arrive.

When I read the following paragraph in his January 10th commentary, written after the New Hampshire primary, I started chuckling.

Maybe you will, too.

After the Obama Express came back down to earth, the candidate should have sent a one word telegram to Louis Farrakhan

Many find that powerful leader’s huge mosque on Stoney Island, Chicago, with the lighted Muslim crescent, inimical to the well being of this nation.

Cunningham has some views that some might find offensive, but he has such a way with words.