Steve Willson replied to Ted Smith’s reply to Wilson’s critique of the Lakewood Tax Increment Financing District and SportsPlex yesterday. Here is Wilson’s reply: Ted, I appreciate it that you would write and challenge me on my reasoning. With regard … Continue reading
Category Archives: Stephen Willson
Reader Ted Smith replies to Steve Willson’s Part 1 critique of Lakewood’s Tax Increment Financing District and SportsPlex proposals: Steve, you are obviously an intelligent and passionate person. But I do find flaw in at least part of your reasoning: … Continue reading
A letter I got recently from Steve Willson, a resident of Lakewood who is a bond analyst: My name is Steve Willson. Perhaps you’ve read some of my letters and guest editorials in the Herald about local government waste, something I … Continue reading
Lakewood policy wonk Steve Willson took fingers to keys, writing the following lament about the lack of candidates in most municipal elections and, especially, his own Village of Lakewood. I am disappointed in how many local races are not contested, … Continue reading
Don’t know why I didn’t think to figure out how much the Lakewood TIF project will cost before, but I didn’t until bond analyst Steve Willson ran the numbers. Most have been thinking that the figures provided in the SB … Continue reading
The following was sent by Lakewood resident Steve Willson: Attached please find a copy of the memo written in response to my questions of the consultant Lakewood hired to approve the TIF district. He has reviewed around 50 TIF districts. … Continue reading
The following was written by Steve Willson in a comment, but it needs to be spread more widely: A Quick and Easy Guide to Figuring Out If Governments Are Wasting Your Taxes I want to point out something to all … Continue reading
In a comment under Pam Althoff’s defense of the bill to allow the McHenry County Conservation District to borrow money without referendum approve, bond analyst Steve Willson, a resident of Lakewood, offers the following glossary. He calls it a “Voters’ … Continue reading
First from critic “I can’t believe it”: If you are a regular user of Randall Road you will know this Stop Randall Road Robbery Campaign is a huge joke. Does the campaign really know anything about traffic control? I doubt … Continue reading
Bond analysis Steve Willson offers the following essay: Proposition 2½ Property taxes in Illinois are too high. But how high is too high? Two and a half percent. I’d like to say two percent, because even that was higher than … Continue reading
Some may have noticed the purpose of McHenry County Blog. It’s on the left hand side of the page above my email link. This is a journal of news and opinion designed to bring to light matters of public interest … Continue reading
The Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee is holding a seminar on how to win public office. It’s next Monday night at the new Republican Party Headquarters in the Crystal Lake Plaza (where Joseph’s Market is located). It is not limited … Continue reading
Steve Willson, the campaign manager for successful McHenry County College Board candidates Tom Wilbeck and Chris Jenner will conduct a seminar on how to win an election on June 23rd at Republican Headquarters in Crystal Lake. Topics to be considered … Continue reading
Municipal bond analyst Steve Willson has taken a look at the Village of Lakewood’s proposed sale of the Red Tail Golf Club and written the following thoughts in a comment to yesterday’s article: Some interesting numbers: After twenty years, RedTail … Continue reading
There’s some interesting interchange about the competence of McHenry County College President Vicky Smith going in comments below recent stories. They related to this opinion piece by Steve Willson: Found in an email from Steve Willson: The real reason the … Continue reading
A Wonder Lake poster on McHenry County Tea Party named Kelly Liebmann is urging taxpayers to email the McHenry County College Board in opposition to the Trustees’ plan to renew MCC President Vicky Smith’s contract on Tuesday night before three … Continue reading
This is a continuation of Stephen Willson’s critique of the $42 million health club/classroom expansion proposed by the McHenry County College Board. Proposition 7: The program won’t raise tuition or property taxes. Response: False. The program will raise both tuition … Continue reading
This is a continuation of Stephen Willson’s critique of the $42 million health club/classroom expansion proposed by the McHenry County College Board. Proposition 5: There is a need for additional classroom space. Response: MCC has plenty of unused capacity and … Continue reading
This is a continuation of Stephen Willson’s critique of the $42 million health club/classroom expansion proposed by the McHenry County College Board. Proposition 3: But Centegra’s new hospital in Huntley will create a lot of jobs. Response: Centegra will fill … Continue reading
Municipal bond analyst Stephen Willson, who has been critical of both the proposal to expand the Crystal Lake Library and the massive expansion of McHenry County College, has written a critique of the College Board’s plan to build a $42 … Continue reading