This is part two of bond analyst Steve Willson’s reasons for opposing the Lakewood Tax Increment Financing District. My second objection: the MISUSE of TIFs — how they are abused in practice. TIFs are supposed to be used only in … Continue reading
The following was written by bond analyst Steve Willson, a resident of Lakewood and strong supporter of Paul Serwatka’s wildly successful candidacy for Village Trustee: It will be published in three parts concerning why he objects to the THEORY underlying … Continue reading
An email from newly-elected Lakewood Village Trustee Paul Serwatka: The Northwest Herald released an article yesterday, giving a glimpse of the battle that lies ahead. Residents have responded, describing some board members’ responses as “obtuse,” “pig-headed” and “narcissistic”… One thing … Continue reading
A story early last night reported the precinct results and showed the early voting returns. While the following graphic from the County Clerk’s Office doesn’t show the write-in vote in Paul Serwatka’s column, he was the only write-in candidate. The … Continue reading
With this letter from Carl Davis all of the candidates for Lakewood Village Trustee have send information to voters of the approximately 4,000 person town. There are three incumbents on the ballot: Carl Davis Ken Santowski Gary Sexson Trying to … Continue reading
The comment section under articles about Lakewood’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District and Paul Serwatka’s write-in campaign aimed directly at it is being hotly debated on McHenry County Blog. Here is what appears under the article about Steve Wilson’s letter: … Continue reading
Below you can read what incumbent Lakewood Village Trustee Gary Sexson is distributing to voters in his campaign for re-election. (If the other incumbents would like be to post their campaign literature or, for that matter, any other McHenry County … Continue reading
At the Crystal Lake Expo on Saturday, I talked with Crystal Lake Park District Executive Director Jason Herbster. Earlier, I reported that he told me that the tax bill for the park district would be up 4% this spring. Today, … 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
Here’s how I spent my Sunday. I passed out the pitch below for Paul Serwatka, write-in candidate for Lakewood Village Trustee. There were many more than the usual number at home, so I had many good conversations. Virtually everyone knew … Continue reading
Except for the “Write-in” on the sign, you can’t tell the difference between Paul Serwatka’s campaign and a mainstream one. On top this four-by-four foot sign talks about tax hikes. Lakewood’s Village Board has maximized its tax take under the … Continue reading
The spring communication from Lakewood Village President Erin Smith: From the President Dear Neighbors: One of my favorite responsibilities as the Village President is to present the “State of the Community” address to the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce every … Continue reading
State Rep. David McSweeney has introduced a bill that would allow residents to petition for a referendum to stop the issuance of Tax Increment Financing bonds not backed by local property taxes. Here is a synopsis of the bill: Amends … Continue reading
The following was written by Steve Stanek. His experience with Tax Increment Financing Districts goes back at least as far as the one then-McHenry Mayor Pam Althoff championed and probably further since the life-long McHenry County resident has been tracking tax increment … Continue reading
When McHenry Mayor Pam Althoff was pushing a Downtown Tax Increment Financing District, resident Steve Stanek, son of former Mayor Joe Stanek, was in opposition. It’s been a long time since then, but Stanek is still not a fan of … Continue reading
A press release from Lakewood Village Trustee write-in candidate Paul Serwatka: Paul Serwatka Takes up Fight for Lakewood Taxpayers Mounting write-in challenge for Lakewood Trustee – Serwatka Aims to Stop $66 MILLION DOLLAR TIF & Sportsplex LAKEWOOD, IL – Compelled … 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
After a zoning hearing on 245 acres of of land being proposed for development by the Chicagoland SportsPlex and a hearing on whether to create a Business District in which sales taxes can be increased, the Lakewood Village Board had … Continue reading
I’m off to Lakewood’s Village Board meeting. The Tax Increment Financing District’s approval is on the agenda. So you don’t have to stay up late to find out what happened, let me predict that it will be approved.
Here are the minutes of what is called the Joint Review Board meeting. This is where overlapping tax districts get their say about a proposed Tax Increment Financing District. … Continue reading
