More Tryon Precinct Committeemen Endorsement Letters Surface

Two more instances in which incumbent Republican Precinct Committeemen are being challenged have drawn endorsement letters from State Rep. Mike Tryon, the retiring McHenry County Republican Central Committee Chairman. They are in Algonquin 46, a Cary precinct in which McHenry … Continue reading

McHenry County College Board Committee to Discuss Banning Going into Debt Without Voter Approval Monday Night

Looking at the McHenry County College Evaluation and Policies Committee agenda for Monday night at 6:30, I see there is further discussion of new Board member Chris Jensen’s proposal to prohibit borrowing big bucks without referendum approval. The agenda item … Continue reading

MCC Trustee Seeks Guidance on Tuition Hike and Infrastructure Fee

McHenry County College Board member Chris Trustee asks for input on two proposals to increase revenue. CONSTITUENT AND STUDENT INPUT WANTED – McHENRY COUNTY COLLEGE! MCC has proposed $3 per credit hour tuition increases for fiscal years 2014 and 2015. … Continue reading

Bruce Rauner & Evelyn Sanguinetti Speak to Crowd at Fox River Grove Panera

GOP gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Rauner and his Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti spoke to folks gathered at Panera in Fox River Grove on Saturday afternoon. The meeting was inspired by 18-year old Precinct Committeeman candidate Jenna Wing, moderator Andrew Gasser said. … Continue reading

MCC Board Moving Away from Big Health Club Proposal

Health club operator Power Wellness got $50,000 for coming up with an expansion plan for McHenry County College and seemed to be angling to operate the facility. Tuesday night in a Committee of the Whole meeting, the MCC Board pretty … Continue reading

McHenry County College Passes Flat Levy, Taxes Will Decrease

The three newly-elected McHenry County College Board members joined with the Board President they elected to pass a property tax levy that will collect the same amount next year as this year. The zero increase levy was originally on the … Continue reading

Twice as Much Time Spent on MCC Management Letter, which College Won’t Release, as on Audit

As background, I served on the Legislative Audit Commission during my eight years in the Illinois House in the 1970’s.  I have read literally hundreds of management letters. They contained what auditors have found that needs improvement in various agencies. … Continue reading

MCC Administration Continues Pitch to Maximize Real Estate Tax Income

McHenry County College’s Committee of the Whole meeting was carefully orchestrated to lead at least one of the four members who said they wanted a flat property tax levy next year to change his or her mind. First there was … Continue reading

MCC Trustees Vote for Flat Budget

By a 4-3 vote, the newly-elected McHenry County College Board members, plus the man they elected Board President, outvoted the longer term Trustees. “If we don’t vote to approve [the lower] alternative budget, we have lost the chance to give … Continue reading

MCC Board President Ron Parrish Seems to Have Deciding Vote on Flat Real Estate Tax Levy for Next Year

McHenry County College’s Board of Trustees discussed next year’s budget against last night at its Committee of the Whole meeting. Three members lined up on the side of keeping the tax levy flat next year. They are (in alphabetic order) … Continue reading

Six Days Later, MCC Offers Partial Reply to Why Levy Should Increase 4.99%

You may remember my dismay that McHenry County College is building its budget based on the assumption that new construction increased 3.29% in 2012. 2012 is the year whose value is being measured by assessors as of January 1, 2013, … Continue reading

MCC Board Holds Secret Retreat

Perhaps the title should be “MCC Board Holding Secret Retreat” because as I write this McHenry County Board members, President Vicky Smith and Illinois Community College Association facilitator Gary Davis are meeting in the college’s Shah Center in McHenry. The … Continue reading

Taxes and Administrative Salaries on Tap for McHenry County College Board Meeting Thursday Night

The McHenry County College Board will meet in its regular monthly meeting Thursday evening at 6:30. There will be budget discussions which will revolve around whether the Board should ask for a flat levy next year, which would lower property … Continue reading

New Growth for McHenry County College for Recent Years

New Chief Financial Officer of MCC Bob Tenuta offered up a levy increase half of his predecessor’s 9.99%. Tenuta suggested 4.99%–just 1/100 of a percentage point below the 5% figure above which tax districts have to publish their greed in … Continue reading

MCC Special Meeting Friday Leaves Citizens in the Dark on Cost Overrun

Because McHenry County College Trustees Ron Parrish, Chris Jenner and Tom Wilbeck refused to provide approval for a $15,000-plus cost overrun for the remodeling of the ceramics lab, the Board will have a special meeting tomorrow at 10:15. Normally, the … Continue reading

Fight in the Offing about Whether to Hike MCC Property Taxes or Keep Them Flat

McHenry County College taxpayers might get a break next year. After MCC Chief Financial Officer Bob Tenuta gave his report on next year’s budget, discussion indicated that several new Board members are thinking about asking for the same amount from … Continue reading

McHenry County College Board Rejects 2.82% Raise for Administrators

The McHenry County College Board deadlocked on a motion to increase the salaries of administrators by 2.82% Thursday night. Previously, administrators were shopping around a 3.7% increase. That would have been the 1.7% increase in the Consumer Price Index, upon … Continue reading