McHenry County Board Chairman is trying a second time to make Lake in the Hills County Board Democrat a committee chairman. Paula Yensen was nominated by Franks to head the Public Health Committee, but a majority of Republicans on the … Continue reading
Here is McHenry County’s reply to a Freedom of Information request from Woodstock’s Susan Handelsman. Her question was Please supply the written rules and protocol for hiring practices as they relate to publicly posting job openings and conducting applicant interviews. … Continue reading
After reading that the Lakewood SportsPlex people are seeking financing from the United States Department of Agriculture for a newly-revisioned version being called a “Community Center,” Woodstock School District 200 candidate sent the following email to Department officials: To: samuel.rikkers … Continue reading
From Woodstock School Board candidate Susan Handelsman: December 20 meeting at Woodstock High School PLEASE NOTE MY MATH ERROR, WHICH OCCURRED TO ME LATE LAST NIGHT: $204 of cash annual saving, and $204 of home value depreciation savings annually, and … Continue reading
Woodstock’s Susan Handelsman, now a candidate for the District 200 School Board, urges readers to contact to their llinois legislators and Governor Bruce Rauner in opposition to the General Assembly’s extension of the alreay 23-year Tax Increment Financing District is … Continue reading
From Woodstock resident Susan Handelsman: HISTORICAL OVERVIEW 10 years ago d200 borrowed over $100 million to build three new schools. 3,300 of new enrollment capacity was created. In the ensuing years there has been no growth in enrollment, but we … Continue reading
Here are comments sent to Woodstock School Board members in which Susan Handelsman urges the District 200 School Board to oppose the twelve year extension of the Downtown Tax Increment Financing District: Woodstock CUSD 200 Board of Education Members: Woodstock … Continue reading
usan Handlesman fills readers in on Woodstock School District 200 Facilities Committee recommendations: D200 Facility Review Committee (physical building review) Recommendations of our committee: Close Clay Academy Dean Street School Northwoods School and consolidate those students into remaining elementary and … Continue reading
The lead watchdog of Woodstock School District 200, Susan Handlesman, writes of the Woodstock D200 Facility Review Committee meeting held Monday night: I attended the second Facility Review Committee meeting last night. The first meeting was attended by a 9-1 … Continue reading
From Woodstock’s Susan Handelsman: UPDATE ON TAX RATE OBJECTION LAWSUIT AGAINST WOODSTOCK D200 1. Attorney Tim Dwyer is filing a tax objection, and plaintiffs have until late October to join the suit. Recovery amount for each plaintiff is expected to … Continue reading
Taxpayers in Woodstock District 200 are invited to a meeting about paying taxes under protest. The details are below: TAX OBJECTION LAWSUIT against Woodstock D200 Attorney Tim Dwyer will explain issues and Woodstock field questions from prospective plaintiffs: Friday September … Continue reading
An email from Woodstock’s Susan Handelsman: Invitation to join Tax Objection lawsuit against Woodstock D200 Woodstock IL has a property tax rate of 4.6% of total home fair market value. That is staggering when compared with mortgage interest rates below … Continue reading
I have had my problems with internet documents posted by both McHenry County College and McHenry County government They posted documents which could not be searched. MCC was “afraid” someone might copy them and, then, alter them. The documents also … Continue reading
From Governor Bruce Rauner: Statement from Governor Rauner on Property Tax Bills  SPRINGFIELD – Governor Rauner issued the following statement as many homeowners throughout Illinois face a deadline today to pay property taxes: “Illinois residents are being hit with record … Continue reading
Chicago Reader’s Ben Joravsky’s take on Chicago Tax Increment Financing Districts: “As you know, TIFs are, in effect, a surcharge added to your property tax. “The proceeds are used to pay for pretty much anything the mayor wants.” He adds … Continue reading
Rural Woodstock resident Susan Handelsman has calculated how much the Randall Road project would cost if all of it came from our property taxes. The cost of Randall Road project will exceed 1.43% of EAV (of taxable property in the … Continue reading
Susan Handelsman, who regularly attends the Valley Hi Nursing Home’s Operating Board meetings, left the following long comment under my story about the consultant’s report last week. I think it will add to the discussion of what to do with … Continue reading
Rural Woodstock resident Susan Handelsman put the following together after reading about some of State Rep. Jack Franks’ bills. Tax Relief Bills Won’t Approach Solving the Problem Political proposals for property tax relief seem to focus on temporary freezes, along … Continue reading
The following extensive analysis was performed by Susan Handlesman of rural Woodstock: It came from her analysis of the model created by Scott Hartman, which appears below: Valley Hi analysis of outcomes GIVEN: VH has $43 million in the bank. … Continue reading
Susan Handelsman, the woman who brought the issue of Woodstock School District taxpayers being forced to subsidize children living in future low cost housing in Lakewood’s Tax Increment Financing District near Routes 47 and 176, has penned a critique of … Continue reading
