The story line for Chicago Sun-Times columnist Carol Marin was that backbenchers like David McSweeney and Jack Franks (pictured with McSweeney’s hands on his back and chest) ought to revolt and solve the budget problem in Springfield. But, apparently after … Continue reading
Category Archives: Tax Hike
State Rep. Jack Franks introduced a massive tax hike bill Friday. Its number is House Bill 4300. Here is how the Legislative Digest describes it: BIMP-REVENUE whatever that means. Here’s what the Illinois Manufacturers Association says it does: Note that … Continue reading
Found this on WTTW on Monday, August 24th: “’Tax loopholes’: it’s a nebulous phrase that often gets tossed around, but nobody really knows what it entails. “Chicago Tonight has learned that a new bill will be filed, perhaps this week, … Continue reading
in the past, I’ve tried to let people how what Tax Increment Financing Districts affect their tax bills. That’s why I am printing what the Monday Chicago Sun-Times editorial said on the subject. Its context is the impact on the … Continue reading
Responding to a Democratic Party amendment that would freeze property taxes, retiring State Rep. Mike Tryon asked sponsor John Bradley if he had talked to Governor Bruce Rauner. While the language was the same as the Governor’s Bradley, admitted that … Continue reading
The Woodstock City Council has asked the Census Bureau to count its citizens again. In 2010, the city had 24,770 people. Those in power wanted 25,000. That’s because once a municipality gets to 25,000 population, it automatically receives all sorts … Continue reading
The River East Library Board put a referendum on the ballot Tuesday. It passed.56% to 44%. Here are the precinct results: The question on the ballot follows: … Continue reading
The McHenry County Conservation has found a way to get more money than it would have been able to otherwise. It will still be within the tax cap’s limit, but until Senate Bill 345 was passed, the amount MCCD was … Continue reading
When McHenry County Blog first reported on referendums local tax districts had scheduled for the April election, there was only one. Now there are three: Village of Spring Grove – Proposition to increase extension limitation to 0.214% River East Public Library … Continue reading
Reader Susan’s mind is really occupied with Senate Bill 3341, the legislation successfully sponsored by State Senators Pam Althoff and Karen McConnaughay in the upper house and State Representative Mike Tryon in the lower house. Here is her comparison of … 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
Commentary from State Senator Pam Althoff: Senate Bill 3341 gives McHenry County Conservation District more budget flexibility Improving fiscal management in Illinois has always been a top priority for me. I continue to fight for long-term budget solutions and sound … Continue reading
Tax districts are infamous for putting tax hike referendums on the ballot when the fewest people vote. The Fox Lake Fire Protection District has lived up to that expectation, according to the McHenry County Clerk’s web site. On April 7, … Continue reading
Add McHenry Elementary School District 15 to that list of tax districts planning to take as much money out of local taxpayers’ pockets as state law allows. The legal publication for the public hearing about the proposed levy said the … Continue reading
On a 9-1 vote, McHenry County State Rep. Mike Tryon has moved Senate Bill 3341, the bill to allow the McHenry County Conservation District to borrow money without a referendum, from the House Revenue Committee. That will, of course, lead … Continue reading
Should have caught this sooner. The Village of Bull Valley and the River East Public Library District are asking voter permission to bump their tax rates way up. Look at the ballot question in Bull Valley first: Bull Valley is … Continue reading
In a comment under the story “New MCC Trustee Deciding Vote on Tax Hike,” former Trustee Tom Wilbeck challenges his replacement Mike Smith’s unwillingness to say he will freeze the levy> You can go to the comment under the story … Continue reading
The McHenry County College Board was split 4-3 last year on whether or not to collect the same amount of money this year as the year before. Since then tax fighter Tom Wilbeck has moved slightly out of the district, … Continue reading
A press release from Republican candidate for State Representative Steve Reick: Steve Reick Calls Out Jack Franks for Voting to Hike a Tax A press release from Steve Reick, the Republican candidate for State Representative against incumbent Jack Franks: Reick … Continue reading
I was going to get up early Thursday to attend the McHenry County Board’s Legislative Committee re-consideration of endorsement resolutions of Pam Althoff’s two bills to allow the Conservation District to raise taxes (one needing voter referendum approval, one not). … Continue reading