Following up on a simple support statement for Rep. David McSweeney’s bill to allow abolition of township governments in McHenry County by referendum, the Better Government Association has issued the following letter sent to the McHenry County Board last week:
Amazing. I wonder if $100 Million in projected savings is enough data to satisfy Steve Reick’s need for “a study.”
We don’t need another taxpayer-funded study. We need action. EVERY TOWNSHIP should have this referendum on the ballot next year. PERIOD.
Reick’s last ‘study’ involved consulting a retired Woodstock teacher (longterm Woodstock property tax rates above 4% tell all one needs to know about obscene compensation packages at Woodstock D200).
Result: Reick championed a bill creating even larger burden on Woodstock taxpayers, making it easy for ‘retired’ teachers (age 53, free health insurance, pension-spiked annuities intact) to double dip working at Illinois schools.
The point is, that ‘studies’ are made to order. the study tends to find whatever the politicians desire it find.
Abolishing townships should now be a choice.
When it turns out badly we can work on abolishing corrupt County government.
In Seneca Township, assessments have held about 10% higher than assessment in Dorr Township.
In a practical sense, this has resulted in under-assessed Dorr Township homeowners championing grotesque spending supported by emotions (teacher/public commentor at Facility Review school board meeting saying ‘I would be glad to give up a latte a week to keep Dean St. school open (as is)…”)
backstory: Woodstock D200 school buildings’ enrollments range from 20% of enrollment capacity at the low end, to 60% at the mean and median.
a Facility Review Committee, comprised of mostly D200 employees, determined that the school board should be presented with a choice of closing Dean School building to its current 60%-of-capacity enrollment, because $2.2 million of taxpayer money is required to keep this building up to code according to paid consultants.
this FRC passed a vote by simple majority but not SUPER majority that Clay Academy building should be closed.
the school board decided to bundle the 2 issues, but when faced with the ClaySt. Building issue declined to discuss the problem.
The problem:
Clay Academy is a special needs school which officials insist must be housed in a separated building.
Clay Building enrollment capacity is 325, the enrollment is at 70 (up from 40).
the Enrollment of Clay Academy at time of FRC was 85% OUT-OF-DISTRICT-STUDENTS
That is, only 15% of CLAY ACADEMY ENROLLMENT WAS STUDENTS FOR WHOM TAXPAYERS OF THIS DISTRICT ARE RESPONSIBLE.
By Illinois Law, tuition rates are fixed by formula.
The tuition which OTHER DISTRICTS’ TAXPAYERS PAY IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO COVERING THE COST OF HOSTING THESE STUDENTS AT WOODSTOCK D200.
Therefore, Woodstock D200 taxpayers must pay the following in order to maintain the staff of nearly 40 at Clay Academy, which are claimed as necessary to maintain an enrollment of 59 out-of district students and only 11 D200 students.
1. $2.2 million “life and safety ‘ expenses + Wold Architects’ fees to maintain Clay building.
(That amount would pay for our students’ tuition under the same formula for 6 2/3 years).
2. Exterior maintenance. FRC was shown that Exterior Maintenance budget for Woodstock D200 buildings is over $2 million per year.
there are 12 buildings.
$2 million divided by 12 is $166,000 per year.
Even if one recognizes that some buildings are larger, it is hard to reduce the affiliated cost for Clay below $50,000 per year.
divide that by 11 D200 students = $4545 more per year we must pay for each of our own students so that other-district-taxpayers may get the discount, in order to keep a staff of 40 employed.
3. OPEB guarantees. Not many people are aware of OPEB: Other Post Employment Benefits which are the direct obligation of local taxpayers.
All the employees at Clay Academy who are there FOR BENEFIT OF OTHER_DISTRICTS’ – TAXAYERS- DISCOUNT get guaranteed health insurance premiums paid by WOODSTOCK D200 TAXPAYERS from the time the retire (WITH PENSION SPIKES, GUARANTEED BY CONTRACT).
4. LIABILITY. ALL the liability for OTHER DISTRICTS’ STUDENTS falls to Woodstock D200 taxpayers.
5. PENSION GUARANTEES. Pension guarantee burden has shifted due to new Illinois school funding law.
WOODSTOCK TAXPAYERS ARE ON THE HOOK to guarantee certain benefit entitlements for D200 employees.
THAT INCLUDES D200 EMPLOYEES WHO ARE EMPLOYED FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF EDUCATING OTHER DISTRICTS’ STUDENTS.
Seneca Township homeowners should vote to abolish Seneca Township for no other reason than:
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If we are absorbed into the Dorr assessor or County Assessor, our assessments, and therefore our overall property tax, will drop significantly.
When Dorr Township properties must therefore be assessed higher (closer to fair value), then the public dialog as to who should ‘give up a latte’ might be very different.
get the names of the rats on the county board that tried to protect the township crooks. They must go!
BGA would like all that money in the municipalities that it represents.
Add population to the cities and villages, maybe every village can be home rule!