Governor Amendatorily Vetoes Marengo Rescue Squad Referendum Tax Hike Bill, Says Taxpayers Should Be Able to Cut Taxes, Too

Governor Bruce Rauner today amendatorily vetoed Senate Bill 2297 sponsored by State Senator Pam Althoff and State Rep. Steve Reick to allow voters to cut as well as raise taxes. As originally passed, the bill would have authorized putting on … Continue reading

The Silence of the Franks

Jack Franks as State Representative and McHenry County Board Chairman has posed as a strong supporter of consolidation of governments. Let’s take a look at his record on the subject. Franks lives in the Marengo area where, probably the only … Continue reading

Fire Protection District Taxation

Here’s what Fire Protection Districts have been taxing for the last two years: Fire Protection District INCR / DECR INCR / DECR 2015 – 2014 2014 – 2013 IN TOTAL TAX IN TOTAL TAX BARRINGTON COUNTRY ($24,849.10) $55,835.84 RICHMOND ($3,813.48) … Continue reading

Marengo Parade Bands, Pols…Ending with a Big Bang – Part 1

The weather for the Settlers Days Parade was perfect. The temperature was in the 70’s. There wasn’t much wind. I plunked my lawn chair down at the corner across from Brandt’s Pharmacy. It was also, for the first time, really … Continue reading

Comparing This Year’s Fire Protection Taxes with Last Year’s

Below the total tax requests from Fire Protection Districts in McHenry County for last year are compared to the ones which will be reflected in the real estate tax bills about to arrive in people’s mailboxes: The Barrington Countryside Fire … Continue reading