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Chicago – Government bureaucrats in Wayne, White, and Edwards Counties have placed referenda on the November 4, 2014 ballot for voters to approve a 1% sales tax to supplement school funding. According to Taxpayers United of America (TUA), if passed, this new tax will do more harm than good.
“Adding new taxes is that last thing we need in Illinois,” stated Jim Tobin, president of TUA.
“This new sales tax will drive customers away to do business in lower tax counties. Times are hard right now with local unemployment around 7%. People can’t afford higher taxes. It’s time for government to solve the problems of debt and over-spending.”
“80% of local taxes go to pay government employees’ salaries and benefits. This tax increase is not for the children; it is for the lavish pensions and higher than average salaries of the government employees.”
“By allocating this 1% sales tax to buildings and maintenance, it frees up money to ensure government teachers and administrators can make so much more than the taxpayers who foot the bills.”
“Illinois’ pension plans are in the worst shape of all states in the country. We simply can’t afford to pay so many to retire at such young ages. In many cases, these government retirees get paid for more years not to work than they actually worked, while the average taxpayer will have to work until they drop.”
We are helping local activists to fight this referendum. For copies of our ‘vote no flyer’, click here:

Or call our office and we can mail copies to you.
To view the pension grids for these counties, click here:

“Raising taxes during tough economic times is bad for businesses and taxpayers. We have to stop their futile attempt to tax their way out of this problem.”
“Take a look at retired Norris City-Omaha-Enfield SD employee, James D. Price of White County. He gets a very comfortable annual pension of $118,314 that will accumulate to a stunning $3.6 million over a normal lifetime. His personal contribution to that payout is only about 2.7% and he retired at the age of only 56!”
“Gilbert D. Hanneken retired from Wayne County’s Fairfield SD112 at the ripe old age of 57 and gets a healthy annual pension of $127,803 that will accumulate to an eye popping, $3,938,497 over a normal lifetime.”
“These examples represent the highest pensions in the three counties looking to impose a new tax, but no ‘civil servant’ who relies on taxpayers to fund their retirement should be able to retire at relatively youthful ages.”
“The taxpayers of Wayne, Edwards, and White Counties are struggling to keep their heads above water. The median household income in this area is about $40,000 a year. Enough is enough already. Let the government bureaucrats take the pay cut this time.”
“When the funding from the state to the local school districts decreases, spending should be cut accordingly. In many cases, the revenue decreases because the schools’ enrollment decreases. Expenses should stay in line with declining enrollment.”
“Illinois currently has more than 11,054 annual state pensions over $100,000 and more than 78,526 government pensions over $50,000 a year. It is mathematically impossible to raise enough taxes to sustain the defunct state pension system and yet every unit of government continues to try.”
“I urge everyone in White, Edwards, and Wayne Counties to vote no November 4, 2014 on this money grab by greedy government bureaucrats!”