Red Light Camera Tax To Be Reigned In

By on February 27, 2020   /   IL, Illinois, jim tobin, Latest, Referenda  
Red Light Camera

A bi-partisan bill recently passed the Illinois House of Representatives that would ban red light cameras in non-Home Rule municipalities. The bill passed 84-4 on Wednesday and will now move to the Illinois Senate.

“Banning unreliable red-light cameras in non-Home Rule municipalities is a win for taxpayers, but Springfield can do better,” said Matthew Schultz, Executive Director of Taxpayers United of America (TUA). “The primary function of red-light cameras is to steal money from taxpayers with an indirect tax. If the bill becomes law, bureaucrats in non-Home Rule municipalities will be barred from imposing this tax.

“In fact,” added Schultz, “This provides a stronger reason for taxpayers to reject Home Rule in the March 17 election.”

“As TUA founder and President Jim Tobin has always said, Home Rule means home ruin. With Home Rule, local bureaucrats can run wild with tax increases.  Home Rule means bureaucrats are no longer  limited on how high property taxes can be increased; it robs taxpayers of the right to directly vote on tax increases; it puts a municipality on the path of creating a municipal income tax, and may be the only way a local government can introduce red light cameras.”

“Taxpayers need to reject Home Rule referenda and the upcoming state income tax increase in the election on November 3. Local and state governments need to learn to live within their means like taxpayers. The only way for taxpayers to get that message across is to defeat these huge tax increase measures whenever they are on the ballot.”

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Glenview Taxpayers Mobilize Against $119,000,000 Property Tax Increase

By on February 26, 2020   /   IL, Illinois, jim tobin, Latest  
glenview
glenview

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Click HERE to view Glenview vote no flyer.

Taxpayers in Glenview, IL, are mobilizing to defeat a massive property tax increase benefitting Glenview School District 34. Glenview SD34 demands from Glenview taxpayers a $119 million property tax increase which is on their March 17 ballot.

The $119 million does not include interest that is also paid with property taxes.

“Bond issues always result in property tax increases,” said Jim Tobin, president of Taxpayers United of America (TUA). “I have fought property tax increases for over 40 years, and won 432 taxpayer referenda victories against tax thieves.”

“Eighty percent of local taxes go to salaries and benefits of government employees, and taxes now support much of the lavish, gold-plated pensions they receive. If Glenview SD 34 reigned in exorbitant government employee payouts, they wouldn’t need a property tax increase.”

“Taxpayers are always shocked when they are told just how much government school employees get after retirement, especially when they realize it’s their income and property taxes that are subsidizing the luxurious lifestyles of former government employees.”

“For example, William Attea retired from Glenview SD34 at age 57, and currently gets an astounding annual pension of $225,989. He has received, to date, $4,088,864. His estimated lifetime pension payout is $4,547,622.”

“Another example is Dorothy Weber, who retired from Glenview SD34 at age 57, and currently gets an annual pension of $217,958. Her estimated lifetime pension payout is $5,813,396.”

“Instead of throwing a property tax increase on already overburdened taxpayers, Glenview SD34 officials should instead reign in their spending. Glenview taxpayers should reject the $119,000,000 property tax increase on March 17.”

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ILLINOIS’ ONLY HOPE MAY BE BANKRUPTCY

By on December 3, 2019   /   Illinois, jim tobin, Latest  

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A recent article by Mark Glennon of Wirepoints states that turning Illinois around is vital to the national economy. Illinois is a drag on the national economy, and the state’s GDP has lagged the nation’s significantly for ten years. According to Glennon, “A federal bailout is happening automatically, at least in a small sense, in the form of food stamps, housing assistance, Medicaid and similar programs. A fresh start for Illinois would reduce its federal tab for those costs and grow Illinois’ tax base for federal revenue.”

For a state to formally go bankrupt, the U. S. Congress would have to pass legislation enabling that. In Illinois’ case, Glennon thinks Congress would.

David Skeel, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania who also serves on Puerto Rico’s oversight board wrote that the “constitutionality of bankruptcy-for-states is beyond serious dispute.”

Congress would only be offering states the option of using bankruptcy, just as it has already done for municipalities; nothing would be forced on states.

As for the left’s fear that the power of bankruptcy would reduce pension payments, the Bankruptcy Code would not be expanded “as is” to states. Changes would be made on which all sides could find common ground. For example, a bankrupt government can opt to keep or renegotiate whatever labor contracts it has.

As for bondholders, says Glennon, one should “shed no tears for existing bondholders. They took the risk that bankruptcy law could be changed to impact them.”

“It’s becoming clear that there is no long-term alternative,” said Jim Tobin, president of Taxpayers United of America (TUA). “As Glennon points out, “This isn’t about whether bankruptcy is a good option. It’s about whether it’s the only option.”

“Illinois is functionally bankrupt,” said Tobin, “and the cause is runaway government employee pensions with unfunded liabilities so huge that it is mathematically impossible for the state and its municipalities to tax their way out of this financial black hole.”

“Illinois is the nation’s extreme outlier when it comes to pension shortfalls. The state has a $241 billion shortfall in its five state-run pension funds. Illinois’ pension shortfalls equal 28 percent of the state’s GDP. Illinois’ death spiral gets worse and worse, and bankruptcy for the state looks more and more desirable.”

“While we’re waiting for this drastic measure, the state of Illinois can help its citizens by passing a law to enable all local governments to declare bankruptcy. It also should cut state taxes to stimulate its sluggish economy.”

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