Coal City warned that home rule is 'home ruin'

Will County Gazette covers TUA opposing Coal City’s home rule referendum on April 4th.


Everything from property taxes to groceries and parking could cost more if Coal City voters pass a home rule referendum on April 4, a non-profit advocacy group is warning in a flier.
Chicago-based Taxpayers United of America (TUA) warned that home rule would allow the city to impose new taxes and raise the pay of local officials without voter input.
“I like to call it home ruin,” TUA President Jim Tobin said. “Home rule always means higher taxes because it removes the cap limiting the amount that bureaucrats can increase property taxes. It gives bureaucrats a blank check, and how many government bureaucrats would you trust with a blank check bearing your signature?”
The TUA flier also said that 80 percent of local taxes were used for government employees’ salaries and benefits. It listed the top 10 annual salaries in Coal City, with Village Administrator Matthew Fritz’s $96,465 at the top and police officer Matthew Dillon’s $65,550 salary at No. 10.
The TUA flier was addressed to seven communities voting on home rule or property tax increases. The group is urging residents in Lynwood to also vote against home rule and voters in Berwyn, Evanston, Hinsdale and Oak Park to vote down property tax hikes.

Tax Accountability Endorses Magnificent Seven Republican McHenry Township Candidates

Tax Accountability, the political action arm of Taxpayers United of America, is proud to endorse the Magnificent Seven Republican McHenry Township candidates for the April 4 election. Springfield has made Illinois a financial mess, but Illinoisans must also stay vigilant in local politics to reduce tax burdens and government waste.
Tax Accountability endorses:
Trustees – Bob Anderson, Mike Rakestraw, Bill Cunningham, & Stan Wojewski
Supervisor – Steve Verr
Clerk – Dan Aylward
Highway Commissioner – Steve Koerber
“These seven candidates have been tireless advocates for taxpayers and tax relief as longtime residents and activists,” said president of Tax Accountability, Jim Tobin. “When elected, the Magnificent Seven Republican McHenry Township candidates will continue to champion the principles of property tax relief and better government. Tax Accountability is proud to endorse these tax fighters for the April 4 election.”
Jim Tobin
President
Tax Accountability
Taxpayers United of America
205 W. Randolph St. Suite 1305
Chicago, IL 60606

Taxpayers Oppose 7 Property Tax Increase Referenda April 4

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Chicago – Government bureaucrats want voters to approve seven property tax increase referenda on the April 4, 2017 ballot, but Taxpayers United of America’s (TUA) president, Jim Tobin, says opposing these measures is best for residents concerned with their skyrocketing property taxes, their homes, and their livelihood.
“Whether the proposal to voters is to enact home rule, which gives unlimited taxing authority to local bureaucrats, or to issue tens of millions of dollars in new bonds and raise property taxes, taxpayers in these six communities must reject these seven referenda on the April 4 ballot to avoid disastrous increases to their property tax bills,” said Tobin.
TUA and local supporters are opposing two home rule referenda in Lynwood and Coal City and government school property tax increase referenda in Berwyn, Evanston, Hinsdale, and Oak Park.
You can download PDFs of our ‘Vote No’ flyers below for printing and distribution.

“On November 4, 2014, sixty percent of voters rejected the last attempt by government bureaucrats to impose home rule on the taxpayers of Lynwood,” said Tobin. “Taxpayers should overwhelming defeat home rule unlimited taxing authority in Lynwood again, and the residents of Coal City must reject it, too.”
According to Taxpayers United of America (TUA), home rule means higher taxes.
“I like to call it ‘home ruin,’” said Tobin. “Why would anyone want to give up their right to vote on property tax increases?”
“Home rule always means higher taxes because it removes the cap limiting the amount that bureaucrats can increase property taxes. It gives bureaucrats a blank check and how many government bureaucrats would you trust with a blank check bearing your signature?”
“Home rule also gives local government authority to tax nearly any product or service they want. What they don’t tell you is that such taxation drives consumers to neighboring communities where the taxes on products and services are lower.”
“Berwyn South SD 100 collected $13.3 million in property taxes last year and seeks to increase property taxes by seventeen percent to steal another $2.2 million from taxpayers,” said Tobin. “Voters have overwhelmingly rejected referenda to raise their property taxes for the government schools as recently as 2014.”
Evanston/Skokie CCSD 65 is seeking to increase property taxes by $450 annually and the board of Education of Hinsdale Township HSD 86 wants to issue $76 million in new bonds, raising property taxes by more than $450 annually, which doesn’t include future property tax hikes to pay $24 million in interest.
Oak Park SD 97 has two referenda on the ballot this year, asking voters to raise their property taxes by $13.3 million and issue new bonds totaling $57.5 million. The two referenda will spike the property tax bill of an average homeowner by more than $700 annually.
“Illinois has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country. You have to wonder how many people could have stayed in their homes if the property taxes weren’t so high – the highest property taxes in the country,” said Tobin.
“TUA has defeated 420 local tax increase referenda since 1977. We urge voters in these six communities to tell bureaucrats that they have had enough of government living beyond its means at the expense of taxpayers. Voters should urge their fellow taxpayers to Vote No.”
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 4.