Suit Filed to Challenge Wilmette's April 5th Property Tax Increase Referendum



On May 16, 2011 a law suit was filed by Herbert Sorock, a property tax payer in Wilmette, and Taxpayers United of America (TUA), one of the largest taxpayer organizations in America.  The suit filed against the Wilmette School Board District 39 and its members, challenges the legality of the ballot used in the April 5th election.  The referendum question failed to include the State multiplier in calculating the estimated property tax increase, thereby understating that increase by at least two-thirds of the actual amount.
The suit alleges the Board and its members knew before the election that the estimated tax increase was understated, but decided to go forward with the referendum regardless.  Wilmette and at least nine other school districts understated the property tax increase by failing to include the equalizer applicable to all Cook County property tax bills. Read more

Court to Decide Whether to Restrain Oak Park Property Tax Increase

On May 24, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. Judge Mary Mikva will hear and determine whether a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction should be issued against Oak Park School District 97 and its individual members to enjoin them from attempting to collect the new property tax increase approved by the voters on April 5, 2011.  The hearing will be at the Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, Room 2508.
Noel Kuriakos, an Oak Park property tax payer, and Taxpayers United of America, one of the largest taxpayer organizations in America, filed a lawsuit against the School Board and its members on April 26, 2011, challenging the legality of the ballot used in the April 5th election.  The referendum question failed to include the State multiplier in calculating the estimated increase, thereby understating that increase by at least two-thirds of the actual increase. Read more

Taxpayers: Block Destructive and Unwanted Peotone Airport Boondoggle

CHICAGO–The President of Taxpayers United of America (TUA) today urged Ill. House Speaker Michael Madigan (D) and Ill. Senate President John Cullerton (D) to do whatever is necessary to block the $110 million item that Gov. Patrick Quinn (D) slipped into the state budget for acquiring land for a proposed airport in Peotone.
“The state is spending recklessly and should not be borrowing money for projects that taxpayers don’t want, that the state can’t afford, and which are destructive in nature,” said Jim Tobin, TUA President. “This is a boondoggle designed to benefit only politically connected contractors, bond brokers and attorneys associated with the project.” Read more