CHICAGO- Two lawsuits were filed today in Illinois by disgruntled taxpayers and Taxpayers United of America (TUA). The suits attack the way in which the property tax increase referenda were placed on the April 5th ballot in Oak Park School District 97 and in Riverside-Brookfield District 208. Both of those districts as well as at least 8 other districts miscalculated the amount of the property tax increase resulting in a much lower amount than is actually the case.
“This lawsuit is meant to send a strong message to public employees and their unions that electioneering cannot be conducted on taxpayer dime,” said Tony Peraica, former Cook County Commissioner and plaintiff for the Riverside-Brookfield lawsuit. “As taxpayers, we must hold our elected officials accountable. When union or political activity is done on taxpayer paid time, it is important that those who violated the law are held responsible.” Read more →
CHICAGO–The President of Illinois’ largest taxpayer organization condemned Gov. Patrick Quinn (D) for bribing former St. Rep. Careen Gordon (D-Morris) in order to secure her vote for his huge, 67% increase in the state personal income tax.
Her Yes vote gave Quinn the minimum 60 votes needed to pass the $7 billion income tax increase, most of which will go to fund million dollar pension benefits for greedy government employees, like those from LaSalle County.
“This revelation by the Chicago Tribune on January 22, that after securing Gordon’s Yes vote, Quinn gave Gordon a new $86,000-a-year state job, shows how corrupt the state government truly is,” said Jim Tobin, President of National Taxpayers United of Illinois (NTUI).
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Illinois taxpayers achieved a huge victory with the passage in the Illinois house of a bill that would require property-tax increase referendum language to more accurately describe the potential cost to property owners, according to the Vice President of Taxpayers United of Illinois (TUA).
“This is a big, big victory for taxpayers,” said Christina Tobin, TUA Vice President. “It passed without a single ‘No’ vote in the Illinois House last week. The bill now moves to the Illinois Senate, where chief sponsor, President Pro Tempore Don Harmon (D-39, Oak Park) expects it to pass.”
“Our organization spearheaded the effort to bring attention to the misleading referendum wording of some Chicago suburbs,” said Tobin. “We are gratified that our hard work paid off.”
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