Taxpayers Win Big in April 9 Election!

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Chicago – Taxpayers United of America (TUA) helped local activists defeat 4 more property tax increase referenda. This makes our Illinois property tax increase referenda victories 197! We were also successful in 2 of 3 Home Rule battles. We have effectively helped taxpayers beat down 200 Home Rule referenda in our 37 years of operation!
“Taxpayers are the big winners anytime Home Rule is defeated. Home Rule communities always have higher taxes and that is the message that resonated with South Chicago Heights and Anna voters yesterday,” stated Jim Tobin, president of TUA.
Itasca SD 10 put out a full marketing blitz to try and blur the new requirement that ballot language include the actual property tax increase. But thanks to our coordinated efforts with local activists, we were able to educate the voters who soundly defeated the referendum 1,107 to 743.”
McClellan CCSD 12 gave their government school bureaucrats a resounding ‘NO’ on a property tax increase referendum with a vote of 140 to 76. Taxpayers in Mt. Vernon simply can’t support a property tax increase when they have been hit so hard economically. They insist that government school bureaucrats tighten their belts and stop expecting taxpayers to take yet another hit.”
“McHenry County taxpayers won bigger than most. They defeated a referendum, 20,562 to 11,075, that would have actually added an entirely new taxing authority to reach into the wallets of McHenry County residents. But these big government bureaucrats met tremendous opposition thanks to local activist, Bob Anderson, founder of McHenry Citizens TaxWatch. This well organized opposition also defeated a move, 4,273 to 2,378, by McHenry HSD 156 to spend $2.2 million in bond surplus rather than return it to the taxpayers making this a double win for the taxpayers in the district.”
“McHenry Citizens TaxWatch also coordinated efforts with us to elect Tax Accountability (TA) endorsed candidate, Chris Jenner and his running mate, Thomas Wilbeck to the McHenry County College Board. With records as fiscal watchdogs, Jenner and Wilbeck will serve McHenry County taxpayers and students, rather than special interests that seek to grow empires by creating jobs – and pensions – for their cronies.”
“Libertyville trustee candidate, Phil Collins, who was endorsed by TA won a very close race for that seat. Libertyville now has at least one ‘liberty’ focused trustee in Phil who pledges to protect taxpayers from irresponsible spending and increased taxation.”
“The most important politics are local and the message that voters sent to municipal leaders yesterday is that they want a say in tax increases and aren’t willing to give government bureaucrats a blank check to pay for empire building.”
“Our fight for smaller, more responsible government is going to be won at the local level and we, TUA, are there on the ground with activists across the state to beat down the expansion of taxing authority and incessant property tax increases. We educate people on the reality of expanding taxing authority through home rule and what property tax increases are really used for, and we give them the tools they need to defeat the increases. In some cities, we are the only voice of opposition to the government rhetoric that is unchallenged and regurgitated by many media.”
“Thanks to our research, people aren’t being fooled any longer; they know that 80% of local taxes go to pay salaries and benefits, including gold plated pensions. Voters in these communities sent a loud and clear message that they want spending cuts without tax increases and they want to throw out the tax-and-spend incumbents.”

Taxpayers Fight Back on Local Tax Increases

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Chicago – Illinois taxpayers are fighting local tax expansion and increase referenda with the help of Taxpayers United of America (TUA). TUA is helping activists in Itasca SD 10 and McClellan CCSD 12 to defeat property tax increase referenda; Country Club Hills to repeal Home Rule, and in South Chicago Heights and Anna to stop Home Rule.
“Taxpayers are making it clear that they have had enough of Illinois’ tax increases and expanding taxation power through Home Rule tax authority,” stated Jim Tobin, president of TUA.
“We are winning the battle at the local level – where people still have a voice in their government. People are overwhelmingly saying no to property tax increases and expanding taxing authority through Home Rule. Taxpayers are frustrated that they have no control at the state or federal level, and are making sure that they send a message to their local governments that they have had enough.”
“Since we won ballot language battle requiring property tax increase referenda to state the actual amount of tax increase, government bureaucrats have a more difficult time tricking people into approving property tax increases. We have seen an unprecedented decrease in the number of government school property tax increase referenda on the April 9 ballot.”
“Taxpayers are also more aware of the power grab that bureaucrats try to perpetrate through Home Rule taxation. Activists in Country Club Hills have placed a referendum to repeal Home Rule taxing authority and support for repeal is in their favor. Their initiative comes on the heels of successful Home Rule repeal referendum in Westmont, the first successful Illinois Home Rule repeal in 29 years.”
“We have been working hard to educate taxpayers on the truth about Home Rule tax authority. Taxpayers understand that it is just a power grab by local politicians who are trying to build empires through increased taxation. Home Rule always means higher taxes and people are tired of being abused in this manner. We expect Country Club Hills to successfully repeal Home Rule because residents see this for what it is – a way to sustain the high pay and pensions that the government bureaucrats give themselves. They understand that 80% of local taxes, including the 1.25% Home Rule sales tax increase, go to fund lavish salaries and benefits for the government elite.”
“We are also assisting taxpayers in Anna, IL and South Chicago Heights where local politicians are trying to increase their taxing authority by placing Home Rule on the April 9 ballot. Taxpayers can easily defeat this attempt to recoup state and federal tax dollars that have been cut. Tax and spenders must think that voters are stupid. If there isn’t enough money at the state and federal level, why do they think taxpayers will give more at the local level?”
“TUA is helping activists in Itasca School District 10, where bureaucrats are seeking a $650 annual property tax increase. Itasca bureaucrats are so desperate to fool voters that they have developed charts, graphs, documents, and videos to make the property tax increase appear to be one third of what it will actually be! Taxpayers won’t be fooled though; local government needs to get the message that taxpayers expect government to cut spending.”
“A property tax increase referendum is also on the ballot in McClellan CCSD 12. Bureaucrats in this school district are trying to pass a $271 annual increase in property taxes. The state has cut funding based on the decreased number of students enrolled in CCSD 12, so why wouldn’t the administration cut spending based on the number of students enrolled?”
“Taxpayers across the state have had enough and are winning the fight against unlimited taxation. They felt powerless when their state income taxes increased by 67% and their Social Security taxes increased by 44%, but they know they are not powerless to stop these increases at the local level. Government bureaucrats expect taxpayers to take additional pay cuts in order support their own lavish pay, premium benefits, and gold-plated pensions in jobs that offer nearly iron-clad security.”
Follow these links to print Vote No Flyers to help defeat tax-increase referenda in your community: