Stop Oak Park and River Forest District 200 from Raising Our Property Taxes on December 20!

Brought to you by:  Protect District 200 Property Taxpayers
Barb Langer, Ph.D., Founder and Barry Epstein, Ph.D., CPA, Forensic Accountant
Contact:  NoNewTax@att.net

The Board of Education (BOE) for Oak Park-River Forest High School (OPRFHS) District 200 (D200) in Oak Park, Illinois, said on November 15 that D200 will pass a 2.5% property tax increase on December 20, 2012, despite having a $123 million cash surplus.
BOE members indicated that while they will hold a perfunctory “Truth in Taxation” public hearing immediately before approving the new levy on December 20, they will let nothing deter them from extracting their annual pound of flesh from D200 households.The only way District 200 residents can stop the BOE from passing the levy is to come and protest in person…

Thursday, December 20, 2012
7:30 p.m.
Oak Park River Forest High School
201 N. Scoville, Oak Park, IL.

Only mass political pressure will have any impact on the BOE.  Otherwise, you will face annual property tax increases from D200 forever.

D200 BOE President Terry Finnegan set forth D200’s arguments for the levy in a November 28 article, “Criticism of D200 levy is misinformed.” [i]

Mr. Finnegan took exception to our earlier articles in the Wednesday Journal [ii]  and Dr. Langer’s public comment opposing the Levy at the November 15, 2012, D200 BOE meeting. [iii]

We have rebutted Mr. Finnegan’s published arguments in the attached article. [iv] D200 also posted a description of the levy. [v]

Our brilliant forensic accountant, Dr. Barry Epstein, CPA, CFF, [vi] reviewed D200’s published Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports and Projections for the last 10 years [vii] and found no justification for a new levy at this time. [viii]

Dr. Epstein will present a Power Point Presentation at the 7:30 p.m. BOE meeting on Thursday, December 20 at the high school that will be posted here following the meeting.  Please come and see him.  He’s a great speaker!

Below, after links to related documentation, are Dr. Epstein’s analysis of D200’s financial reports and Dr. Langer’s explanation of why and how D200 can and will pass the levy unless D200 residents come and protest at the December 20 BOE meeting.

Click below to view Dr. Epstein’s analysis, SD200 By the Numbers,  and related documentation (some files are large and may take a few moments to download).:
SD200 By the numbers
Dr. Langer’s analysis of SD200’s justification of tax increase
SD200 By the numbers (500 word version)
SD200 By the numbers (800 word version)
Our Rebuttal to D200 BOE President Finnegan’s 11/28/12 Wednesday Journal article
Dr. Langer’s Public Comment at November 15, 2012 D200 BOE meeting
Dr. Langer’s Viewpoints article censored by the Wednesday Journal
Dr. Langer’s report on BOE Pres. Finnegan’s refusal to speak
D200 Pres Finnegan’s Letter denying Dr Epstein’s request to speak on Dec20
D200 BOE President Finnegan’s email declining our request to speak
D200’s Notice of Property Tax Increase
Endnotes:
________________
http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/11-27-2012/Criticism-of-District-200-levy-is-misinformed/
ii Langer B:  Say no to District 200’s new tax levy increase.  Wednesday Journal, p. 26, 13Nov2012
Langer B, Thomas V:  District 200 rushes levy increase, survey.  Wednesday Journal, p. 23, 20Nov2012
iii Dr. Langer’s comments at November 15, D200 BOE meeting
iv Rebuttal to District 200 President Terry Finnegan’s article entitled: “Criticism of District 200 levy is misinformed”
v SD200 Description of 2012 Preliminary Levy
vi http://www.forensicaccountingexpert.com/?gclid=CPaNvu7hl7QCFegWMgodqRkAOQ
vii http://www.oprfhs.org/business-office/Reports.cfm
viii http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/12-11-2012/School-District-200-by-the-numbers/

Cleveland Ohio: Top Secret Government Pensions Revealed

CLEVELAND— Taxpayers United of America (TUA) revealed government employee wages and pension estimates for Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.  Ohio’s government employees are not only receiving generous salaries, but when retired, many will become pension millionaires.  Ohio officials refused to release pension figures, so the pension payouts are close estimates* for this report.
“Why are Ohio lawmakers hiding their pension information?  Are they more concerned with protecting abusers, than reforming a system that holds taxpayers hostage?” asked Christina Tobin, TUA Vice President.
“I have hand delivered letters to Gov. Kasich and each member of the Ohio General Assembly, asking for transparency regarding individual pension amounts, as well as meaningful pension reforms that will be both fair and sustainable.”
“Cleveland area taxpayers struggle through this recession with an average household income of $50,000, while government employees really rake it in for as many as 31 years of retirement benefits.  The maximum annual Social Security annual benefit is $22,000, regardless of how much an individual earned in their working career.” Read more

Cedar Rapids & Iowa City : Government Pensions Top Secret

CEDAR RAPIDS—A report released today by Taxpayers United of America (TUA) reveals salaries and top pension estimates for the government employees of the cities of Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, Linn and Johnson Counties,  and area government teachers.  These government employees are not only receiving generous salaries, but as retirees, many will become pension millionaires. Iowa bureaucrats refuse to release pension figures, so total pension payouts were estimated* for this report.
“One really has to question why Iowa lawmakers keep individual pension information in a shroud of secrecy. Prohibiting public review of this information sends a message to taxpayers that lawmakers are more concerned with protecting abusers and double-dippers than imposing adequate reforms on a system that holds taxpayers hostage,” said Christina Tobin, TUA Vice President.

“Cedar Rapids and Iowa City taxpayers struggle through this recession with average wages of $30,000 to $43,000, while government employees really rake it in for as many as 30 years of retirement.” (Click here to read the entire article…)