The property taxpayers in three school districts continue to battle the property tax increases resulting from the April 5th referenda. In Oak Park School District 97 and in Wilmette School District 39, the initiatives were adopted by the Voters. In Riverside Brookfield District 208, the voters overwhelmingly rejected it, but the lawsuit is seeking damages for the illegal electioneering engaged in by the Board.
In the Wilmette case, on May 23rd Judge Rita M. Novak put the case on an expedited briefing schedule on two main issues: whether to enter a temporary restraining order and whether to dismiss the case. The hearing is set for June 23rd at 11:15 a.m. Read more →
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 →
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 →
