Taxpayers Oppose Three New Home Rule Referendums

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Chicago – Jim Tobin, President of Taxpayers United of America’s (TUA), today stated that opposing Home Rule is crucial for residents concerned with their skyrocketing property taxes.
“In the upcoming March elections, wealthy government bureaucrats want voters to approve Home Rule for their communities,” said Tobin. “Home Rule is a disaster. It gives unlimited taxing authority to local bureaucrats to fund their lavish, gold plated pensions. Illinois is broke, because of an unsustainable pension system. Taxpayers must reject Home Rule on the March 20 ballot.”
TUA is helping local supporters oppose three home rule referendums on the ballot in March: Homewood, East Dundee, and Rockford. TUA helped repeal home rule in the City of Rockford in 1983, the largest community to have home rule repealed. Now TUA is back to help preserve the rights of taxpayers in these three municipalities.
Click below to access printable versions of the flyers for Rockford, Homewood, and East Dundee.

Tobin emphasizes that Home Rule always means higher taxes.
“Home Rule means, literally, unlimited taxing power,” said Tobin. “A home rule municipality can create just about any tax under the sun and raise taxes without limit.”
“I call it ‘Home Ruin.’ Why would anyone want to give up the right to vote on property tax increases?”
“Home Rule removes the cap limiting the amount that bureaucrats can increase property taxes. It gives bureaucrats a blank check. How many government bureaucrats would you trust with a blank check bearing your signature?” Home Rule drives consumers to neighboring communities where the taxes on products and services are lower.”

Taxpayers Call For Cook County Pension Reform


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Chicago – Val Zimnicki, the Director of Outreach  for Taxpayers United of America’s (TUA), today spoke before the Cook County Board. In his speech, he urged the board to reform the Cook County pension system.
“Cook County finds itself in the same dire condition as the state’s government-employee pensions funds,” he said. “The cause is the same: a lavish, gold-plated pension plan that allows county bureaucrats to retire early and collect huge pensions for decades for doing nothing. It is mathematically impossible for Cook County to tax its way out of this problem.”
According to publicly available sources, it is stated that the Cook county pension fund was only 60% funded, creating a $6 Billion unfunded liability. However, it was recently revealed through FOIA requests that the fund was just 36% funded and  the unfunded liability was really $15.3 billion as of December 31, 2015.
“Until the Illinois Constitution is amended to allow pension benefits to be reduced, there can be no short-term solution to the bankrupt county pension system. There is a solution, but it is more of a long-term solution, so the sooner this reform is started, the more notable will be the results. Eventually, as the current county retirees pass from the scene, the county pension plan will recover.”
In his speech, the Director of Outreach offered solutions the board to help prevent a looming pension crisis.
“All new county hires must be put into their own retirement plans, such as 401(k)s. They must plan for their retirements outside of the county pension plan. A 401(k) is a feature of a qualified profit-sharing plan that allows employees to contribute a portion of their wages to individual accounts. Elective salary deferrals are excluded from the employee’s taxable income. Furthermore, employers such as you can contribute to employees’ accounts.”

Tax Accountability Endorses Jeanne Ives in Illinois’ GOP Gubernatorial Primary

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Chicago – Tax Accountability (TA) has announced its endorsement of Representative Jeanne Ives for the March 20, 2018 GOP primary election.
“I am proud to announce the endorsement of such a qualified candidate in this critical race,” said Jim Tobin, Chairman of TA.
Representative Ives (R-42) has an impeccable tax voting record. During her tenure in the Illinois House, she as always ranked as a taxpayer friend in Taxpayers United of America’s tax survey. Astoundingly, she is also the first to receive a perfect 100% in the past 34 years .
Click to View Tax Survey of the 99th Illinois General Assembly. 
Click to View Tax Survey of the 98th Illinois General Assembly
If that were not enough, Representative Ives has expressed a commitment to oppose the income tax increase amendment, which is a graduated income tax increase for Illinois. She has also pledged to support economic freedom by working to decrease the overall tax burden of Illinois taxpayers. Her commitment to these positions is the same as the mission of Tax Accountability: restoring economic freedom to Illinois.
“2018 will be a pivotal year for Illinois. Taxpayers are fed up with the corruption, cronyism, and abuse they have suffered at the hands of a long list of career politicians who see Illinois taxpayers as the source of their own personal wealth. The time is right. She has what it takes to win and to lead Illinois back to a vibrant, prosperous, and free economy.”