Illinois

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CHICAGO–The President of Taxpayers United of America (TUA) today urged voters in the City of Princeton, Illinois, to vote “NO” on the March 20 referendum to adopt unlimited home rule taxing power, adding, “Compared to the average income in Princeton, city politicians and bureaucrats already are living like kings.”
“Right now, the City of Princeton must have support from a majority of voters in order to raise city taxes,” said Tobin. “If unlimited home rule taxing power is passed, the city could raise property taxes and create new taxes without asking voters for approval. In addition, adopting home rule would exempt the City of Princeton from the current 5% property tax cap. The city could then raise city property taxes by any amount, any time.”
“Home rule also would allow the City of Princeton to impose new taxes on businesses, gasoline, groceries, parking, and almost anything else.”
“Current and retired city bureaucrats already are rolling in money compared with Princeton residents. They don’t need more money from Princeton residents. The average annual income in Princeton is only $37,000, the median value of a home is only $102,000, and current unemployment stands at 10.2%. However, the current city salary (as of 12/31/11) of Jeffrey Fiegenschuh is $112,799, and the city salary of Leroy Drake is $111,263.”
“Retired Princeton bureaucrats also are raking in the dough. William Spitler pulls in $70,766 in pension benefits each year, and so far has collected total pension benefits of $932,639. Barry Schultz pulls in $59,729 in pension benefits each year and already has collected total pension benefits of $830,092.”
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“Politicians are notorious for scheduling home rule and property tax increase referenda during primaries, when voter-turnout is low. This March 20, if only 10% of voters turn out, Princeton bureaucrats, who will be out in force, will be able to pass this home rule referendum easily.”
“Princeton voters should go to the polls this March 20, along with their family members and neighbors, and vote ‘NO’ on the unlimited home rule taxing power referendum.”

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CHICAGO–The President of Taxpayers United of America (TUA) today urged all voters in Evanston-Skokie School Dist. 65 to vote “NO” on the March 20 property tax increase referendum, adding, “Don’t build palaces for the bureaucrats.”
“The salaries and benefits of government-school bureaucrats and teachers in Evanston-Skokie School Dist. 65 are some of the most extravagant in the state,” said Jim Tobin, TUA President. “Now these same bureaucrats and teachers want another property tax increase on top of Dist. 65 homeowners’ already-high property taxes.”
“80% of Evanston-Skokie School Dist. 65 spending goes for salaries and benefits. The administrators and teachers get rich, with no benefit whatever to the students. Dist. 65 administrator, Hardy Murphy, gets a whopping annual salary (as of 6/30/11) of $229,662. Administrator Susan Schultz pulls in a hefty annual salary of $178,006.”
“Retired administrators and teachers have become pension millionaires. Robert Campbell receives an annual pension of $114,945, and with a total pension contribution of only $52,208, already has collected $2,022,377 in total pension payments. Annett Grubman receives an annual pension of $105,132, and with a total pension contribution of only $81,094, already has collected $1,493,452 in total pension payments.”
“School Dist. 65 mouthpieces state that the property tax increase will be ‘only’ $32 per $100,000 assessed valuation of a home, but if approved, the property tax increase for an average home in Evanston, instead of the claimed $127 per year, will actually be three times that much, or more. Make no mistake about it, this is an annual property tax hike of $400 on an average Evanston home, not $127.”
“Politicians and their government-school backers are notorious for scheduling property tax increase referenda during primaries, when voter-turnout is low. This March 20, if only 10% of voters turn out, the Dist. 65 bureaucrats and teachers, who will be out in force, will be able to pass this property tax increase easily.”
“Taxpayers United of America has defeated 192 property tax increase referenda since 1977, including a Dist. 65 property tax increase referendum in 1979.”