Taxpayers Fight Back on Local Tax Increases

By on March 25, 2013   /   Anna, IL, Country Club Hills, IL, Itasca SD-10, IL, Latest, McClellan CCSD-12, IL, Referenda, South Chicago Heights, IL, Taxpayer Alert  

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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:

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Quinn, Cullerton & Madigan Fail – Kane and Kendall County Taxpayers Crushed by Hundreds of Pension Millionaires

By on March 12, 2013   /   Illinois, Latest, News Releases, Pension Reform  

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Aurora—Taxpayers United of America (TUA) today released the results of a new pension study of the employees of the Cities of Aurora and Yorkville, Kane and Kendall Counties, Kane and Kendall County government schools, and Waubonsee Community College.
“Illinois lawmakers continue their abuse of taxpayers by ignoring the number one budgetary problem in the state,” stated Jim Tobin, president of TUA. “Illinois is in horrible financial shape, and yet taxpayers are still expected to pour their hard earned money into a failed government pension system.”
“While residents across Kane and Kendall Counties face crushing tax increases, falling home values, high unemployment, and a painfully slow economic recovery, government employees continue to receive stunning pensions largely funded by taxpayers who, on average, collect only $14,800 a year from Social Security. There are currently 104 retired Kane County government teachers collecting pensions over $100,000 per year that accumulate to as much as $8 million in estimated lifetime pension payouts.”
“Pat Quinn, John Cullerton, and Michael Madigan have been draining taxpayers in Kane and Kendall Counties and all across the state for the last 30 years. They would rather trade gold-plated pension benefits for the votes they need to stay in power than to make the reforms necessary to prevent a complete financial meltdown. Across the country, millions of bureaucrats are being paid trillions, to do absolutely nothing! With their 3%, compounded cost of living adjustments (COLA), Illinois’ government retirees double their pensions after only 24 years of retirement.”
“For example, Norman R. Wetzel retired from Community USD 300 at the ripe old age of 55 and collects an annual pension of $225,602. His estimated lifetime pension payout is a stunning $8,016,801, 2.2% of which was his contribution.*”
“At only 56 years of age, Terrence T. Techava retired from Kendall County and has an annual pension of $88,419, with a staggering estimated lifetime payout of $3,709,040. His contribution of the estimated lifetime payout would be only 2.8%.*”
“Retired Aurora municipal government employee, Steven E. Booth, has an incredible lifetime estimated pension payout of $4,885,048*, 2.0% of which he contributed, with an annual pension of $105,202, retiring at only 56.”
View pension grids here:

“Illinois’ government pensions are in dire trouble with no end in sight. Government employees should be paid a fair wage for the work they do today so they can save for their own retirement. Taxpayers simply can’t afford to pay so many, so much, not to work and retirees can’t afford the inaction of Illinois lawmakers who are afraid to alienate the special interest money that keeps them in office.”
“Without sweeping and immediate reform, Illinois’ pension system will collapse. Reform must include raising retirement age to 67, increasing employee contributions by 10%, increasing healthcare contributions to 50%, eliminating all COLA’s, and replacing the defined benefit system with a defined contribution system for all new hires. It’s mathematically impossible to tax your way out of this problem. Illinois has more than 6,700 retirees collecting more than $100,000; in 2020, that will be over 25,000 six figure pensioners.”
*Lifetime estimated pension payout includes 3% compounded COLA and assumes life expectancy of 85 (IRS Form 590).

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Jim Tobin Talks About Pensions and the Illinois State Financial Crisis

By on March 4, 2013   /   Events, Illinois, Latest  

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Chicago – Jim Tobin, president of Taxpayers United of America (TUA) will be a guest on Truth Talk Radio with Bailey and Binsner on WEFT 90.1 on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 8:30 p.m.
Jim will discuss the financial crisis that the State of Illinois is experiencing and the leading cause: the lavish, gold-plated pension system that Illinois’ government employees have enjoyed for too long.
Jim will also be speaking on this topic at the monthly meeting of the Illinois Forum in Rantoul, IL on Sunday, March 10, 2013. This month’s meeting is at 1:30 p.m. at the Red Wheel Restaurant located on highway 136 in Rantoul, IL (exit 250 off I-57).
Jim has been sounding the alarm on the unsustainability of the government pension system and leading the charge for reform here in Illinois and across the country.
Tune in or stream live at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Space is limited so tune in early!
For more information on Illinois Forum call 618-842-7246 and for more information on the Red Wheel Restaurant, call 217-893-0471.
 

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