On August 24, 2011 the Circuit Court of Cook County, by Judge LeRoy K. Martin, Jr., granted Anthony Peraica, former Cook County Commissioner and a concerned taxpayer in Riverside-Brookfield and Taxpayers United of America, (“TUA”) one of the largest taxpayer organizations in America, left to file an amended complaint in their case against the Riverside-Brookfield School District 208. The suit challenges the electioneering activities used by the school board in its unsuccessful attempt to have the voters approved a property tax increase referendum on April 5th. The amended complaint is due to be filed in two weeks.
In addition, the Appellate Court of Illinois, First Judicial Circuit, granted Noel Kuriakos and TUA’s motion to consolidate their appeal in the Oak Park District 97 referendum case with the appeal pending in the Wilmette School District 39 case, brought by TUA and Herbert Sorock. The Appellate Court’s Order was entered on August 18, 2011. Just days before, that same Appellate Court denied an effort by TUA and Sorock to accelerate the hearing of that appeal. Both appeals will now be heard together and on the regular schedule of the Court of Appeals, rather than on an expedited basis. Read more →
CHICAGO–Local taxpayer groups filed appeals to contest two judicial decisions allowing property tax increase referenda wording to stand in the April 5, 2011 elections in Oak Park School Dist. 97 and Wilmette School District 39. In two separate court decisions, judges ruled that both school districts were within the law when their ballot descriptions of the anticipated property tax hikes in dollars per household did not include the property tax equalization factor. As a result, taxpayers were misinformed regarding the amount of their property tax increase, which was grossly understated on each ballot.
In the case of Wilmette School District 39, Judge Rita Novak of the Circuit Court of Cook County, ruled against both Taxpayers United of America (TUA) and Herb Sorock, dismissing their lawsuit. According to Judge Novak, it was acceptable for the School District to use ballot language that confused the voters by understating the property tax increase by 300%. Read more →
CHICAGO- Taxpayers United of America (TUA) and voters continue the legal battle against illegal and unconstitutional property tax increases in Wilmette School District 39 and Oak Park School District 97.
In Wilmette School District 39, Judge Rita Novak of the Circuit Court of Cook County, ruled against both TUA and Herb Sorock, dismissing their lawsuit. According to Judge Novak, it was alright for the School District to use ballot language that confused the voters by understating the property tax increase by 300%. She ruled on June 23rd; TUA and Sorock are considering an appeal to the 1st District Court of Appeals. Read more →
