Clean Sweep: TUA Defeats All 7 Tax-Increase Referenda

By on March 22, 2012   /   Illinois, Latest, News Releases, Pension Reform, Referenda, Taxpayer Alert  

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CHICAGO–The president of Taxpayers United of America (TUA) today announced that “the organization, its members and supporters defeated the 7 tax-increase referenda yesterday.”
“It’s a great victory for Illinois taxpayers,” said Tobin. “The seven ballot measures are the largest number of tax-increase referenda we have opposed in a single election since 1982.” said Jim Tobin, TUA President. “To defeat seven out of seven is unprecedented, and shows taxpayers will stand up and fight when given honest information. Our members have defeated over 100 home rule referenda since 1980.”
“We defeated the attempt to con voters into accepting home-rule unlimited-taxing-power referenda in Clarendon Hills, Itasca, Lynwood, Merrionette Park, Princeton and Prospect Heights.”

”We also stopped an attempt to force a $48.5 million property tax increase in Evanston-Skokie School District 65. Overall, we have defeated 193 property tax increase referenda since 1977.”
“Our staff distributed over 20,000 ‘Vote No!’ fliers in four of these communities. We mailed several thousand more fliers to our members and supporters. We worked closely with local taxpayer groups to effectively cover all precincts.”
The “Vote No” fliers included the names and paid-out amounts for the salaries and pensions of the highest-paid employees and pensioners, to let voters know that 80% of their local tax dollars go to pay the salaries and benefits of their local government employees.”
“Clarendon Hills’ Fire Chief, Brian Leahy, for example, pulled in a gross salary (2010) of $199,128 a year. More than 10 police pensions are over $30,000 a year. Former Police Chief, Thomas Reasoner, receives a whopping $65,000 a year pension while at the same time getting paid for a Deputy Director position at the North East Multi-Regional Training Center.
“Nine retired government-employees in Itasca have annual pensions of over $50,000 a year.”
“Now, we need to throw all Springfield Democrats out of office in the November 6th general election, so we can kill the four-year, 67% income tax hike that they’d like to make permanent!”
View images from TUA’s canvassing efforts below, along with the fliers:

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Taxpayers Oppose City of Princeton’s Referendum for ‘Unlimited Home Rule Taxing Power’ on March 20

By on March 13, 2012   /   Illinois, Latest, Referenda, Taxpayer Alert  

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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.”
Click to view pension amounts:

“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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Taxpayers United Urges "NO" Vote on $400 March 20 Evanston-Skokie Sch. Dist. 65 Property Tax Increase Referendum

By on March 12, 2012   /   Illinois, Latest, Referenda, Taxpayer Alert  

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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.”

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