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CHICAGO—The president of Taxpayers United of America (TUA) condemned the unresponsiveness of the legal system in Illinois, which denied an appeal by taxpayers who sued Riverside-Brookfield Sch. Dist. 208 for illegal electioneering.
“It’s mindboggling the extent to which local judges protect the status quo, even in the face of convincing evidence that a local government-school district engaged in illegal electioneering in trying to pass a property tax increase referendum,” said Jim Tobin, TUA President.
Representing homeowners, TUA had joined with Anthony J. Peraica & Associates in appealing the decision of Judge Leroy K. Martin’s July 17, 2012 ruling, in which he dismissed with prejudice their lawsuit against Riverside-Brookfield Sch. Dist. 208.
Plaintiffs Peraica and TUA had charged that the school district used illegal electioneering in its failed attempt to pass a property tax increase referendum in the April 5, 2011 election.
The appellate court affirmed Judge Martin’s dismissal of the lawsuit on Oct. 31, 2013.
“While we are disappointed in the appellate court’s decision, we were successful in defeating the April 5, 2011 property tax increase referendum despite the shady tactics of Sch. Dist. 208,” said Tobin.
“Our efforts on behalf of taxpayers against devious school districts led to the most important reform legislation in the 97th Illinois General Assembly: SB3314, introduced by St. Sen. Don Harmon (D-39 Oak Park), which was the direct result of the lawsuits filed by TUA against Oak Park D-97 and Wilmette D-39 school districts for using ballot language that purposely mislead taxpayers by understating by 300%, the property tax increase resulting from passage of a referendum. SB3314 makes this practice of duping voters illegal.”
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Chicago – Anthony J Peraica & Associates is appealing Judge Leroy K. Martin’s July 17, 2012 ruling to dismiss with prejudice, a lawsuit they filed against Riverside Brookfield School District 208.
The suit, in which Peraica and Taxpayers United of America (TUA) are plaintiffs, charges the school district with illegal electioneering in its failed attempt to pass a property tax increase referendum in the April 5, 2011 election.
“We are filing this appeal to protect the taxpayers from financial abuse by unions and to assert, as a matter of principle, that school unions and administration cannot conspire to expend taxpayer dollars to promote a pro-tax-increase referendum on a taxpayer dime,” stated Peraica. “If the unions and administration want to borrow money or increase taxes, they must spend their own money to do so.”
Tim Sprague of Anthony J Peraica & Associates will assist in the appeal process. Oral arguments will be requested.
For more information, click here.
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CHICAGO – Judge Leroy K. Martin, Jr, today granted Riverside Brookfield SD 208’s motion to dismiss the case against them filed by Taxpayers United of America (TUA) and Anthony Peraica for illegal electioneering in the April 5, 2011 election to pass a property tax referendum.
Despite the admission of the school board, for the purposes of this hearing, that they did indeed use approximately $50,000 in taxpayer resources to campaign for the passage of the referenda that would have increased taxes, Judge Martin dismissed the case on the grounds that there were no grounds for the suit.
No, that was not a typo. Yes, using taxpayer resources in such a manner is against the election code and the defendant technically admitted to doing so in papers filed with the court, however, the case was dismissed.
“It seems that here in Crook County, the government does what it wants and gets away with it. Taxpayers’ dollars are openly and freely misused without consequence,” stated Jim Tobin, president of TUA.
“We aren’t going to make this easy for them though,” added Tobin. “We will file an appeal and continue to fight this court sanctioned corruption. The taxpayers of Riverside-Brookfield school district and across the state have a right to legal and responsible handling of their money.”
Click here to see the highest salaries and pensions for Riverside Brookfield District 208.
