Saturday, December 22, 2012
Letter to the Editor: Grayslake resident Chris Thibaudeau writes an open letter to the District 46 School Board members who voted against approving the proposed $32.6 million tax levy at its Dec. 19 meeting.
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Saturday, December 22, 2012
To the CCSD 46 Board members who voted NO on the recommended tax levy: I watched the District 46 board meeting Wednesday night with high interest and went to bed in horror after witnessing the events that transpired. While I understand and sympathize that the decisions you face are extremely important, I cannot express anything other than my own belief that you have acted in the exact opposite way that a person in your position is supposed to. You were elected to operate the school district for the constituents of this area in the most sincere manner possible. I believe your first responsibility is to the students who live here. Second is to the residents as they have charged you with that task for them. You act on their behalf, in the …
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
The District 46 School Board voted 5-2 against approving the proposed $1.4 million tax levy increase, which could have cost the owner of a $200,000 home an extra $484 in property taxes next year.
The District 46 School Board yielded to the overtaxed Grayslake community Wednesday by voting down the proposed 4.5 percent tax levy increase. The board's final tax levy hearing included a presentation by the business manager and a stream of public comment from residents and business owners who pleaded with the district to live within its means and find creative ways to save money and reduce spending instead of raising taxes yet again. In a move that surprised many, the board took heed, voting down the proposed $32.6 million tax levy 5 to 2. Board members Michael Carbone, Kip Evans, Ray Millington, Shannon Smigielski and Keith Surroz voted against the levy, while Sue Facklam and Karen Weinert voted in favor. "If we continue down this road…
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Village gives taxpayers a break by freezing tax levy at current level.
The Grayslake Village Board officially approved the 2012 tax levy at Tuesday's meeting. The $2.95 million levy is equal to the amount the village received this year from the 2011 levy, meaning there is no increase for taxpayers. The small tax break is the result of the village being debt-free and having a balanced budget, said officials. The 2012 levy will result in property tax receipts for the village in 2013. The village portion of the tax bill is just over 4 percent. Since 1987, the village’s tax rate has declined more than 46 percent. Board briefs In other board action, trustees authorized the execution of a pipeline relocation agreement between the village and West Shore Pipeline in conjunction with the Atkinson Road extension …
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Woodland School District 50 increased its levy request for 2012 by 2.88 percent over 2011.
The Woodland School District 50 Board of Education has approved a $71.5 million tax levy for 2012, which is an increase of $1.8 million or 2.88 percent over last year. The 2012 levy was approved at a public hearing on Nov. 27. Robert Leonard, the district's associate superintendent for business, said the $71.5 million levy amount, which includes bond and interest, was determined to capture any unknown or new assessed value. "We expect the actual extension to be $65,815,897," he said. In 2011, the district levied $69.4 million and was extended $63.9 million. The district levies taxes in accordance with the state property tax extension limitations act as part of its strategy to move closer to a balanced budget, said Leonard. Declining state …
Monday, December 3, 2012
Avon Township tax levy for 2012 to remain at 2011 levels.
Avon Township will not be increasing its tax levy for 2012. The proposed levy of $1.62 million is the same as the 2011 levy, which was decreased 13.7 percent from 2010. Because no increase is being proposed, a public hearing is not required. The township board will vote on the levy at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Avon Township Center, 433 E. Washington St., in Round Lake Park. The township will levy $550,000 for the Town Fund and $140,000 for the General Assistance Fund. The highway commission will levy $860,511 for the Permanent Road Fund and $68,687 for the General Road Fund, for a total levy of $1.62 million. The township was extended $1.62 million in 2011. When asked how much he thought the 2012 extension would be, Supervisor Sam Yingling …
42.35704
-88.07229
433 E Washington St, Round Lake Park, IL
Avon Township Center
/articles/no-levy-increase-proposed-for-avon-township
/locations/8280928
Friday, November 30, 2012
The park district's 2012 tax levy is 5 percent higher than last year to capture all potential new growth, said officials.
The Grayslake Park District Board approved a $2.24 million tax levy for 2012 earlier this month. The levy has increased $107,000 or 5 percent over last year. "The actual extended amount will be lower, but levying less than 5 percent could possibly prohibit any future collection of any potential new tax dollars," said Jeff Nehila, park district executive director. The increase, he said, assures the capture of all potential new growth in EAV (Equalized Assessed Valuation) and any other uncollected dollars within PTELL (Property Tax Extension Law Limit) limitations. The park district anticipates a levy extension of about $2.2 million. Last year, the park district levied $2.28 million and was extended $2.13 million. Knowing the extension will …
42.34074
-88.02268
Grayslake Community Park District
240 Commerce Dr, Grayslake, IL
/articles/grayslake-park-district-approves-2-2-million-levy
1407420
/locations/8257063
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Earlier this month, Grayslake Area Public Library trustees voted 6-1 approving a $3.2 million tax levy for 2012, which represents a 5.1 increase over 2011.
The rising cost of providing materials in ever-popular electronic formats, from books to music, is one of the reasons the Grayslake Area Public Library has had to increase its tax levy for 2012, said Library Director Roberta Thomas. "Our patrons are requesting more materials in electronic formats which means we are buying in both print and electronic formats – and the book publishers have been known to price the eBook at three times the cost of the printed book. Patrons also are asking for downloadable music and electronic magazines," she said. "If we did not increase our tax levy, we could not purchase additional materials in these increasingly popular formats." Other expenses The library also anticipates having to replace much of the …
42.34667
-88.03465
Grayslake Area Public Library
100 Library Ln, Grayslake, IL
/articles/grayslake-library-approves-3-2-million-tax-levy
294541
/locations/8245181
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Grayslake School District 46 held the first of three 2012 tax levy presentations on Nov. 26.
At an early morning meeting Monday, Nov. 26, the Grayslake District 46 School Board gave its first presentation on the tentative 2012 tax levy. The school district is requesting a $32.67 million levy, which is an increase of $1.4 million or 4.5 percent over 2011. Should the district actually receive this increase, the owner of a $200,000 home could expect to pay up to $400 more per year in property taxes, said Anna Kasprzyk, Chief School Business Official. "A red flag should not go up, because we're not going to get that (amount)," said D46 Board President Ray Millinton of the $1.4 million tax increase. The increase is more likely to be about $750,000, not $1.4 million, said Kasprzyk. Last year, the district voted 4 to 3 to approve a $31.9…
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Grayslake village trustees voted unanimously Nov. 6 to draft the village's 2012 tax levy ordinance based on the current levy.
Being debt-free and having a balanced budget means the Village of Grayslake can give taxpayers a small break by freezing the 2013 property tax at the 2012 amount. Trustees voted unanimously at the Nov. 6 board meeting to prepare the 2012 tax levy ordinance based on the levy amount of $2.95 million. This amount represents no increase in dollars received in 2012 from the 2011 levy, said officials. Even though the village only takes a small piece of the property tax pie to begin with, said trustee Bruce Bassett, "This says the village will take no more than the dollars we took last year." Bassett said this represents a permanent savings for taxpayers because next year, the village can only levy at the rate of inflation or up to 5 percent of …
Thursday, December 15, 2011
After a public hearing, the school board voted 4-3 to approve a $31.9 million levy.
Three Grayslake District 46 School Board members voted against increasing the 2011 tax levy at the Dec. 14 board meeting, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the measure from passing. After a public hearing, board members Michael Carbone, Kip Evans and Shannon Smigielski voted against approving the $31.9 million levy, which is an increase of $1.4 million or 4.64 percent over 2010. Board members Sue Facklam, Ray Millington, Keith Surroz and Karen Weinert voted in favor of the increase. Before the public hearing, resident Lisa Jarratt, wife of 31st Senate District candidate and Lake County Tea Party Chairman Lenny Jarratt, made a silent protest against the tax levy increase, and made a dig at Facklam. Jarratt passed out copies of April 2011 …
Lennie Jarratt
9:47 am on Friday, January 4, 2013
All children should have access to quality education. That is what I am many others are fighting for. I will continue to do so regardless of who does not want that. more ›