Essentially, Illinois statutes allow park districts to issue General Obligation (GO) debt in amounts that are "limited" based upon the districts' overall equalized assessed valuation (EAV). $546,765 is the maximum amount the law allows the Freeport Park District to borrow.
It's a foregone conclusion that the Commissioners will vote to approve this debt, they do it every year. There will be no discussion on the possibility of reigning in spending to the tune of $50,000 per month, why would commissioners contemplate giving property tax payers some relief as we attempt economic recovery from COVID?
Fact: If the commissioners vote this proposition down, property taxes will decrease. Therefore, this has been an annual tax increase to keep the park district collecting as much money as possible from Freeport residents. Here is a picture of tonight's agenda
While we have an excellent park system it is no secret the park board of commissioners have been spending like drunken sailors for at least the past 20-years. How many capital improvement projects have been done? Zero with referendum approval. How many properties have been purchased, often times requiring demolition, to increase the park district's foot print, while the number of people the district serves has declined.
I think every park commissioner should explain to the Freeport public why they can't reduce their budget by $50k per month. There are serious questions as to the amount of subsidy provided the golf course every single year; do the commissioners still unlawfully provide themselves with golf passes? If the park district wants to complete a capital improvement, what would be wrong with engaging the public through the referendum process? Maybe they don't need those eight golf carts this year (see agenda). It's our park district, not theirs.
Another pertinent question is where are our state legislators? Why haven't Senator Stewart or Representative Chesney at least tried to reign in the authorizing statue? Do Illinois park districts need the ability to issue limited GO bonds annually, or should it be something that should only be utilized periodically, say every five-years?
Or why can't our state senator and representative use their bully pulpits to weigh in on this issue? They are both always saying that property taxes are a high priority for them, yet when they have a chance to actually be effective, they're missing in action. Just about a year ago both Senator Stewart and Representative Chesney used their bully pulpits to publicly inject themselves into an issue with the Freeport School Board, while this issue was emotional it involved no public expense or borrowing against our property.
So what are the honest motives of our state legislators? Play on our emotional sides for votes or protect us from cavalier units of local government?
Another pertinent question is where are our state legislators? Why haven't Senator Stewart or Representative Chesney at least tried to reign in the authorizing statue? Do Illinois park districts need the ability to issue limited GO bonds annually, or should it be something that should only be utilized periodically, say every five-years?
Or why can't our state senator and representative use their bully pulpits to weigh in on this issue? They are both always saying that property taxes are a high priority for them, yet when they have a chance to actually be effective, they're missing in action. Just about a year ago both Senator Stewart and Representative Chesney used their bully pulpits to publicly inject themselves into an issue with the Freeport School Board, while this issue was emotional it involved no public expense or borrowing against our property.
So what are the honest motives of our state legislators? Play on our emotional sides for votes or protect us from cavalier units of local government?
As always, yours in honesty,
Tutty Baker tutty.baker@gmail.com
*complete attribution available within 24 hours of request
