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Archive for the ‘BOHICA’ Category

Illinois House passes bill restricting tax funds from libraries that ‘ban books’

Posted in 220, 300, Barrington Area Library, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, BOHICA, Elections, Elgin Community College, Ethics, Harper College, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Resident Spotlights, School Districts, Springfield, Taxes, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on March 23, 2023| 1 Comment »

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The vote tally of House Bill 2789 that passed the House Wednesday.

Libraries in Illinois, including at K-12 schools, could see their funding cut if there are efforts to restrict books under a bill that passed the House Wednesday.

House Bill 2789 would limit federal pass-through tax dollars through the Illinois Secretary of State’s office for libraries that remove or restrict certain books.

State Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Downers Grove, used a recent controversy in her district around a book titled “Gender Queer” that she said “the Proud Boys hate group” and “radical fringe” parents protested. The book has sexually explicit themes some parents found objectionable.

“All too often, we see the books targeted by these hate groups and radical fringe parents are books having to deal with LGBTQ+ identities or Black and brown authors,” Stava-Murray said.

State Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Barrington Hills, said the measure “strong arms” local communities and is “a complete assault” on local control.

“And for the state to tell a local library board ‘listen to the professionals, follow the professionals,’ I don’t understand why we have local elections anymore if a bill like this passes,” McLaughlin said.

Local school board and library board elections across the state are set for April 4.

Read more here.

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Wirepoints has new report cards for Illinois’ 20 largest school districts (and 220’s ain’t pretty!)

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, BOHICA, Deception, Elections, His Master's Voice, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Springfield, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on March 22, 2023| Leave a Comment »

SD 220(Click HERE to enlarge) 

Wirepoints has created a series of fact sheets that put individual school district statistics in the spotlight. Wirepoints dug into Illinois State Board of Education and U.S. Census data to lay out student outcomes in the state’s 20 largest school districts and a select few others.

The data shows student outcomes are dismal, most children are passed along and yet teachers consistently receive high evaluations. Meanwhile, spending and tax burdens continue to grow while Illinois home values continue to suffer compared to the rest of the country.

Illinois ranks 8th in per student spending and has the highest property tax burden in the nation. Yet despite that spending, just 30% of Illinois students are reading at grade level and only 26% are proficient in math. 

Results are even worse for Illinois’ minority students. Just 18% of Hispanic students and only 12% of black students statewide can read at grade level.

Read more here, and view the SD 220 fact sheet HERE!

Related: “District 220 Board of Education candidates Katey Baldassono, Leonard Munson and Matt Sheriff share their vision,” “Parents at top-rated school expose pornographic books in IL school library (DISCRETION ADVISED),” “The District 220 Policy Committee has a lot on their plate tomorrow,” “Who’s minding Leah and Barry’s campaign finances,” “What 220 voters need to know continued, including our recommendations,” “What 220 voters need to know,” “220 Parents call BS!”

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Illinois families pay highest state, local taxes in nation

Posted in 220, 300, Barrington Education Association, BOHICA, Commodius Maximus, Deception, Elections, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Springfield, Taxes, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on March 22, 2023| 1 Comment »

Tax Fuck

A new WalletHub study found the typical household in Illinois pays 15% of its income to state and local taxes, the highest in the nation. That’s an average of $10,463 – a 22% hike since 2017.

The typical Illinois family loses $10,463 – over 15% of its income – to state and local taxes, the highest in the nation, according to a WalletHub study.

The study looked the tax rates for someone with the U.S. median household income, who owns a median valued home and other variables to rank states. In Illinois, that comes out to $10,463, the highest in the nation and nearly $3,000 higher than the median state of Massachusetts.

It is also $2,300 more than the Illinois rate in 2017, or an increase of 22%. Illinois had the highest rate then and has kept its No. 1 tax ranking each year.

The study found Illinois state and local governments levy the nation’s second-highest gas taxes. WalletHub’s property tax rankings also show Illinois is No. 2 in the nation. Renters feel this burden by taking on 80-90% of property tax hikes.

Despite being asked to pay more than anyone else, the state has the nation’s worst pension debt. Illinois has 3.8% of the country’s population, but it carries 15.5% of the nation’s pension debt. Taxpayers must eventually come up with $140 billion to pay the state’s unfunded pension promises and another $70 billion for local pensions, or a total liability of $42,600 for each Illinois household.

Read more here.

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Illinois enacts mandatory paid leave ‘for any reason’

Posted in BOHICA, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Springfield, Unions on March 13, 2023| Leave a Comment »

JBN

Under the Paid Leave For All Workers Act, which Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed Monday, Illinois employees will accrue one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked up to 40 hours total.

Starting next year, Illinois will be the third state in the nation to mandate paid time off to be used for any reason.

On Monday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, which gives employees at least one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked. The governor’s office said approximately 1.5 million workers will begin earning paid time off starting in 2024.

“Employers benefit from allowing employees to tend to the urgent personal matters of their lives,” said Pritzker. “Workers’ productivity increases, and they often gain greater passion for their job when they can manage the stresses they face outside work.”

Employees can begin using their time once they have worked for 90 days.

Maine and Nevada also allow workers to decide how to use their time, but some exemptions apply. Maine’s Earned Paid Leave law only applies to employers with over 10 employees, and Nevada’s exempts businesses under 50.

During debate of the bill in the Illinois House, state Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, said the mandate would be difficult on small businesses in Illinois.

“It’s the mom-and-pops that have five, 10, maybe 13 employees,” said Davidsmeyer. “This has a significant impact on their budgets.”

More here.

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Village Board of Trustees meets tomorrow evening

Posted in Agendas, Audio Recordings, BACOG, Board of Elections, BOHICA, Building Department, Clown Car, Conflict of interest, Deception, ePacket Agendas, Ethics, Finance Committee, Financial Reports, FUBAR, Insurance Committee, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Mad Cow, OMA, Police Pension Board, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Road construction, Roads & Bridges Committee, Roads and Bridges, TMI, Transparency, VBHPD, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village President on February 26, 2023| Leave a Comment »

BOT Feb 23

Our Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting tomorrow beginning at 6:30 PM. Some of the topics on their agenda include:

  • Village of Barrington Hills Annual Appropriation Ordinance for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2023, and Ending December 31, 2023. 2.5. Ord – 2023 Approriation.pdf
  • [Vote] Village of Barrington Hills Annual Appropriation Ordinance for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2023, and Ending December 31, 2023 Ordinance 23 –
  • [Vote] Ordinance to Internally Commit Road & Bridge Fund Reserves to Bridge Restoration Ordinance 23 –
  • [Vote] A Resolution Approving A McHenry County Crimes Against Children Task force Agreement with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office Resolution 23 –
  • [Vote] A Resolution Approving a Memorandum of Understanding Between the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the Village of Barrington Hills Resolution 23 –
  • [Vote] Resolution Authorizing Execution of the 2023-2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement Between the Village of Barrington Hills and the Metropolitan Alliance of Police Barrington Hills Police Union #576 Resolution 23 –

A copy of the agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.

Editorial note: Since the proposed 2023 Annual Appropriation Ordinance represents a 11.4% increase over the 2022 Appropriation, we’ll be sharing our thoughts on the largest contributor to that increase tomorrow.

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Luxury apartments, restaurants. What Barrington might do with its ‘Golden Triangle’

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, BOHICA, DARCHED, Hoffman Estates, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on February 15, 2023| 1 Comment »

Golden

Barrington’s plan commission on Tuesday recommended a proposal for a four-story, mixed-use building in a part of the village’s downtown known as the “Golden Triangle.” The plan calls for 125 apartments, space for retail or restaurant uses and storage for high-end and classic cars. (Courtesy of Barrington)

Barrington officials believe a new mixed-use development that includes luxury apartments, restaurants and storage for high-end and classic cars offers a golden opportunity to redevelop the village’s “Golden Triangle.”

Barrington resident Joe Taylor, CEO of Compasspoint Development, is proposing a four-story mixed-use building at has plans for 200-300 Hough Street in the village’s downtown. The plan includes 125 apartments, 12,000 square feet of restaurant/retail space, and 37 car condominiums.

It means a complete overhaul of the 6.2-acre site, with the installation of utilities, parking, landscaping, lighting, signage, walkways, bicycle parking and a pedestrian esplanade along Hough Street.

After a positive recommendation Tuesday from the village’s plan commission, the plan heads to the village board for possible final approval.

Jennifer Tennant, Barrington’s assistant director of development services, said the project meets the planning goals and objectives of the village’s comprehensive plan.

“This has been a redevelopment site for the village since the early 90s,” she told the commission.

The site includes all the remaining property in the Golden Triangle area south of Liberty Street, which encompasses the former Market Center building and a former Volvo dealership.

Read more here.

Editorial note: Earlier today we updated plans at the Bell Works Chicagoland “metroburb” in Hoffman Estates to build 164 townhomes within District 220 boundaries. There are also plans to add 361 apartments.

Adding 125 apartments to the “Golden (Seigle’s) Triangle” in Barrington would represent a total of 650 housing units withing District 220 borders.

We all witnessed enrollment declining in District 220 for years except recently.  However, our property taxes did not go down.  These housing units will obviously bring an significant influx of students and likely a significant increase our taxes.

Related: “Hoffman Estates project reaches for a Lincoln Park vibe”

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164 high-end townhouses coming to Bell Works in Hoffman Estates

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, BOHICA, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, South Barrington, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on February 7, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Editorial note: The, “Bell Works Townhomes,” will be located at 1705 Lakewood Boulevard according to last night’s Hoffman Estates Village Board meeting agenda. Assuming the District 220 Boundary Map is current, these proposed developments are within the 220 boundary (Barbara Rose Elementary).

Bell Works

Hoffman Estates officials have granted approval to the construction of 164 high-end townhouse units on the east side of Bell Works Chicagoland. New Jersey-based Somerset Development is also planning 300 apartments on the same 20-acre site. (Courtesy of Hoffman Estates)

Nearly five years after the redevelopment of Hoffman Estates’ former AT&T corporate campus into the Bell Works Chicagoland “metroburb” was proposed, village board members on Monday approved 164 high-end townhouses to begin the project’s long-promised residential component.

The board also granted preliminary approval to a concept plan for about 300 apartments to follow on the same nearly 20-acre site on the east side of the 152-acre property.

The approved townhouses are planned to be priced in the mid-$400,000s, each with three bedrooms and an option for a fourth. Each unit would have three floors, with a two-car garage on the ground floor and the living areas above.

Though the project was long anticipated, there was discussion about the lack of some usual details that troubled the planning and zoning commission before it gave its recommendation.

Commission Chairman Eva Combs said she was the only member who manifested her frustration as a “no” vote, but others among her colleagues voiced similar sentiments.

As a result, the lack of such details as a homeowners association charter led to the commission’s recommending an unusual number of conditions.

Read more here.

Related: “Remaking white elephant suburban headquarters: Is a ‘metroburb’ headed to Hoffman Estates?” “Developer filing plan for townhouses, apartments at Bell Works in Hoffman Estates”

 

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Pritzker fact check: Illinoisans pay 4th-highest college tuition in the nation

Posted in BOHICA, Deception, Elgin Community College, Harper College, Pension Funding, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Springfield, Taxes, Unions on January 25, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Switzerland Davos Forum

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is making free college a priority in his second term. Tuition is driven up by pension costs, which Pritzker routinely ignores.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is making affordable college a priority in his second term, but so far he’s ignored the surest way to ensure it can happen: pension reform.

“It’s also our obligation to make college more affordable by removing financial barriers. That’s why we need to bring down the cost of higher education. Since I took office, we’ve increased scholarships by more than 50%. Now let’s focus on making tuition free for every working-class family,” Pritzker said.

The biggest barrier to affordable college in Illinois is pensions. Rising pension costs push up Illinois tuition, forcing students to pay the difference.

Pension Costs Education

It’s why Illinois has the fourth-highest in-state tuition and fees for public universities in the nation at $14,455 a year. Pritzker boasts increased scholarships, but scholarships are like a coupon: they help people but do nothing to change the price tag.

Other big states keep their universities affordable. Public colleges in California, New York, Texas and Florida all cost under $9,000 a year for residents.

Read more here.

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‘A Springfield setup,’ Illinois lawmakers advancing $12,000 pay raises as part of $1.7 billion spending bill

Posted in BOHICA, Deception, Ethics, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Springfield, Taxes, Uncategorized on January 8, 2023| 3 Comments »

Springfield

Illinois state lawmakers are looking to give themselves a $12,000 raise with a bill that spends more than $1.7 billion of taxpayer money.

Just before 9 p.m. Friday, the Illinois House approved an amendment to Senate Bill 1720. The measure now goes to the Illinois Senate, which returns Sunday evening.

Alongside giving pay raises to state legislators, constitutional officers and executive agency directors, the measure puts $850 million into the state’s Budget Stabilization Fund known as the rainy day fund, gives hospitals statewide a one time $460 million payment to help with the increased cost of nursing, puts $400 million into the Large Business Attraction Fund and deposits $72 million into the Disaster Recovery Fund, among other things.

“A hundred and seventy-four pages on a Friday night, the audacity of what we are doing,” state Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield, said in opposition. “Pay increase, Christmas in January, for legislators.”

In the 102nd General Assembly that ends Jan. 10, base pay for legislators is $72,906 a year. Legislative leaders get extra stipends ranging from committee chairman and minority spokesman receiving an additional $11,098 to the Senate president and House speaker getting an additional $29,530 a year. If Senate Bill 1720 as amended is approved by the Senate and is enacted by the governor, starting with the 103rd General Assembly that begins Jan. 11, the base pay for part-time state legislators will increase to $85,000.

The measure also increases the salaries of the governor from $181,670 to $205,700, the lieutenant governor from $140,000 to $160,900, the secretary of state from $161,500 to $183,300, and the attorney general from $161,000 to $183,300. The comptroller and treasurer would each get their salaries increased from $140,000 to $160,900.

More here.

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Pritzker’s gas tax hike takes effect at midnight

Posted in BOHICA, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Springfield, Taxes on December 31, 2022| Leave a Comment »

J.B. Pritzker

Illinoisans are stuck with two gas tax hikes in 2023, thanks to Gov. J.B. Pritzker delaying the 2022 hike until after his election.

Gas prices nationwide are going down, but gas taxes in Illinois are going up in the new year. Illinois is scheduled for two gas tax increases in 2023, first Jan. 1 and then July 1.

The increase amount isn’t official yet, but Illinois Policy Institute estimates roughly a 3-cent increase per gallon to 42.4 cents starting Jan. 1.

Illinoisans are already familiar with high gas prices, which are the highest in the Midwest, according to AAA.

Gas tax hikes disproportionally hurt lower-income residents, who give up a larger percentage of their paycheck to pay for gas.

Even without upcoming gas tax hikes, Illinoisans already pay the second-highest gas taxes in the nation thanks to Gov. J.B. Pritzker doubling the state gas tax to 38 cents per gallon from 19 cents in 2019. He also added automatic annual hikes for inflation that drove the rate to 39.2 cents but delayed the 2022 increase until after the election – leading to two hikes in 2023.

Read more here.

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