Village only a small part of tax problem
I sympathize with Marcie Leonard’s comments about increasing property taxes. My spouse and I, too, have lived in the same house in this town since 1969 and have a similar experience. We, too, have seen the value of our home decrease in the last several years and our current property tax increase by over $800 over last year.
I do take issue, however, with her opinion that “We don’t need more buildings, fountains or ‘special events’,” suggesting that the tax increase is a result of poor management of village finances. Yes, I paid an increase of 25 percent in taxes to the village over last year. But that increase accounted for only about 11 percent of the total increase in taxes.
On the other hand, the costs for schools accounted for 66 percent of this year’s tax increase, with the major portion of that increase going to elementary and secondary education. Volumes have been written about the impact of public sector salaries and pensions and the devastating effect they have had in Illinois over past decades.
While I expect all government to exercise spending restraint, I also believe Marcie Leonard is out of line in holding only village government responsible for the financial mess.
Charles E. Glomski
Elk Grove Village