Village ignored petition on tax offset

The Daily Herald was right! The voters didn't listen to your editorial advice and the referendum to annex the village into the Fox Lake Fire Protection District was passed. There was no mention of a tax hike in the ballot question, so people thought it sounded like a good idea.

Most of us assumed the village would reduce their levy by the 0.5 percent that covered fire and ambulance services to partially offset the 0.71 percent that the District will be adding to our tax bills. We were wrong.

When petitioned to pass a resolution to do so, the mayor and trustees not only declined, they refused to even place the petition on the agenda for an open discussion.

So much for the "transparent government" the mayor promised when he ran for office.

The mayor explained that they may need some or all of those funds reallocated to other areas of the budget and needed to "keep their options open." Instead of a $94 increase for the average Fox Lake homeowner (a $135,000 house), it may be as much as $319.

Citizens are urged to let the board know how they feel about this but be aware, they'd prefer not to discuss it with you.

Michael Lescher

Fox Lake