What Franks, Walkup think about taxes, board size and Valley Hi

Two years ago, McHenry County voters decided they wanted to elect the chairman of their county board. Now, for the first time, voters have a decision to make in a countywide board race.

Their options? Michael Walkup, 67, a Crystal Lake Republican who has held a county board District 3 seat for one term, and Jack Franks, 53, a Marengo Democrat who dropped a re-election bid for his 10th term as state representative of the 63rd District to run for chairman.

Here's where they stand on three big issues:

TaxesBoth candidates say McHenry County's property taxes are too high. The county's tax rate makes up less than 10 percent of residents' tax bills, and Walkup says the board should continue cutting budgetary expenses and set an example for other local governments.

Franks, if elected, would initiate a "Cut 10" plan to decrease the county's property tax levy by 10 percent and encourage other government entities to do the same.

Valley HiCandidates countywide have debated what to do with a roughly $40 million surplus in the budget for the county-operated Valley Hi Nursing Home in Woodstock.

Walkup thinks the board should abolish the levy for the home, saying Valley Hi would have plenty of money to fund $20 million in necessary repairs and cover its annual budget deficit for a few decades. At that point, he said, the board can ask taxpayers again if they want the county to continue running a nursing home.

Franks said he believes the county should rebate the surplus to taxpayers.

County board sizeFranks and Walkup both believe the 24-member county board should be downsized, the county should be redistricted and committees should be restructured. Franks wants to create 12 single-member districts to hold board members more accountable. He would trim committees to six from more than a dozen.

Walkup believes the board should be reduced to 15 members serving five districts. He would cut the size of each committee to five members, so a person from each district could sit on each committee.

- Lauren Rohr