Increasing taxation is astounding
To the editor: I am astounded by the ever-increasing taxation. The rate for park district and schools never seems to go down only up-up-up.
The only special aspect is these organizations gaining more money when TIF financing ends; however, the increasing property value provides substantial gain in funding for these tax-based organizations.
Now we are told (not asked) that District 25 is to go ahead with air conditioning these schools. The article says the district has a surplus of $43 million; also that the cost for this project is estimated at $12.6 million. This cost to taxpayers (estimated) to add $671 to the real estate tax bill (home value of $500,000). Should they be allowed to do this?
Cooling these buildings would be nice for (warm) months. Evening temperatures are seldom excessive. Thus, we are looking at spending $12.6 million for two months a year cooling.
Dan Petro, president, should request an evaluation justification from the superintendent and from those who approved this project, Chrissis, Glasgow, Page, Pressing, Williams requiring each to define beyond such statements as "it's needed."
Now let us go one step further, past promised rate reductions! We approved $5.5 million a year for additions; real estate cost spread through 2009; then a rate reduction of 21 cents/$450 on a $500,000 home; next in 2011 a rate reduction of 22 cents/$471 on a $500,000 home. These choices made sense!
It seems this board feels we as taxpayers have paid in the past and will accept this also.
I now look at Patton School, and if there was a need for "cooling in spaces," why was it not provided in the basic architectural/engineering planning proposal. Could it be it was not envisioned as a necessary item?
My memory goes back to the Park Place School where we taxpayers "rejected" a tax increase. Then the board did an end run around us, found a way to build a new school plus demolish "both" old school buildings; now paying an annual fee for some years until a buyback is feasible. This air conditioning is an end run around us; let us stop it!
Donald Schmidgall
Arlington Heights