He saves money by shopping elsewhere

I saved over $1,000 in Cook County taxes in the past year. Sorry so many peoples property taxes went up, mine went down about 15 percent for a $800 savings this year and next. I saved several hundred additional sales tax dollars by shopping north of the Lake Cook line.

Yes we are MAD, now get even, here is how.

First contest your property tax assessment. Just make a phone call to one of the lawyers that sends us letters each year offering to get your taxes lowered. They only charge a $50 retainer to get to work then half of the first year's savings when finalized.

It is a no-brainer. Values are way down, you will get a reduction, I did. The county is throwing us a bone recently with an across the board reduction hoping you won't file because you will get a much greater reduction in addition as I did.

Next, since Todd Stroger squeezed us for 0.1 cent pushing sales tax over 10 percent I spend my $4,000 a year for gasoline north of the Lake Cook line since I go that way weekly anyway. Along with any electronics, tires, some dining etc. for several hundred dollars additional savings of sales tax per year.

This money is in my pocket not his and it feels GOOD, take that Todd Stroger! Sorry to see the Arlington Heights board align themselves with this fool by adding a 0.2 cent tax on gasoline to fund mismanaged pension funds. This move will cost them dearly as it has the county.

They can only squeeze us so hard and WE WILL FIGHT BACK. This one person spends over $5,000 per year outside of "Crook" County and got my property taxes reduced. Multiply this by some thousands of people jumping on this bandwagon and Todd Stroger you have lost big time, the stats are out and these spending habits are not reversible, the damage is done.

Get to work people this is a recession and YOU need the money more than they do!

John Godlewski

Arlington Heights