How could Kane raise tax rates?

In the midst of one of the worst recessions of our lifetime, one that has been aggravated and extended by the ineptness and poor judgment of our politicians and their policies, Kane County believes a property rate increase of almost 1.2 percent should go unnoticed.

I can't speak for other property owners, those working at minimum wage, or those who have lost their job. But I do know something about living on a fixed income with a budget and belt tightening when you're told Social Security will not be increased for three or four years, but Social Security deductions are being increased each year and the cost of medications keeps going up, not to mention the cost of energy and food.

I mention energy and food together since a large amount of corn is grown for energy and is government subsidized, while our food costs rise because of the corn shortage. And without an energy policy, that, too, is rising with no end in sight.

I recently attended a Sun City Huntley board meeting where one of the agenda items was the increased number of foreclosures in Sun City. Why do you think that is? We aren't any different from the rest of the country. If you watch the news organizations that will stand up and tell you the truth about our economy, it is not difficult to find out Illinois is in serious trouble.

High taxes, high unemployment, poor political management and businesses struggling to stay afloat are hallmarks of our economic situation today.

The audacity and outright ignorance of the Kane County decision to raise the property tax rate at a time when the population is struggling with energy costs, food costs, loss of jobs and an uncertain economic future blows my mind.

This on top of a $30 million bond for unknown land to be bought by the county that was approved in the spring election adds insult to injury.

Douglas Dunlap

Huntley