Don’t fall for sales job on home rule
It seems like Prospect Heights officials are now offering “bribes” for residents to vote yet again for Home Rule status. They claim they would cut our property tax rates by 25 percent, deduct $5 from our vehicle stickers, and waive the $1 processing fee. What they do not tell you is that, they cannot cut our entire property tax rates, set by Cook County, but only the rates that apply to Prospect Heights, which in our particular case comes to a reduction of $435.02.
This sounds fine and would no doubt appeal to the average taxpayer, however beware — should it pass on the third vote, we residents will lose our voice, become subject to more rules and have no control over how and where the city spends our money.
As their article stated the city would have “greater flexibility in establishing taxes, financing municipal operations and spending.” They would be able to reverse any tax breaks, no doubt increase them for the fire and police departments, and worst of all impose mandatory regulations on every homeowner in our city and eventually force us into the Lake Michigan water system.
As long as we do not fall for empty promises and vote against the Home Rule, we will still have a strong voice in what transpires in our community. Politicians want to take away our rights little by little, and do not seem to have faith in decisions we make regarding our lives. We are the ones mostly affected by what a governing city or state or country do and have the right to stifle big government, even in Prospect Heights. It would be a shame of we are “blackmailed” into voting for something we may regret.
Patricia Greene
Prospect Heights