Immigration is an issue for local campaigns

With local elections coming up next month, voters will have the chance to elect people who can have a major impact on their pocketbooks. Trustees of villages, school districts, library districts, park districts, and townships decide how much of voter's money is "needed" for their agencies; and these decisions are reflected in individual property tax bills.

Illinois" outrageous taxes, especially property taxes, are a hot issue. Our state's especially-high taxes drive down home values and drive people and businesses out of the state. I believe there is a nexus between our outrageous taxes and another contentious issue - the presence of illegal immigrants living in our communities at the expense of legal citizens. Make no mistake, illegal immigrants begin to create costs for legal citizens from the very moment they cross the border.

The connection between the two issues is that units of government have to collect more tax money to provide service than would otherwise be necessary if the individuals were not in our community. With an estimated 155,000 illegal immigrants residing in Cook County, the costs are substantial.

Some would say, "Wait, illegal immigrants pay taxes, too!" True, but those who have studied this have concluded that the cost of providing services exceeds any taxes paid by about $15,000 each. Additionally, these immigrants deprive citizens of work opportunities and lower their wages.

Elected leaders who advocate for illegal immigrants, who provide them sanctuary and endless benefits, are stealing the financial future of legal citizens. Vote them out.

Charles F. Falk

Schaumburg