Taxpayers just want a break from big government

After writing a ridiculously large check for real estate taxes, I wrote a letter to the editor on the absurd level of taxes in Illinois. I never thought people would be pro tax. In response to my letter, Diane Niesman wrote a letter saying the answer to the problem is more taxes. Tax the rich more. I am not in that category, but that totally missed the point.

The government is too big, riddled with waste, fraud and special interest groups. I know exactly where real estate taxes go. The largest part is to the schools. I believe teachers are underpaid for what they do, but I have seen first hand the waste of administrators trying to spend money in the budget on anything, or they won’t get the same amount next year. Did anyone think of trying to come in under budget?

I have been to the county to try to lower my taxes, but that went nowhere. As a senior citizen, I get a discount of $300 on my taxes. I get to freeze my taxes at a ridiculously large amount.

Now if we could talk about the roads. $1.1 billion was redirected from the state road fund to rescue the struggling RTA. Then the governor authorized the tollways to raise rates to shore up the state road fund. In 2019, Illinois doubled the gas tax. It went to the transportation renewal fund. 80% goes to roads and bridges and 20% goes to the RTA. In 2020, the license plate sticker was raised 50% to $151 to fund infrastructure projects.

Does anyone see a pattern here? Instead of trying to figure out why regional transportation is failing, just again throw money at it. All I’m asking for is fiscal responsibility. Try to find a way to break even instead of running a deficit year after year.

John Panfil

Bloomingdale