Taxes will rise only if we let them

I'm not surprised there are so many of us who are stunned and confused by our new, higher property tax bills. We all had the opportunity to once again vote in people who might actually do something for us little people. It may be too early to tell, but it appears we failed again.

Instead, we're still saddled with a bunch of guys who raise our assessments and create an outrageously high state equalization multiplier so they can give the big guys big breaks on their assessments. And we're stuck with making up the differences. Add the politicians in Springfield into the mix, and we have the group who insists on putting more lipstick on that pig they call “a budget” because it's too hard to start over and create a streamlined budget that fits the current and future needs of the people. It's obviously more convenient for them to put on their somber faces, wring their hands and bravely hold back fake sobs, as they express their profound regrets that our taxes have to be raised once again.

Regardless of what they say, the only way to stop the spiraling debt and outrageous taxes is to start over. Each tax eating entity (school districts, village, township, county and state) must re-examine every expense and streamline every facet of each department. It's the only way to lower our taxes and make every taxing body more efficient and effective.

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear anything is going to change. We will continue to be stuck with do-nothing politicians and bloated, wasteful and outdated budgets guaranteed to increase every year as the waste and inefficiencies grow. So, buckle your seat belts everyone because our taxes are going to continue to rise as long as we continue to allow it.

Len Brauer

Palatine