Opinion

Why Kane County tax plan won’t work

Posted January 11, 2014 3:40 am

I am an adult on the autism spectrum living in Kane County. I am glad Kane County wants to do right by those (develop) mentally disabled, but I think the proposed referendum tax to benefit developmentally disabled persons wouldn’t work.

According to Gilbert Fonger at www.showyoucarekane.co. the tax could not be indexed and there would be no break for seniors on the homestead exemption. Though taxpayers would generally see an increase of $55, a home costing $253,693 would pay $78.56.

I want better for myself and those who share my fate, but I think this plan in shortsighted. I ask everyone to please regularly donate to services like AID who provide assistance, job-training and living options for develop(mentally) disabled persons. Being a taxpayer, you will provide a “win-win” situation. Northern Kane County is a service desert. I pray for wise counsel and a new plan from the Kane County Board as well as philanthropists. I pray for inclusion, not just awareness for those not genetically blessed as the rest of society. I think “mental retardation” should be removed as a disability qualification on the site. The compassionate term is “developmentally” or “intellectually” disabled.

“Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.” — Isaiah 1:16-17

Allison M. Kramer

Carpentersville

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