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Dist. 128 owes taxpayers answers

Enough is enough!

I am a 35-year resident of Libertyville. I like this community and raised two sons who went through Libertyville High School. Libertyville High School did an excellent job preparing the boys for college and beyond. What I don't appreciate is the escalating cost to Libertyville's taxpaying homeowners.

I am frustrated by continuous tax increases to support the high yearly cost for every student in District 128. It is totally out of line.

My frustration began when my recent homeowner tax bill went up again - substantially - with 71 percent of the taxes going to schools and District 128 accounting for the biggest piece of the increase.

I did my research, attended a District 128 school board meeting on June 10, presented my findings and asked questions.

1. Why does District 128 operate with a $125 million surplus?

2. Why did District 128 request and get a 3.4 percent tax increase for the 2013-2014 budget when they had a huge surplus?

3. Why is the surplus returning "very little" on investments? Wouldn't it be better to rebate $75 million to the taxpayer and still have a $50 million surplus?

4. Why has District 128 negotiated administrative and teacher salaries that seem so high?

5. Why does District 128 spend so much per student yet still not achieve top ranking like Stevenson High School, which spends less according to a comparison of the two districts' budgets?

Let there be no mistake, there are many more people who, like me, love Libertyville and want to live here. They see their school taxes go up every year, realize financially they may have to move, yet also know it will be very difficult to sell their home because their property taxes are so high.

We need to fix this situation. Let your school board members know how you feel. Don't remain silent.

Gerry Verbeten

Libertyville

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