No gain, all pain in loss of home rule

No gain, all pain. That's the best way to sum up the question on East Dundee's ballot, "Shall the Village of East Dundee cease to be a home rule unit?"

State Rep. Allen Skillicorn led the campaign to repeal home rule by bringing together out-of-town lobbyists to convince East Dundee residents that investments enabled by home rule are reckless and destroying our village. Really? Why did Skillicorn never raise these alarms during his six years on the board? I do not understand his political motivations, but it is now certain that he is not the tax champion that he claims.

There is one result that is certain. If East Dundee loses home rule, property taxes will go up because $1.45 million of home rule revenue is lost. The village board has already passed a resolution stating they cannot and will not abate property taxes as they have done each year with home rule revenue. Those on fixed incomes that own homes will be most impacted. And this is not a small increase - the median $185,000 home will see a $1,200 increase.

And for what reason? None. Since home rule began in 2004, East Dundee's property taxes have reduced from 6.48 percent of property tax bill to 6 percent and by the same measurement, the lowest in the area.

I know Allen Skillicorn. I have asked him to publicly announce that while he is against home rule in principle, now is not the time to repeal home rule in East Dundee. I believe that he knows that, but for some reason ideology trumps reason. I appeal to Allen to publicly repudiate the very campaign he started.

And, I ask all East Dundee residents to vote to keep home rule. To do this, vote no on the third proposition, to cease home rule.

Rob Gorman

East Dundee