The Tribune asked candidates in contested races for Lake County Board five questions about issues facing county government.
This week the Tribune is running responses from Lake County Board candidates in contested races in districts 4, 6, 11, 13, 15 and 21. Responses will run on Nov. 1 from candidates in the remaining contested races — districts 1, 3, 5, 9, 16 and 19.
What is the biggest issue facing Lake County residents, and how would you address it as a County Board member?
District 4
Glenn Ryback (Democrat): Real Estate Taxes are crushing many residents. Senior Citizens on the Tax Freeze experience increases just as everyone else, which can be pretty challenging because Social Security doesn’t offer raises or bonuses as the corporate world might. I would address it by not filling a $17 million shortfall in the County Budget by raising real estate taxes, which is exactly what was done by the County Board this year. Yes, my opponent voted in favor of the increase.
Brent C. Paxton (Republican): The biggest issue that I consistently hear about is high property taxes, and I must admit that I agree with them. However, addressing this issue is a much more complicated problem. The Lake County Board is only in charge of Lake County Government’s portion of a person’s total tax bill. And Lake County Government is less than 7 percent of a homeowner’s total tax bill. This works out to be about $290 of a typical $6,000 tax bill that Lake County Government is responsible for. So I feel that the best way to address Lake County’s portion of the property tax is to continue to use taxpayers’ money as wisely and responsibly as possible, to keep our portion of the tax bill as low as possible. I would also continue to look for ways to cut expenses rather than raise taxes as a way to balance our budget (as we have done for years). Doing this has allowed us to cut over $17 million from our budget over the past few years rather than looking to the taxpayer to balance our budget.
District 6
Pat Carey (Democrat): I believe the biggest issue facing most people today is the economy, evidenced by fewer jobs, devalued homes, and high taxes. A healthy economy is important to our quality of life. Employment opportunities allow everyone to meet the needs of their families. Keeping jobs in the County cuts down on travel times and increases the tax base, helping our schools and decreasing the burden on homeowners. I currently serve on the Board of Lake County Partners, the economic development arm of the County. As a former economic development professional, I know what it takes to recruit and retain businesses, and through Partners, I work with municipalities and Lake County corporations to retain existing and bring new jobs to the County. We have achieved some successes in recent years, including the FedEx and Cornerstone projects in Grayslake. I have supported the use of incentives when they result in a positive benefit to the community in new jobs and increased tax base, but only if they also demonstrate a financial benefit to our schools and other taxing bodies.
While increased economic development can help to lessen the property tax burden on residents, we also need to control spending to keep the County’s tax burden as low as possible. I have voted in favor of more than $17 million in cuts in the County Budget between 2009 and 2012. I refused a raise voted on by Members prior to my joining the Board and donated the amount of the raise back to the County. I serve as Vice-Chair of the Forest Preserve Finance Committee, where I have been a strong voice for fiscally conservative policies that have resulted in reduced expenditures, decreasing our operating budget by 5.5 percent in the 2011/2012 fiscal year and reducing our tax levy for four years in a row.
Jeff Werfel (Republican): I believe the most important issue facing Lake County over the next ten years is its overall economic viability and competitiveness both within Illinois and outside of it, especially given our shared border with the state of Wisconsin.
The three challenges driving this issue that I would address are:
* To responsibly manage Lake County’s budget and finances while continuing to deliver high quality county services. County government needs to be as innovative and cost-effective as possible in the delivery of the services for which it is responsible
* To encourage more business/commercial development in Lake County to add jobs, improve the overall economy and assist in relieving more of the onerous residential property tax burden on our citizens.
* To continue to improve the county’s roads and transportation infrastructure to reduce traffic congestion and encourage business/commercial development. I will support the efforts of the county to improve the roads it is responsible for, as well as all efforts by other levels of government to improve the local roads they are responsible for.
District 11
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Steven W. Mandel (Democrat): Pension costs and the slow growth economy threatens all Illinois governments and makes it very hard to hold down taxes and fees. We must create efficiencies in government by sharing services, consolidating small governments, and looking to the private sector to provide services while maintaining quality. The State must deal with their own fiscal problems without putting additional costs on local governments as well as continue to fund past revenue sharing commitments to us.
Laura Lambrecht (Republican): The State of Illinois’ continued mismanagement and fiscal insolvency is having a larger impact on local governments each year. The State has taken revenue streams away while forcing unfunded mandates on the County. As they continue to pass the buck and shirk responsibilities, the County will have to deal with the repercussions.
Lake County needs to also seriously review the current infrastructure under its jurisdiction including space issues at the County Courthouse. We will need to invest in the future of Lake County by expansion of the courthouse or the building of a new one. Other county departments are scattered in various locations in buildings that often do not serve the county well. Investments in roads, efficient facilities and other infrastructure that will have a lasting value to the county should be a priority in the next 10 years.
District 13
Sandra Hart (Democrat): The biggest issues facing Lake County are jobs, rising property taxes, home decreasing in value and property taxes on the rise. It is my top priority to work with local businesses to make sure we are providing the right environment to retain and attract companies in Lake County. The unemployment rate in Lake County is above the national average for the first time in ten years, and we must establish a strategy to ensure that our residents and business owners have the support and resources they need to keep jobs here. Having a strong commercial base is of critical importance: it enhances the quality of life for our residents by enabling them to live close to work; it decreases the residential tax burden; and it grows the economic climate. We need to see clear, quantifiable results for the dollars given to Lake County Partners, assess the current conditions, and make changes to ensure we stay on track to provide the right services for companies to thrive.
Rising property taxes are impacting families across Lake County. Even though the county represents only 7 percent of our tax dollar, and the forest preserve district another 3 percent, alleviating the taxpayer burden is a central focus for me. In 2011, the Lake Bluff Park District Board, on which I serve, voted unanimously to abate the CPI increase in our tax levy for 2012 to alleviate some of the tax burden, however small, to our residents. One of my top three goals as a board member is ensuring that the county board continues to be fiscally conservative while providing necessary services. Many families throughout the county are struggling with underemployment or lack of employment, and I will carefully analyze the budget to ensure crucial services are delivered with the fewest taxpayer dollars. In today’s economic climate, particularly in the state of Illinois, there is no alternative. The county has done a good job reducing costs and becoming more efficient, paring millions of dollars from the budget, but this is a work in progress, and I am looking forward to being a part of that process.
David Barkhausen (Republican): The biggest challenge facing County Board members is to continue to provide high-quality, efficient services without raising taxes and without jeopardizing the County’s Triple AAA credit rating in the face of likely reductions in Federal and State funding. The County needs to continue to look for ways to economize by finding additional savings in personnel costs by maximizing the use of technology, such as in the Circuit Court Clerk’s and Supervisor of Assessment’s offices and through privatization where it appears to be cost-efficient.
District 15
Del Parra (Democrat): The biggest issue, in the current state of our economy, it’s the taxes as well as the spending as usual that our county and our forest preserve are doing. It is imperative to reduce spending and cut taxes. Our elected members say that they fiscally conservative. On the other hand, at the forest preserve they are using more than $20 million from savings to cover budget deficits. Another case, the county just approved building a new courthouse at a cost of $105 million. I know and understand that overcrowding at the courthouse is a fact and additional space is needed. A better option would be, buying an existing building to accommodate civil and family cases and then converted it for use at a fraction of the cost with savings for up to $90 million or $95 million of our taxes. We have to pass these savings to our taxpayers. More savings would be accomplished by utilizing county’s staff more fully. I question why the Forest Preserve Board is awarding some contracts to outside companies. The Board is entrusted with reading contract details not simply granting approval on any contract presented. Closer reviews of all future contracts would help reduce waste and slash taxes.
Carol Calabresa (Republican): We need to provide essential state mandated services to an ever-increasing population in a fiscally conservative manner. Unlike many other government units, we have a balanced budget, strong cash reserves and we contribute the full annual fund pension requirement which enables us to maintain a triple A bond rating. We are one of only 38 counties in the entire United States to acquire such a high rating. I voted against the 2012 budget, because I wanted deeper cuts and funding for only core and mandated business operations, and I will continue to advocate for the same next year.
District 21
Arlene Hickory (Democrat): Lake County has a balanced budget. This was done by eliminating 113 positions, largely by vacancies (from Lake County Website). It is known that economic contraction in the long run will not sustain well-being. At the same time we know foreclosures continue to plague the economy and efforts to support mortgage refinancing and principle write down has been blocked by agencies one would expect would bring relief to the people and communities struggling to survive.
As people experience a seemingly indifferent government it becomes more important that local government stays close to and responsive to the needs of its citizens and the struggle of college students carrying enormous debt facing an uncertain future. There are states, cities, towns, that sought to resolve their budget crises by privatizing their public resources. As they sold off their water systems management, they later found themselves confronted with a decrease in services, increased cost with neglected infrastructure and suffering residents.
Because of the sand mining corporations operating in Wisconsin, Minnesota and possibly Southern Illinois, there is a threat of land loss, degraded water quality, loss of tax revenue and decline in community life.
Paying attention to housing and energy needs will be critical and can be an avenue to recovery activities; integrating transportation resources, reducing automobile commutes, energy conservation and sustainability initiatives are going to be the areas of job development. This speaks to a crucial need for ongoing participative citizen/government collaboration.
I would promote the use of new cloud-based internet technology to enhance this collaboration. I would bring attention to new economic models, some aspects of which are happening in Lake County now. There is an increase in the number of small farms in Lake County because of the increased demand for organic products as well as the incentive from the buying local movement. I would promote the concept of a County Public Bank. Illinois joins 18 other states by introducing HB 2064 to establish a public state bank. The Public Banking Institute encourages public banking at all levels: local, regional, state and National. A public bank is owned by the people. It could be available for lower income people who cannot afford banking fees, it would be a ready source of affordable credit for local government, it can serve local initiatives, it is constitutional and has additional advantages.
In the next ten years we could be facing tragedy, or with mindful planning we could introduce a deepening of Democracy-Community-Dignity-Humanity.
Ann B. Maine (Republican): High property taxes are the biggest issue facing Lake County. Voters in my district want their government to be fiscally responsible, and specifically, for those of us in public service to remember that government money belongs to the taxpayers. Government MUST live within its means, just like every household must do. We simply cannot spend money we do not have and expect to increase taxes to cover the difference. That means we must prioritize expenditures and put County funds toward areas that are required by law and have the greatest impact on residents’ lives.
At the County and the Forest Preserve we are always evaluating the effectiveness, necessity and cost of our programs as we look for ways to save taxpayer money and keep expenses low, while maintaining public safety and funding mandatory programs.
Specifically, we have cut the number of County employees by 10 percent, saving $50 million in employee salaries since 2009. We evaluate the need for programs and departments continually. With the downturn in the economy, the Planning, Building and Zoning Department staff was reduced by 1/3. We reorganized that and other departments with more appropriate levels of staffing to better use resources. Retrofitting and remodeling of buildings has saved millions of dollars over the past few years.
The Forest Preserve has cut the tax levy by 12 percent in the past 4 years.
Since 90 percent of the typical tax bill is not controlled by the County, the best way of countering high taxes is to promote sustainable economic growth.
While County government has a more limited role in these issues, we still assist in important ways. First, we work with the public-private partnership of Lake County Partners to promote and actively seek new businesses in Lake County, while also providing assistance for current businesses of all sizes. Secondly, in the past decade we have invested over $200 million in the infrastructure of Lake County through our water, sewer and road programs. This includes not only important road improvement projects, but also programs such as PASSAGE, which gives real time traffic information to commuters. Sitting in traffic costs individuals as well as businesses time and money.
Protection of our natural resources is not only good for the environment, it is good for the economy. Businesses and workers are attracted to areas that value and protect our environment. Lake County has a number of task forces (of which I co-chaired one) that are examining steps to safeguard a safe, clean, sustainable water supply. This important resource is vital for the health and well being of the county. A number of studies project that the Chicago region will have a severe water shortage in 20 years. By tackling the problem now, we can ensure residents and businesses that Lake County is a place to call home.
Finally and importantly we provide a fiscally responsible County government with a AAA bond rating. All these factors help create an environment to retain businesses and to attract new companies that will bring new jobs to our County.
Lake County and the Chicago Metropolitan Planning Agency are to conduct a land-use study for a proposed extension of Highway 53. Do you support the extension? What issues should the study take into consideration?
District 4
Glenn Ryback (Democrat): Not wanting to be the one to tell you this is old news, the land-use study has been ongoing for quite some time. A number of suggestions to “soften” the look of a four-lane divided highway have been introduced during meetings I have attended over the past several months. Renderings of a country boulevard are impressive, but I don’t agree with banning all truck traffic from the route. While the Route 53 project does not directly impact District 4, it would greatly improve traffic flow in the western part of Lake County by reducing congestion on Routes 94, 41 and 131 at the east, not to mention easing cross-county flow on the east-west arterials. While the extension has my complete support, I believe the time has come to conclude spending on conceptual plans and to now utilize any available funding on engineering plans. It is unfortunate the extension will be paid for by user fees, but better a toll-road than no road at all.
Brent C. Paxton (Republican): Yes, I support the extension. I think this project is long overdue. There have been many ideas floated over the years as to what this extension should look like and I think all of these ideas should be taken into consideration. However, I would like to see some sort of separate lane for busses (or other mass transportation) to encourage the use of mass transportation (somewhat like they are doing with busses driving on the shoulders of other highways). I think if mass transportation was truly quicker and more convenient it would be used more.
District 6
Pat Carey (Democrat): When the Board adopted a resolution supporting the Route 53 extension in 2009, I offered a successful amendment that added language solidifying the County’s position that any proposed Route 53 project would not only solve the traffic problems in the proposed corridor, but also minimize impact on the environment, include a transit component, and operate effectively with the proposed Route 120 Boulevard Bypass. I believe the consensus proposal that came out of the Route 53/120 Blue Ribbon Advisory Council meets the spirit of our resolution. I will support the project if it meets the transportation and environmental goals outlined in the Council’s report.
One of the long-standing concerns about the Route 53 extension is the type of growth it could foster along the road’s corridor. The study being undertaken by Lake County DOT and CMAP will strive to align the predicted future growth of the area with community goals. As a County Board Member and as a former Mayor, I think it will be most important to ensure that each community has a strong voice in this process. The study needs to recognize the autonomy of each municipality while looking for common ground in terms of land use, particularly as related to development of non-residential properties. I believe Lake County Partners should be engaged in the study also, as related to economic development goals for the central part of the County.
Jeff Werfel (Republican): I support the recently adopted recommendations of the Route 53 Blue Ribbon Commission to create an environmentally sensitive and acceptable Route 53 extension into Lake County. The land use study should address all potential relevant transportation, economic, environmental and overall quality of life impacts the extension could generate.
District 11
Steven W. Mandel (Democrat): If it follows all the environmental restrictions and remediation recommendations and does not raise taxes or fees I would consider supporting. What issues should the study take into consideration? Suburban sprawl is a big concern that could have a negative impact on water supply, natural habitat, and increased costs for government. As we provide infrastructure to less populated areas of the County we must understand the capacity of our resources and be able to limit development to work within a realistic and holistic County wide plan.
Laura Lambrecht (Republican): I do support the extension; the study will need to look at how to be environmentally sensitive to the areas they are going through. Sound Walls, berms, lowers speed limits, size of highway and even using a lower grade on the highway all could help environmental impact of this important project. Also a traffic study of how truck transportation can be routed around Chicago directly to the business’s in Lake County should be part of the needs study. Right now those traveling from Schaumburg north on Rt 53 reach a barrier that prevents easy access to Lake County and its many businesses, which have suffered over the years as a result. The barrier also prevents free flow of goods between counties and the region. Plans to expand Rt. 53 have been around for over thirty years. It is time to get them off the table and put them in a more shovel ready position.
District 13
Sandra Hart (Democrat): There are a range of scenarios, with the goal, of course, to find the one that gives the best balance between congestion relief, cost, and the surrounding area. The Blue Ribbon Commission has recommended a boulevard design, which maximum speeds of 45 mph, for the 12-mile long extension. The biggest questions are how to address the funding gap and the environmental impact. In my conversations with representatives from the Illinois Tollway Authority, they confirm the up to projected $2.8 billion dollar price tag and $800 million shortfall to this project. This shortfall exists even while taking in to account the proposed tolls on the extension and increasing the tolls throughout the entire Illinois Tollway system. In addition, this project is not included in the Tollway’s capital plan through 2026. I believe we need firmer cost projections to better understand the potential implications to commuters. I’ve been talking to people in Grayslake and Wildwood and they are concerned with the cost and the potential impact to their neighborhood. A project of this magnitude comes with serious environmental complexities as well. Congestion along 120 is a serious issue, and we can’t ignore the traffic and bottlenecks. Perhaps we should tackle that first. If 53 is built, however, I’ll make sure the extension doesn’t negatively impact surrounding communities and wetlands.
David Barkhausen (Republican): I do support the proposal of the Route 120/53 Blue Ribbon Commission adopted in May and am pleased that it appears to have been embraced by the Illinois Tollway Authority, which has just committed to funding the design phase.
The land use study should follow the regional consensus approach that worked so successfully for the Commission. It should include representatives of the communities most directly affected by the project, representatives of businesses with key stakes in it, those most sensitive to and knowledgeable about environmental impacts. It should also explore the possibility of revenue sharing among local governments where new businesses is generated.
District 15
Del Parra (Democrat): Yes, I fully support the extension of Highway 53. This project will benefit in many ways thousands of county residents. We needed the extension to improve transportation of goods produced here or to get materials that county manufacturing companies need, to reduce driving time to our residents and for them to be able to spend more time with their families. Considerations must be observed to keep our ecology intact. On the other hand, I believe that state laws allow these agencies to get the land needed. These agencies should pay a fair market value for the land. The price should be agreeable to both sides. Eminent domain must be reserved for very precise and specific circumstances and only where it’s absolutely necessary. Residents and county officials have to reach common ground.
Carol Calabresa (Republican): On the Highway 53 advisory referendum, over 75 percent of the Libertyville residents supported the proposed extension of the road. With this overwhelming support of village residents, I support the extension. The study should include the protection of natural resources, water drainage issues, run-off, road character, possible commercial corridor, speed limits and finding reasonable tolls to cover the road construction costs.
District 21
Arlene Hickory (Democrat): The Lake County Improvement Project was completed in 2001, it included consideration of the extension of Route 53. There are multiple concerns regarding impact to natural resources, possible advancement of development sprawl and lack of funding options. Pressure for better North-South transportation access has created renewed interest by the Illinois Tollway. Some see this as an opportunity for increasing job market. The environmental issues are significant. Wetland conservation and preservation is not a small concern and has far reaching impact when overall water sustainability is considered. There are also many smaller environmental impacts.
My concern is a significant knowledge gap — the general population has a wide range of awareness or understanding of ecosystem challenges and a cultural gap exists as divergent views of climate change and the role of Nature in the Human experience shapes belief systems. In order to mitigate negative outcomes, for example, fostering solutions based on short-term goals of access to jobs vs. developing long range goals based on stewardship of the land; valuing land as an essential commons like air or water. This divergence needs to be addressed.
My advocacy for increased citizen/government collaboration through advanced Internet technologies is about fostering the kind of social interactions that can reduce knowledge deficit, and expand social inter-connectedness. While this may seem an elusive objective, any tangible effort will be helpful.
In any effort to protect, restore, or advance environmental issues, the social ecology is equally important. Note this excerpt from Preister and Kent (Center for Social Ecology and Public Policy: JKG Group): “The central thesis put forth in this paper is that successful restoration depends on cultural restoration. Success in ecosystem restoration will depend on the good will, stewardship and participation of citizens”. My contention is that successful preservation will also require the same cultural elements. Few projects in the next decade can afford to exclude a full participation of its citizens. Increasingly, physical change and social change will be co-determinant.
Ann B. Maine (Republican): I support the decision of the Blue Ribbon Commission to design a road that will balance the travel needs of people, goods and services, with the environmentally sensitive areas. Specifically there are a number of sensitive wetlands in the area that need protection. Our aquifers are very important. The sodium levels in the groundwater is already rising and we must ensure that the road design and maintenance do not add to the salt levels. Typically roads change the adjacent land use to one that is more intensive and commercial. This needs to be examined carefully to ensure that existing neighborhoods have proper buffering and are not isolated. In addition, the impact on local roads due to any rezoning needs to be minimized. Finally, it is crucial that this road incorporate and make connections to non-motorized travel and multimodal transit.
Motorola Mobility’s announcement this summer it would leave Lake County for Chicago and lay off employees in the process came as a surprise to many people in the county, including elected officials. As a County Board member, what would you propose county do to retain employers like Motorola Mobility and also attract new jobs?
District 4
Glenn Ryback (Democrat): A surprise announcement, indeed. Even Libertyville Mayor Terry Weppler was amazed at how rapidly the Governor allowed state credits to be transferred to a Chicago location from his attractive village. In this situation, Mayor Weppler and I concluded the County had little leverage. But Lake County does have the Lake County Partners, a public-private entity which is always scouting industry for new business and has a complete inventory of buildings and shovel-ready Lake County sites. Our community is a member, and I am always impressed with what the “Partners” offer.
Brent C. Paxton (Republican): The Lake County Board is a major funder of Lake County Partners. Lake County Partners sole purpose is economic development and is the expert in that field. Continuing to fund Lake County Partners and possibly increasing their funding (as I have suggested recently) would be a start. I would want to make sure that they have the resources that they need to retain and attract businesses. Tax breaks and incentives to businesses can be helpful, but since Lake County only controls 7 percent of the property taxes, I don’t know how much incentive that would necessarily give a business.
District 6
Pat Carey (Democrat): I believe the County Board has a leadership role to play in promoting economic growth throughout Lake County. I am currently involved, as a Director of Lake County Partners, in development of a Community Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). Based on the CEDS plan, once completed, Lake County Partners will launch new marketing, attraction and retention efforts in the County to encourage new investment and job growth. These new programs will play to Lake County’s strengths, including our diverse socio-economic character, our wealth of cultural and natural resources, and our location as home to many corporate headquarters and leaders in the bio-pharmaceutical industry.
While we are always on the lookout to bring new business and jobs to the county, much of our growth comes from the successes and expansion of our existing businesses. During all of my sixteen years in local government, I have worked closely with small business owners in my area and I will continue to do so. I also look forward to getting more actively involved in retention efforts throughout the County as outlined in the CEDS plan.
The County can also have an impact on the business climate through its actions in several areas:
* Transportation – I will continue my support for road and transit improvements.
* Regulations – I have supported and will continue to support streamlining permitting processes and ensuring that regulations do not inhibit business growth.
* Incentives – I support their use when they result in a positive benefit to the community in new jobs and increased tax base, while providing long-term financial benefit to our schools and other taxing bodies.
Jeff Werfel (Republican): The County Board should work closely with private business, other governmental units and economic development groups to maximize Lake County’s ability to attract and retain employers, and the jobs they create, for our citizens. It’s a “team approach” to economic development which maximizes the County’s ability to succeed in this critical area.
District 11
Steven W. Mandel (Democrat): Absolutely, I think we need to continue to work with employers and business to create incentives and support to provide jobs for our residents. Lake County has much to offer and we need to continue to network with Lake County Partners and market our County. I would focus on urban areas for redevelopment where folks need jobs and infrastructure is underutilized.
Laura Lambrecht (Republican): It is unfortunate that they moved, and it is very hard to compete when communities are willing to throw incentives that will eventually have a negative effect on their budget to take from neighboring communities. In the end, it will be a loose/loose for both of the communities.
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When you start down a road of giving incentives, unless there is great economic gain, it will definitely hurt the community in the long run.
Most businesses in Lake County complain of inadequate infrastructure and roads that prevent them from access to their plants, factories and offices. If a truck filled with Motorola products has a difficult time traveling through Lake County, that remains a negative. We need to address infrastructure issues including roads, access to water and sewers. We need to assess the traffic situation and improve it through better timed stop lights and more right and left turn lanes. More communication between such employers and the county would be invaluable in assessing their needs, wants and desires to determine if they can be met economically. Such communication has been subpar and I will advocate increasing it dramatically.
District 13
Sandra Hart (Democrat): Working with businesses through round table discussions and forums is something I most look forward to doing and is an important part of this job. The unemployment rate in Lake County is above the national average for the first time in ten years. Losing Motorola, U-Line, and other companies have a huge impact on jobs and on the tax base. Governor Walker and Mayor Emanuel are working hard to bring companies to Wisconsin and Chicago. We should be doing the same thing. Affiliating with Lake County Partners is good but it’s not enough, especially since we’re so close to Kenosha County and our corporate income tax rate disparity.
As a member of the Board, it’s my responsibility to help businesses grow and expand, and given my business background at Kraft and budgeting experience, I believe I’m uniquely qualified. I’ve already spoken with Lake County Partners, and I’ll work directly with companies in my district to hear what’s working, what’s not, and what new things we should put in place. How can we help facilitate and foster an environment for success? What are the barriers they are encountering? I will partner with them to ensure that they have a voice on the county board. This type of announcement should never come as a surprise to our elected officials.
David Barkhausen (Republican): The County can do at least four things to help the job picture, at least at the margin:
* Through its “Lake County Partners” public-private business promotion initiative, stay in frequent touch with employers to keep a pulse on their needs and desires for assistance.
* Make sure that its “Work Force Development” program, in cooperation with the College of Lake County and the Area Vocational Center, is training and re-training individuals for the jobs that are available and skills that are needed by employers.
* Seek to accommodate reasonable requests for zoning changes for businesses seeking to locate or expand in the unincorporated areas of the County over which the County has zoning control.
* Push for necessary transportation improvements, especially the recent recommendation of the Route 120/53 Blue Ribbon Commission made to the Illinois Tollway Authority.
* Lobby the state legislature to make essential changes in tax laws and workers’ compensation that are driving business from the State and putting it towards the bottom of the list for businesses considering moving or expanding here.
District 15
Del Parra (Democrat): Elected officials must meet at least yearly with these big company officials and as necessary to review their five-, 10- and 25-year plans in order to create the appropriate infrastructure for these companies to keep growing and to create jobs. In addition, we need to create and support small and medium local businesses in the county. When reviewing their plans, we can find out what companies are needed by these big companies to grow and attract them to our county. In this way, companies would have some savings in transportation, time, etc. and being more competitive.
In addition, small and medium businesses in Lake County should be awarded at least 25 percent of all Lake County government contracts. We must encourage local companies to bid and win county contracts. There are legal ways that our county government is using now to benefit some companies. I would like to use the same method but for small and medium local county companies. Benefits will spread to other area businesses, creating more jobs. Right now small, medium and new businesses could act as the engines to drive local development and to create jobs. Offering limited tax incentives to new and existing companies that create new jobs, would also promote growth.
Carol Calabresa (Republican): The state of Illinois gave tax breaks to the new business owners of Motorola to lure them to Chicago. It is very difficult for Lake County to compete with the state and the city of Chicago. However, the county and Lake County’s Partners will continue their efforts to increase our shovel-ready sites for new businesses and to entice new owners to the old Motorola site. Our five year transportation improvement plan assures the business community we are serious about solving traffic congestion. The Forest Preserve continues to improve the quality of life and our excellent schools and colleges offer a well-trained and educated work force. Lake County’s Partners continues to service and promote our existing businesses as well.
District 21
Arlene Hickory (Democrat): Motorola Mobile leaving Lake County should not have been a surprise. Pam Martens (editor of Wall Street Journal on Parade) documented back in 2009, “corporate buy-out of America” listing the sale of “parking meters, zoos, toll roads and drinking water” precipitated by reduction in state and local tax revenue. This trend has gone national and is surging in privatization of prisons, education, nothing is secure from commodification. It is astounding that this is an area of silence in political debate. This is one of the main points in my platform: to resist privatization and deregulation which is often the wedge to opening areas to takeover.
Holding a local government hostage to a promise of job development, extracting favorable taxation or financial arrangements is a variation on the privatization scheme which promises to provide essential services and reduce costs only to obey the bottom line, extract value, neglect infrastructure and raise costs. The answer is to resist the siren call of corporations and focus on job potential locally. This is where an agenda for energy conservation and sustainability programs becomes important, these are going to be the areas of job development.
The College of Lake County has curricula developed in these areas. The demand isn’t there because the full social ecology – remedy of knowledge deficit and development of social awareness of emerging new economies is missing. Gar Alperovitz, author of Beyond Capitalism and Jeremy Rifkin, author of The Third Industrial Revolution, two of many social activists, speak to what is going to be needed in the next decade: a resistance to corporate interests and expansion of social action. The nature of work/jobs are going through a transformation. New economies are emerging requiring social interconnectedness and healing of our fragmented social ecology. This doesn’t mean corporations are ignored, it means bringing balance between strong local economy and imported ventures.
Ann B. Maine (Republican): I do not believe in economic enticements for individual companies for a number of reasons. I do not think government has the ability to decide which companies will be most successful. One needs to look at the Sears move to Hoffman Estates and recall the $36 million tax credit given to Motorola in 1994 for a Harvard, Illinois cell phone campus, to know that these actions are often short term at best and in some instances end up costing tax payers.
Importantly, these enticements put existing businesses at a disadvantage. The result of this is that those businesses then come and request economic breaks, often leading to local municipalities competing for the businesses. Regional growth is not advanced in these types of situations.
Lake County is in a difficult situation; we cannot control the state corporate tax burden which is a deciding factor for many businesses. As I described in an earlier question (#1) by providing a stably financial government and investing in infrastructure the County can provide a solid base for both existing businesses as well as prospective businesses. In addition, it is crucial that elected officials be accessible to all individuals and businesses in order to meet and discuss and understand issues and barriers to investing in the Lake County. A strong support of Lake County Partners is critical for economic success.
The Lake County Assessor’s Office has indicated that even though property assessment valuations are generally lower this year, property taxes aren’t likely to decline for residents. As a County Board member, how would you respond to residents frustrated that they aren’t seeing property tax relief even in difficult economic times?
District 4
Glenn Ryback (Democrat): As I noted earlier, roughly 1/3 of the County budget is funded by real estate taxes. When other revenue sources diminished last year, a large shortfall was incurred. The County turned to real estate taxes to plug the hole and yes, even Senior Citizens were to receive increases.
Brent C. Paxton (Republican): Residents are very frustrated that they aren’t seeing property tax relief during these tough economic times. And my response somewhat corresponds to my answer in question #1. I try to make sure that people understand which taxing bodies on their property tax bill have the most influence on their property taxes. And then they need to make sure that the governing body of those taxes is spending those dollars wisely. Typically the schools account for about 65 – 75% of residents total tax bill, and that high percentage may not be their fault because the State isn’t funding the schools as needed. So just one solution cannot fix the problem. Unfortunately that doesn’t ease the taxpayer’s pain, but the property tax process is very complicated and hard to understand which just leaves residents frustrated. I think residents need to feel confident that each taxing body is using their money responsibly. So I reassure residents that the part of the tax bill that Lake County Government actually has control over (that 7% or less) is spent wisely. Lake County Government has the highest bond rating (AAA) possible from both S&P; and Moody and Lake County Government only has about 3% debt. Only 37 counties in the country (out of 3022) have that dual bond rating from S&P; and Moody’s which I believe reinforces the fact that Lake County Government does use taxpayers’ money wisely.
District 6
Pat Carey (Democrat): I have had this discussion at almost every door I have knocked on throughout this campaign. What I tell people is that I can do two things related to their property tax burden. First and most important, I can make sure that I am responsible and very conservative about spending their tax dollars in our budgets at the County and the Forest Preserve and I have done that. The second thing is to work diligently on economic development to keep and attract businesses to Lake County to diversify the tax base and lessen the burden on residents.
However, the County and Forest Preserve together make up a relatively small portion of a resident’s tax bill. So we must also explore opportunities to work with other units of government to see how we can collectively lessen the tax burden on our residents. Whether it is joint purchasing opportunities, information and data sharing, or technology partnerships, we must work cooperatively across the lines of government entities.
The County has a unique role in this work, as the entity that can best provide leadership on issues facing the County as a whole. We owe it to our citizens to do whatever we can to help them weather these tough economic times. Living in Illinois, we know that we face very serious challenges at the State level. It falls to local government to make every attempt to provide quality services to our citizens, while not adding to their financial burden.
Jeff Werfel (Republican): All of us as taxpayers expect government to respect our sacrifice in this extraordinarily difficult economy by managing its fiscal affairs with the same common sense as we do. As a County Board Member I will focus and work on keeping county government taxes low while maintaining high service levels for our families and businesses. The County can lead by example vis-a-vis other government taxing bodies in this area. We have done this in Grayslake at the municipal level.
The County can also become a leader in working to fundamentally reform the property tax system in Illinois.
District 11
Steven W. Mandel (Democrat): A shrinking total assessed value actually means that we all have to pay more per dollar assessed. The only way to help residents control their tax increases is to shrink governments in the districts. My answer in question one deals with how I will promote relief for the taxpayer by creating a new model for governments that provide services for reduced costs.
Laura Lambrecht (Republican): It remains a frustration because of so many taxing bodies that affect our tax bills. The county has performed well in holding the line on spending and keeping taxes in line, but school districts, municipal governments, fire districts, townships, libraries and other entities raise their rates to compensate for lower property values. I would advocate a measured tax freeze which would prevent tax bills from automatically rising absent a local referendum. Playing with valuations needs to stop.
District 13
Sandra Hart (Democrat): Rising property taxes is a major problem and impacts families across Lake County. I worked in the assessor’s office and am a Certified Illinois Assessing Official (CIAO). I understand the property tax assessment process and also know how frustrating it is. Home values go down, and still taxes go up. We need to have transparency at all the different taxing bodies. People need to know and understand where their tax dollars are going, and it’s the board member’s responsibility, whether it’s the school, the library, or the park district board, to make sure all those dollars are spent efficiently. Last year the Lake Bluff Park District, on which I serve, chose to not increase our tax levy, deciding instead to improve services and make up the difference in user fees. By operating better and focusing on customers, we grew our revenue, and that translates in savings, over ten years, of a million dollars to the taxpayer.
In addition, we must make the assessment process easier to understand. I will work with the County Assessor’s Office to streamline the process and drive decisions at the local level, cutting cost, bureaucracy and time. Many issues can and should be resolved locally without going to the board of review.
Certainly a major component of our taxes is the commercial tax base. We must attract and retain business to Lake County-they are critical to our tax base and our job market.
David Barkhausen (Republican): The Board needs to control and, where possible, reduce spending and refrain from substantial new spending commitments to limit taxes. As a Board member, I would take an active role in helping to explain the property tax system (including why taxes don’t fall with the value of property) and will seek the following changes to improve the property tax appeal system over which the County, through the office of the supervisor of assessments, does have control.
To make it easier for taxpayers to file tax assessment appeals, the Lake County Board, working with the Board of Review, local assessors, and the County Treasurer, should adopt the following changes:
* Include an insert in property tax bills sent in the spring alerting taxpayers to the schedule of assessment notices and deadlines for appealing assessments that will occur later in the summer and fall.
* Conduct evening seminars in each township at the time assessments are published to educate residents about the appeal process.
* Allow an extension of time to file an assessment appeal for those who have made a good faith attempt to file online at a time when the online system fails to function properly.
* Permit appeal hearings by telephone conference and, as technology permits, by computer.
* Grant the option of in-person hearings held in the township assessor’s office, rather than at the Lake County Courthouse, as a convenience for both taxpayers and township assessors’ personnel participating in such hearings.
* Promote an amendment to the Illinois Property Tax Code extending the deadline for filing an appeal by an additional 30 days, starting the annual assessment schedule sooner so that tax bills can still go out on time. The existing 30-day appeal deadline is too restrictive given the need for taxpayers first to seek adjustments to their assessments with their local assessors and then to produce the evidence and paperwork required for an appeal to the Board of Review.
District 15
Del Parra (Democrat): I will listen to their concerns and work with them. I believe that they are right with their concerns. Our county and the forest preserve are spending as usual. When elected I will need their support to change the culture of spending at these two government bodies. We have salaries and some future pensions of quite a few people that will be over $200,000 per year. Again, I question why the Forest Preserve Board is awarding some contracts to outside companies when they can save money by utilizing county’s staff more fully, especially when sometimes fair law on company, hiring practices is not followed Closer reviews of all future contracts would help reduce waste and slash taxes. These savings must be passed to our taxpayers..
Carol Calabresa (Republican): Unfortunately, we are all frustrated by this current situation. We must verify that all fraud is removed from the system. The County Board does not have the authority to change the assessment process. It must be legislated and approved in Springfield.
District 21
Arlene Hickory (Democrat): Which has higher standing? Sympathy for those with financial resources or compassion for the poor/newly poor. Going by which topic has dominated the political debate it seems that those fortunate enough to pay taxes qualify for attention and sympathy and the poor paying their taxes while struggling to survive on minimum wage unadjusted for inflation are ignored. To redirect this attention would immediately reveal a social ecology drastically misaligned in distribution of resources and rights – see the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to verify the loss of rights: Article 23,24,25,26. None of which is open to discussion because this part of our social ecology is not accessible. So, how would I respond to residents? I am a resident. Was I “frustrated” by increase in taxes? Sure. I hated thinking about purchases or plans I would have to put off or give up. Following this was a period of self reflection that encompassed a larger social reality. We have limited recourse in our public domain for social reflective mechanisms that would develop and strengthen empathic structures in our social ecology. Developing social solutions to social problems will require something that goes beyond 1%, 99% or 47%. The question is, are people ready to address this.
Ann B. Maine (Republican): As a county board member I have communicated with residents about how to check their assessment and how to appeal it. In addition, I encourage people to contact all the taxing bodies listed on their tax bill and ask for accountability. The Forest Preserve has decreased its tax levy by 12% over the past 4 years. At the county we have made a number of changes to decrease our expenses, including decreasing the work force, no salary increases for non-union employees for a number of years. All taxing bodies need to do the same.
The Lake County Board recently approved a “planned unit development” concept for a shopping center in Ela Township on a property owned by the Dimucci family. Even with tighter controls on the site, neighbors still objected to the potential size and scope of the project. Did the board make the right decision, and if a developer makes a specific proposal for the site, what should be considered in the county’s review?
District 4
Glenn Ryback (Democrat): North Barrington and Hawthorn Woods were outbid by Lake County on this site, so to speak. Mayor Al Pino indicated his community had spent a significant sum to extend Lake County sanitary sewer service to North Barrington, but only a scant recapture will be paid to his village by the shopping center. Both communities have worked out an agreement with Lake County to share sales tax and have agreed to a reduced size mall. Mayor Mancino is far from ecstatic. Was it the right decision? At this point the County has provided only a promise of re-zoning, if all planning requirements are met. The County is also trying to be fair with a property owner seeking the highest and best use for his land and will require that all typical development standards are met. I heard from the neighbors as well, and they indeed have legitimate concerns.
Brent C. Paxton (Republican): Yes, I believe that the County Board did make the right decision. Most of my comments in this questionnaire have been about property taxes and tax relief. One way to help provide property tax relief is to encourage commercial development. There has to be a balance between commercial and residential development and I think for too long that balance was tipped too far toward residential. As part of this “planned unit development” in Ela, the County has over 80 pages of rules and regulations as far as what can and cannot be put on that site. There are also rules on what the site must look like and what the buildings must look like. So I believe that the County is already being rather specific and restrictive on what it will review when a developer comes along. But as always and as this process proceeds, we need to try to be as attentive to the surrounding neighbors as possible.
District 6
Pat Carey (Democrat): Yes, I believe the County Board made the right decision in its unanimous vote to approve the zoning change and preliminary development plan. Our vote came only after months of exhaustive hearings and meetings to review and refine the property owner’s proposal. Included in these meetings were negotiations with the two neighboring villages to arrive at an intergovernmental agreement. This agreement, which includes additional restrictions placed on the property, resulted in the Villages’ support for the final proposal put before the County Board.
My support for the project is based on the belief that commercial is an appropriate use for the property and that the plan we approved has taken into account all of the issues raised by neighboring residents, such as traffic, stormwater management, landscaping, noise, lighting, appropriate uses, etc. It is important to note that the zoning on the property remains as estate residential until a final development plan is brought forward and approved by the County Board. When a developer does come forward to submit a final development plan, we will look for compliance with all of the many details outlined in the preliminary plan, including the extensive pattern book, which addresses such issues as signage, architecture, lighting, and landscaping.
Jeff Werfel (Republican): I agree with the County Board’s decision. The process that was followed to address all of the involved parties’ concerns led to a result that mitigates and balances those concerns as best as possible. Specific future proposals for the site need to be reviewed within the recently agreed upon parameters and also address any potential issues that arise outside of those parameters.
District 11
Steven W. Mandel (Democrat): I have not reviewed the testimony on this issue and honestly do not have the facts to make an informed decision. I know this issue has been going on for a long time and decision was agreed to by adjoining municipalities. I would work on pushing these kind of issues back to the municipalities but also understand the private property rights of landowners and requirement to work within our County zoning if petitioned.
Laura Lambrecht (Republican): The county board had a number of meetings with all of the residents, and offered them a number of interaction points. The vote of the board was unanimous. It is important to have shovel ready sites throughout Lake County if we are to promote business moving to Lake County. When and if a company is ready to move, if we do not have zoning, infrastructure, and sewer ready to go, the business will not come but move to another community where those things are available. Takeda came because the county did over $3M of sewer work. We need to be proactive on getting shovel ready sites for business.
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If and when the developer makes specific proposals, it should again go through the county review and the neighbors will again have another opportunity to have input into what is built at the site. Nowhere during the process did they give approval to a specific plan, and in fact a specific plan was not presented only a general concept, which leads it back to the county for final approval.
District 13
Sandra Hart (Democrat): The greatest concern of the County Board on this project is finding the right balance between development and the surrounding communities. Part of the county’s overall economic development strategy is to promote the concept of shovel ready sites. The goal for this property is to get it prepped and prepared for economic development to grow our economy, being mindful of the competition that exists with other areas in the region. The exhaustive preliminary process has established a host of development restrictions on the property in terms of architecture, site layout, landscaping, size scope, use, and open area. This property will be the gold standard in terms of development and will be a model for sustainable high quality development for the county and the region. The developer has to prepare a plan that meets all of these conditions and the county staff and board must confirm that all conditions are met while giving opportunities for continued public input.
David Barkhausen (Republican): I believe the Board has made the right decision so far. The project has been reduced considerably in its size and scope since it was first proposed with a generous buffer of open space around it and other environmental protections. The developer will have to satisfy a large number of conditions of this nature before the project can ultimately proceed.
District 15
Del Parra (Democrat): I believe that the county did the right decision. I believe that benefits are many, like new jobs, new businesses and more revenue to all of our taxing bodies. Since this possible new project will help our tax base. I would like to use this new revenue to reduce taxes to our residents or to save it for future county projects that need an immediate attention. The county has to address the residents’ concerns and find common ground with them. We have to put much effort into finding the right balance between the rights of the property owner and the interests of the county. A very important issue for the residents it’s the process that the county is following. Let’s be proactive and find the appropriate way with them. We have to address their concerns related to property’s value, the character of the neighborhood, lighting standards, more green space, pollution, potential traffic congestion, increase in crime, a possible diminishing in the quality of life in nearby subdivisions. On the other hand, the ecology of the area must be preserved at all costs, as well considering the potential risks to the forest preserves and wildlife in the area. These issues must be addressed in any county’s review.
Carol Calabresa (Republican): The Board made the right decision. It will not grant the zoning until the final development plan is approved. Eighty pages of conditions were approved. The following items should be considered in the county’s review: economic benefit, school impact, neighborhood concerns, traffic study, storm water, public safety, road improvements, landscaping, lighting, building materials and specifications.
District 21
Arlene Hickory (Democrat): The issue of the shopping center in Ela township is related to the social ecological issues regarding Highway 53, from another aspect. The aspect of property rights vs. the issue of land as a commons or a commodity deepens the search into value conflict of competing social needs: profit, aesthetics,land value manipulation, etc. This additional example confirms the need for management of change with full citizen participation through interactive, collaborative methodologies.
Ann B. Maine (Republican): Yes, I believe the County Board did make the right decision. It is important to keep in mind that the neighboring villages had shown the site as commercial in their long range plans. In addition, there is the singular condition that the County will share sales tax with the 2 communities, Hawthorne Woods and North Barrington. This rezoning is also unusual in that the rezoning can not occur until the time a detailed plan that meets the criteria set forth in over 80 pages of documents is brought forward. One of the conditions is that only 50 of the 103 acre site will be built on. At the time a plan is presented it will be before the Lake County Planning, Building and Zoning Committee, which will offer residents an opportunity to comment on the plan.