The Tribune asked candidates in contested races for Lake County Board five questions about issues facing county government. Here are the responses from Lake County Board candidates in contested races in 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 1
Peter Grant (Democrat): Property Taxes! Lake County Illinois has (among) the highest property taxes in the nation. According to the National Taxpayers Union, about 30 percent of properties in the U.S. are assessed at higher values than their worth. I believe that many homes in Lake County are extremely over assessed. Lake County Board voted to raise property taxes by $17 million in the latest budget. The County Board not only raised the rates, but raised the portion of the $500 million budget that is paid for by property taxes to make up for lost revenues such as sales tax. My opponent voted to raise your property taxes by $17 million. If elected, I will refuse to vote for any budget that will increase property taxes.
Linda Pedersen (Republican): The biggest issue for the residents is their property taxes. As a board member we need to be fiscally responsible and cut expenses where we can, especially in these tough economic times. We have done just that by cutting millions from our budget. It’s also important to maintain our AAA bond rating since this allows us to borrow money when needed at a lower rate, which also is a savings to our residents. It is also important to educate the residents that even though your tax bill comes from Lake County, we receive 7 percent and the rest goes to other taxing bodies who set their own budgets.
District 3
Dale Kehr (Democrat): I think the biggest issue facing Lake County Residents is the costs of living. We have the highest property taxes in Illinois and (among) the highest in the Country. Still our taxing bodies, townships and park districts continue to ask for virtually unlimited increases each year as they try to balance budgets. Yet we have school districts who can only ask for an increase equal to the Consumer Price Index who are facing financial trouble with dwindling resources coming in from the state level. Resulting in cutting much needed programs for our kids i.e. computers, music, and gym.
I’m very concerned currently with the inequalities in the current property tax system. As a County Board Member I would fight to keep a balance in the way property taxes are allocated and prioritized. Too many cuts to our schools will adversely affect the appeal of Lake County to new residents and businesses perpetuating our problems. A common sense example is the Million dollar bike path in my district currently under construction paid for by a Referendum increasing our property taxes … yet our Schools in District 41 are facing a 2 million dollar deficit. I don’t feel our tax dollars are being fairly distributed.
Tom Weber (Republican): Taxes and Jobs. I am a small business owner. I will do everything I can to ensure that the county does not damage the business environment in Lake County. Many business owners believe the County Board does not fully understand the impact their actions have on the business environment and how that costs jobs. My experience as a small business owner is a life-experience that is crucial to good government at the county level and I will be a watchdog to promote a business friendly environment.
We need to perform a detailed analysis of the services being provided by the county and determine if these services can be better provided by the private sector at a cheaper cost. I do not think the county should be in the entertainment or restaurant business. Why is Lake County in the golf course and marina business using taxpayer funds? I am opposed to the county building more recreational facilities that cost taxpayers money. The property taxes paid by private business owners would dramatically exceed any marginal profit the county claims they are making with these facilities.
District 5
Patricia Ferruzza (Democrat): In what undoubtedly will be a challenging term, I want to make sure that the hardworking families in my district are represented in the inevitable talks about austerity, and to see that those that have the least don’t pay the price in the effort to do more with less at the County level. I would encourage residents to become more informed about the County budget, and to attend Board meetings if possible. I would also encourage the use of zero-based budgeting to make sure that we are making the proper programs the highest priority, and funding those programs adequately.
Bonnie Thompson Carter (Republican): Even though County government is about 10 percent of the typical tax bill we must continue to work toward operating County government with less money. We are constantly evaluating our programs to ensure that we are operating in the most efficient manner and that the programs are effective. I have worked hard to reduce spending and cut taxes. We must keep our AAA bond rating.
District 9
Mary Ross Cunningham (Democrat): Within my Lake County Board District 9, the major concerns I hear are job creation and affordable housing. As a Lake County Board Commissioner and past Vice Chair of the Health & Community Services Committee, I have continuously approved and supported funding to Lake County Partners, which serves as a county agency to help bring new business opportunities and provide job training to county residents.
I will also continue to support the various agencies such as: Affordable Housing and Lake Community Action Project because these agencies provide dollars, which will directly assist new and existing homeowners with down payments if they are purchasing a new home or provide funding for needed repairs on existing homes for Lake County residents.
Joe Schmitt (Republican): The answers to questions 1 and 2 are tied together. The biggest issue facing Lake County Residents is the congestion of our roadways. The first thing to address is the Route 53 extension as well as development of a cross county limited access freeway utilizing Illinois Route 120.
District 16
Terry Wilke (Democrat): Clearly the economy and jobs are the largest issues facing Lake County right now and Illinois’ heavy reliance on property taxes instead of a balanced income/property tax has exacerbated the problem. Naturally, the economy, nationally and worldwide, is way above the pay grade of a county commissioner. Having said that, There are several things we could do locally. First, cutting the 40 hour work week to a 32 hour work week would allow the county to hire 20 percent more employees to cover the extra hours without spending a dime more. That would create approximately 2,700 employees with slightly reduced hours/income but also produce approximately 675 new 32 hour a week jobs. Naturally we would have to restrict benefits but providing productive jobs beats leaving people on unemployment or worse, letting them run out of their unemployment, lose their houses and hurt the neighborhood’s property values.
Second, I believe we have far too large a spread between our highest and lowest paid employees at the county and I think correcting for this irregularity (which is not unusual in government because of the lack of bottom line pressures) would allow increased pay at the bottom of the pay scale (which is good for the economy) while also providing the savings for a few completely new positions. Second, it is natural for government (without a bottom line) to eventually wind up a bit top-heavy, with too many chiefs and not enough Indians, now would be a good time to clear this up. Reducing the number of managers and in-sourcing many of the out-sourced services, which may have made sense in the past but cost us money today, could be used to provide a sizable tax break to the residents of Lake County.
Thirdly, in this climate of lowering property values, taxpayers can get left behind with regard to up-to-date assessments and often wind up paying way beyond their fair share. I have and will continue to provide, free of charge, property tax appeal guidance. But that doesn’t fix the problem, the reason taxpayers’ assessments are often out of sync with real time market values is that our system was designed only for an increasing market and simply does not work for a decreasing market. Many of the township assessors have complained that something must be done to fix the broken system and I think the responsible thing for county commissioners to do would be to join with them in asking our state law makers to address the issue head on and right now.
Michael Carbone (Republican): Property Taxes: Although the county only collect 7 percent of all property tax revenue, we are (among) the highest taxed county in the country, the highest in the Midwest and people are asking what is going on. While the home values keep declining and property taxes are escalating at its highest rate.
We have to find ways to kick start development through the private sector, ie. industry, manufacturing, and commercial business growth, and to develop better infrastructure, beginning with our road systems. Route 53 extension is a great beginning for this.
District 19
Deborah Barry (Democrat): The aging of Lake County has gone unnoticed. Median age is up 9 percent since 2000; residents 65+ grew by 33 percent while our youngest population (0-4) declined by 11 percent. This is nothing less than the exodus of young families, along with the generation diversity and disposable income they bring. We need to reverse this trend; the county needs stop acting as a commercial developer and focus instead on community life, entertainment options, alternative transportation, recreation and tourism. The county is losing its sense of place.
Our first commitment is to our older residents. Caring for the elderly and the infirm is a social contract between the government and the governed. The outsourcing of Winchester House management demonstrated the current board’s callousness toward patients and caregivers. The county must communicate directly so that seniors take advantage of every property tax exemption and/or preferential assessments. These seniors may own their homes outright, but struggle to pay their taxes. Programs to keep them in their homes should be the county’s priority.
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Both families and seniors would welcome new transportation options such as circulating busses among the train stations, health care centers, schools and shops and enhanced “roll-able” lanes to accommodate powered chairs, golf carts and pedestrians. We can learn from the most successful senior developments and progressive subdivisions like Prairie Crossing in Vernon Hills.
I would also address the marketing and communications of Lake County. We need to enhance the image of the county to potential residents and visitors. I’d facilitate news desks for the broadcast media outlets in the area to increase news coverage; the northwest suburbs rarely make news except for violence or traffic accidents.
There’s a reason voters don’t know anything about the county board and its members; the current board is intimidating and detached from its constituents. I will be available to my constituents on Skype, Twitter and regularly scheduled visits in the communities I represent. The county itself should videotape all committee meetings, as it does for the big board meetings. The committees are where the real work is done and where voters can know what the members are thinking and how they are negotiating.
Craig Taylor (Republican): Fiscal issues will continue to be the biggest challenge we face over the next decade. We must grow our economy so that those looking for work can find employment, and this is done by supporting our current businesses while working with Lake County Partners to attract new employers to the county. Going forward we must continue to do all we can to cut expenses to keep pace with the economy and maintain a balanced budget, ensuring we keep our AAA bond rating. If we can continue to spend the public’s tax dollars wisely, we will do our part to lower property taxes while hoping that other government bodies within Lake County who are a much larger share of property taxes will follow our lead. We need to do all we can to keep Lake County a prime place to live and work.
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 1
Peter Grant (Democrat): I do support the Highway 53 extension. I think that CMAP and the County should do a thorough environmental study as well as an economic study that will explain what the economic benefits of extending Route 53 would have on the local economy over several years. I think that an economic study will show that this investment will be well worth the money spent in increasing economic activity in NW Lake County.
Linda Pedersen (Republican): I do support the Route 53 extension. This project, as planned will effect many environmentally sensitive areas as well as residential areas so it’s very important that we study land use issues as well as speed limits, etc.
District 3
Dale Kehr (Democrat): I do support the extension of Highway 53 as do a majority of the residents. My main concern is to do this in the most environmentally friendly way we can, preserving the open spaces and community areas Lake County residents have come to expect and love. Additionally I believe we should study further the toll aspect of the extension in the following regard. When you require someone to pay a toll it will often deter travelers into selecting other routes that cost the driver nothing. This could impact residential areas and create traffic congestion and patterns that did not exist prior to the extension of 53.
Tom Weber (Republican): I favor the Route 53 extension. I do not like how this major thruway comes to an abrupt end and simply dump thousands of cars on to a road system that is incapable of handling the traffic. This would create thousands of jobs and give businesses easy and faster access to the western suburbs. The residents of District 3 overwhelming support this project. This is an excellent way to allow the residents and businesses to expand and move easily.
District 5
Patricia Ferruzza (Democrat): I am in favor of the extension, with the caveat that there be minimal impact on environmentally sensitive areas. I would also encourage that shoulders and medians on the extension be constructed to be as permeable as possible, to minimize runoff and protect water quality. Also, with the growth of the northwestern part of Lake County, it would be beneficial to get air quality monitoring stations installed to know the precise effects that the extension has on the air that we breathe. And care must be taken not to set the toll so high on the extension that traffic is pushed off onto surface streets, defeating the purpose of congestion relief.
Bonnie Thompson Carter (Republican): I support the extension of Route 53 along with the Route 120 Bypass. The Blue Ribbon committee set a framework of considerations that balance the needs of travelers and the environment. A very good start.
District 9
Mary Ross Cunningham (Democrat): Yes I do. What issues should the study take into consideration? How would this extension help the business community in Lake County. This extension will make it more accessible to travel to Northern Lake County, which should help our business community provide their goods and services to a much more bigger customer base, which should increase the job opportunity throughout our county.
Joe Schmitt (Republican): Yes, I support the extension as well as development of a cross county limited access freeway utilizing Illinois Route 120. The principle thing I would address is the cost of procuring the needed property and what the potential costs would be if we delay this project any further. The county has been progressive in their acquisition of open space land, which I support. But, it is time to invest in acquiring property and land that will make the construction of this project feasible now.
District 16
Terry Wilke (Democrat): I believe work on Route 53 should begin sooner rather than later. However I’m not sure that having a blue ribbon panel with a bunch of politicians preening themselves in front of the idea of Route 53 is necessarily productive. If the state can’t get it done and the tollway can’t get it done then maybe it should be turned over to the Lake County voters and we could place the issue on the ballot with a 1/4 percent increase in the sales tax to pay for it. This way we could start on the project next year instead of pretending to be moving forward when actually we still haven’t mounted the very first hurdle, which is how we’re going to pay for it.
And since we are going to pay for it one way or the other, at least this would be an honest approach to take to the voters, that is to say, if you really want it you would also have to be willing to vote to pay for it. Of major concern to the study would be the additional improvements that would have to be made to the roads in the Round Lake and Grayslake area in order to handle the extra traffic entering and exiting the north end. Additionally economies of scale might make it more cost effective to bring a project of this scale in house in terms of man power and materials.
Michael Carbone (Republican): I support the extension 100 percent as long as all it is built with full consideration to all parties and the Blue Ribbon Commission has answered these concerns. Concerns that have been considered is environmental, run-off/drainage, aesthetics, and safety to name a few.
District 19
Deborah Barry (Democrat): We are spending endless taxpayer resources simply studying this project. I say no to extending 53 until there is financing in place. The toll scheme is ridiculous; I don’t have to pay $5 to go from Lake Cook Road to 120 — I can do that for free on a number of surface roads. Extending 53 will increase cut through traffic in the adjacent suburbs, which municipalities lack the funds for public safety.
In addition, before we take on such massive public works, I want to be sure that local contractors get some of the work. At present, Illinois doesn’t permit such set asides; it should. I also want to understand why the road construction and repairs in Lake County have such a short life. Is the issue unqualified bidders or substandard materials. The endless projects look like “make work” to me. Who benefits?
Before I would support this project, I would have to see projections for a positive bottom line. Then I would compare the investment in 53 with alternatives that will improve transportation and improve the environment: electric busses that circulate among train stations, health centers, shops and schools and enhanced “roll-able” lanes to encourage and protect pedestrians, wheelchairs and golf carts.
At present, Lake County is losing businesses. While Waukegan is on a path to redevelop its downtown, the county is stuck in “business as usual” mode. That’s why this election is so important, to overthrow the current majority and change the culture of the county board.
Craig Taylor (Republican): It is vitally important that we improve transportation in District 19 and Lake County in order to reduce travel times, improve access to businesses, and decrease road congestion. This is one of the best actions we can take to help grow the Lake County economy in order to create jobs for our talented residents, not to mention the improvement it will make to our way of life. To that end I continue to be a strong proponent of the extension of Route 53, working with County Board Chairman David Stolman to finally make this necessary project a reality. The study needs to take into consideration the environmental impact, ensuring this necessary extension has as little of a negative impact as possible on the surrounding communities.
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 1
Peter Grant (Democrat): I am not familiar with the details of this deal with the City of Chicago, but I think that we will have to be much more aggressive in competing for business retention and for attracting new business to Lake County. Lake County has the foundation for attracting new business with its proximity to Lake Michigan which makes it attractive to pharmaceutical companies and Lake County’s central location in the Midwest that makes logistics a natural attraction for many businesses. The Chicago region is the transportation hub of the country.
Linda Pedersen (Republican): It’s important for Lake County along with Lake County Partners to work at retaining and bringing new business to the County. The Fed Ex development is a great example of how this can work. The County, Village and other taxing bodies got together and agreed on tax incentive program that helped bring Fed Ex to Lake County. This would be key in attracting new jobs.
District 3
Dale Kehr (Democrat): Companies relocate for various reasons; Location, Tax incentives and Quality of Life issues. The County Board has influence over all of these items. Location: Lake County is strategically place between two major Markets Milwaukee and Chicago, with two international airports less than an hour away. Traffic in Lake County especially on the 294 toll has been greatly reduced in recent years making travel a plus for Businesses. Quality of Life: Lake County has plenty to offer, recreational areas, shopping, theater, safety, good schools, great park district programs, and excellent forest preserves. These are all amenities that we need to shine a light on to existing and potential business executives like those from Motorola. Lake County is where people want to live and work.
Tax incentives: We need businesses to offset some of our resident’s property taxes. But businesses need low taxes to operate effectively. This is a balancing act we need to control. I am not a fan of tax increment financing programs as solutions. I am in favor of long term leases/commitments in return for reductions in a business’s property tax bills. But forgoing all property taxes for businesses for extended periods of time is not a sustainable solution.
In short we are the right place for any business. Lake County is easily accessible, easily manageable, and an attractive place for a talented work force to relocate to. Where we stumble is taxes and we need to work with companies to find compromises benefiting the company and the residents/work force.
We need to remind businesses like Motorola, that the will need to attract top talent in order to stay competitive in the marketplace. We as board members need to make sure that Lake County is where the top talent wants to live AND work.
Tom Weber (Republican): The Democrats in Springfield have caused many businesses to flee Illinois and it is critical that we maintain a business-friendly environment here in Lake County. I was born and raised here and my family has a long history of being involved within our community. I have also personally been very active in many civic, community and religious organizations and it is my broad community and business background that is unique. I have the experience to be a positive influence on issues that come before the County Board and ensure that we improve the business environment in Lake County. Taxes here in Lake County are high. We need to perform a detailed analysis of the services being provided by the county and determine if these services can be better provided by the private sector at a cheaper cost.
District 5
Patricia Ferruzza (Democrat): There are no simple answers to this question. If you start down the road of giving tax incentives to keep or attract business, you risk being outbid by other counties or municipalities, and you forgo badly needed revenue. We need to do an even better job of getting the word out about the benefits of locating in Lake County — access to post-secondary training and education the University Center, public/private cooperation through Lake County Partners, access to transportation and the natural beauty of our Forest Preserve system and other open spaces.
Bonnie Thompson Carter (Republican): The County is a member of Lake County Partners. Their accomplishments are exceptional in retaining business and helping existing businesses expand.
District 9
Mary Ross Cunningham (Democrat): Upon hearing this news, myself and other commissioners approved the hiring of a new position called Economic Director. This persons primary responsibility will be to work directly with Lake County Partners, State Of Illinois CED agency and to form a better working relationship with our state leaders to assure that Lake County can minimize the effect of this business decision and to always be promoting Lake County as a business friendly community to operate your business.
Joe Schmitt (Republican): I am a firm believer in tax incentives to keep and attract businesses in our county. We must create a business friendly atmosphere. Streamlining the permit process is one way we could assist businesses. Another is to relieve the congestion on the highways so that workers and products are able to traverse the county easily.
District 16
Terry Wilke (Democrat): Study after study has shown that enticing corporations with tax breaks that ultimately have to be paid for by constituents does not pay off in the long run. And Motorola is a prime example as are Bass Pro Shops and Cabala’s to name a few. The promised benefits never materialize and the corporations ultimately pull up stakes and move on to even greater tax giveaways in the city or state next-door.
The answer then is to implement more progressive taxation system which makes corporations pay their fair share and closes loopholes that allow corporations to pit one municipality against another and one state against another. No one, including corporations should be asking anyone else to pick up their share of taxes, instead corporations should pay their fair share, no more and no less. I don’t think it’s right to blame corporations for taking advantage of the system, after all if you could pay some politician 10 percent of what you owe in taxes and get the other 90 percent forgiven, and it was legal, who wouldn’t do it? Again these types of deals need to be ended, now more than ever the working class simply can’t bear any more of the load. By the time you add up income taxes, property tax and sales tax most average Americans pay over 25 percent in taxes why shouldn’t every corporation pay the same? In the meantime we need to study and implement those things that make companies want to locate and stay in Lake County but discard those things like tax breaks that we know, demonstrably, don’t work.
Michael Carbone (Republican): I have a 4 year plan that would help resolve this issue. For the next 4 years, if the county board could find just 1.25 percent of savings in the current budget, which would total 5 percent after 4 years, this would free up almost $25 million of revenue that could be a line item and be appropriated to help subsidize new businesses to Lake County. This would be recurring revenue year after year. Whether the County or Lake County Partners could use this to offset property tax revenue or help with infrastructure costs, we could have an opportunity to use the tax payers revenue to work for the Lake County Communities at large.
District 19
Deborah Barry (Democrat): The exit of Motorola is like what Chicago faced with Sears Holdings and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange — it’s all about taxes, not about Google’s Chicago offices. This move has been long in the making. Where was Lake County? I think the county is not business-friendly nor does it adequately market its assets. The board seems to be on a path for the “next big thing,” rather than concentration on repairing and expanding what sets Lake County apart.
Big business dangles promises of vending and spending locally, but in exchange wants tax breaks that, effectively, make its presence a zero sum game — or worse. We need a new paradigm in which big employers actually become part of the community and contribute to revenues in the long term. The old-fashioned concept of a “company town” may be a template for business relations in this county. It’s going to require state legislation on set asides for local employees. Or perhaps big employers could commit to a percentage of employees residing locally (as do some schools systems and public safety organizations).
I think that business attraction/retention is best done by professionals in the field, not politicians and public sector employees. Far more important, the county must focus its considerations on small business and local owner/operators that grow communities and economies from the bottom up.
Craig Taylor (Republican): First, we must continue to be fiscally conservative as we are spending the public’s tax dollars and have to be accountable to them with how responsibly we spend their money. This fiscal responsibility has allowed Lake County to maintain adequate reserves for future economic uncertainties and to remain one of only 38 counties in the country to have a AAA bond rating. We have not, and will not, raise taxes. Instead, we are focused on growing Lake County’s economy by working with Lake County Partners, our Economic Development Agency, to create “shovel-ready” sites for new business development, retain our current businesses, and improve the overall business climate.
We also streamlined our permitting process by opening a new central permit facility with one-stop-shop capabilities. We need to keep in close contact with our business leaders to insure we know what their concerns/issues are and work to help address them. I’m an active member of our local Chamber of Commerce so I can interact with the business community firsthand.
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 1
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Peter Grant (Democrat): As a candidate for Lake County board, virtually every homeowner that I talk to tells me their property taxes are too high. Many are considering leaving the area because they can’t afford to stay. Seniors are being forced into public housing because they can’t afford the property taxes on their homes. The fact is that when property values decline, property taxes should decline along with them and County Government and all taxing bodies should tighten their belts.
The Lake County Administrator has received up to a $50,000 raise over the past few years bringing his salary to $300,000 a year when many families are struggling to make ends meet. If I am elected I will take a 50 percent pay cut the first year of my term to set an example for all taxing bodies in Lake County to lower their own levy. I will ask County Government to cut expenses and propose that part time County Board members take a 50 percent reduction in their part time salary and reduce salaries of Lake County department heads by 25 percent. I believe that we could save the taxpayers millions of dollars by eliminating the Township Assessors and giving this function to County Government, valuing property is a process that can be done more accurately and for less money than it costs to maintain an unneeded layer of government. We simply cannot continue down this road of skyrocketing property taxes to pay for everything under the sun, this must stop and it must stop NOW!
Linda Pedersen (Republican): This can be very confusing to residents as to how assessment process works. And I do get a lot of questions in regards to this issue. What I have done is held an Assessment seminar in my district, mailing a notice to all my households explaining what they need to do to appeal their taxes and inviting them to the seminar. I have the Assessors from each township in my district speak to these issues and hopefully they leave with a better understanding of how the process works.
Also for the first time in many years the State of Illinois has added a multiplier, which is another reason the taxes are not going down.
District 3
Dale Kehr (Democrat): I would let them know that they could appeal their property tax however, when you do this someone else in the community picks up this cost. Even though you may lower your tax this year it is a very time consuming process. I would encourage them to use that time to attend and be involved in how the county board is spending the budget. We need to be looking at the way our funds are managed and truly start to reduce costs and waste in our property tax system. If there are surpluses in one department we need to reallocate those surpluses to another department based on need and merit.
Tom Weber (Republican): We need to set the example for our local Governing bodies. We need to get back to the core responsibilities of Government. I believe as the economy contracts so should Government. This is new territory that needs new leaders who understand that we need to do whatever we can to ease the burdens on taxpayers. We need to do it while still performing key services. Government has been growing larger at every level, for decades, and unless we get a handle on the cost of operations it will continue to get more expensive here. Right now we need to bring in business and help local communities generate sales revenue to offset the burdens placed on our residents.
District 5
Patricia Ferruzza (Democrat): The first place to start is to have them get their paperwork together and go to their township office to protest their assessments. The longer-term answer is to seek every way possible to reduce costs at all levels of government and pass those savings along to the taxpayer. We have so many taxing bodies that there is ample possibility to find and eliminate duplication of services.
Bonnie Thompson Carter (Republican): I talk with residents all the time about this serious and frustrating issue. I provide them with the tools to help them appeal their assessments and encourage them to attend meetings of the other taxing districts who impact their tax bill. For example, I remind them to attend their local school board meeting and budget hearings as they account for 68 percent — 73 percent of the typical tax bill.
District 9
Mary Ross Cunningham (Democrat): I empathize with their frustration, unfortunately, this issued is not going to change any time soon due to the uncertainty that currently exists in Springfield regarding how to fund education, pension reform and State debt reduction. As the commissioner, I will take our county residents frustration and I will inform our State Rep. and State Senator that my constituents will like to see this issue resolve soon. At the same time, I will work with the others commissioners to keep our county expenses in line with inflation.
Joe Schmitt (Republican): There is no easy answer … as leaders of the community we are frustrated that we cannot provide this tax relief to our constituents. I do point out that we are one of the few if not the only county with a balanced budget. Additionally we are still able to provide needed services at levels that have not negatively affected the residents.
District 16
Terry Wilke (Democrat): Unfortunately the tax system that we have today in Lake County is one of the most regressive in the country. This means that a heavier load is placed on the working class and those least able to pay while placing a relatively lighter load on those most able to pay. The consequences of this are made clear by the empty houses we all see in our neighborhoods. While all areas of the nation are doing poorly in this depression in terms of foreclosures this area is doing much worse than average because without work it is very difficult for most folks to bear the load of these regressive property taxes.
In more progressive taxation areas the tax burden adjusts automatically to income because it is based more heavily on income in the first place. Progressive taxation can alleviate the worst aspects of a depression and help prevent recessions and depressions even before they happen by automatically shifting the tax burden to those who have benefited most from our society while shifting it off the backs of those who are struggling. An added benefit of a progressive taxation is that it automatically forces governments to make do with less during normal economic swings which can avoid the onset of a recession in the first place. Likewise, when the private sector fails us, as it has today, the public sector is often called upon to bail it out, as it was in 2008.
So during times like these governments need to be willing to tap into reserves and/or borrow in order to re-prime the economy, acting as it should, as a back stop to the private sector. Consequently although government spending is generally accepted as the only cure to a depression, an automatically adjusting taxation and spending system would provide many benefits, not the least of which is a greatly reduced likelihood of entering a recession or depression in the first place.
Michael Carbone (Republican): I believe they can go further by partnering up with Township Government, Libraries and local Chambers of Commerce to start hosting town halls at the Township level and using these as vehicles to work within the local community to become more aware and educated on how to fight their property assessment lowered.
District 19
Deborah Barry (Democrat): There’s an honest response and a helpful response. The honest response is that the county receives only about a tenth of total property tax revenues. The helpful response — but rarely welcome — is that voters have to engage at the taxing district level. Currently, these districts budget the maximum allowable, regardless of actual needs; that budget drives the levy which determines the tax rate.
On the county side, staff reductions and equal pay for women are to its credit. But are our public sector employees paid more than comparable workers in the private sector? Do so many county employees really deserve county passenger vehicles; can’t they drive their own cars and be reimbursed based on mileage?
We must also eliminate townships, an arcane system that is often inefficient and redundant, and demand that the county and municipalities consolidate services and eliminate duplication. Homeowners should be proactive to can also appeal their assessments, as I do almost every year. Homes are assessed in broad strokes; individuals can identify specific differences in their properties by market value or comparable properties.
Craig Taylor (Republican): This is an important issue, because homeowners are struggling to keep up with the tax burden, especially in a tough economy. First, I would point out that 1/3 of Lake County’s budget comes from property taxes, accounting for (on average) 7 percent of property tax bills. So the best way I can directly assist in this area is to continue to fight for reduced spending in the county budget. I have worked to reduce our budget by $15 million over the past two years without reducing necessary services, resulting in a budget in 2012 that spends $19 million less than the budget in 2009 and a budget in 2013 that will spend even less. Second, I actively work to arm the residents in my district with the information necessary to ensure their property assessments are accurate, and many have filed appeals that have resulted in a reduced tax burden. Third, I continue to act as an ambassador for fiscally conservative policies in hopes that my example will encourage spending restraint by the local taxing districts that make up 93 percent of property tax bills.
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 1
Peter Grant (Democrat): This is a tough issue as it goes to private property rights to develop against the public’s right to maintain a certain culture where they live.
I think that the board did make the correct decision in approving this development with the changes that were negotiated. I believe that a more transparent process and a change in the culture of County Government could go a long way towards alleviating the fears of residents when issues concerning the County Government are involved. We need to work towards a relationship based on trust between County Government and residents because after all Government is here to serve the tax payers not take advantage of them. We need a County agenda that derives from the needs of the taxpayers and we need strong County Board members that will fight for the residents and small businesses in their districts.
Linda Pedersen (Republican): I attended many of the RPC meetings and PBZ meetings and listened to hours of testimony. This project ended up with many more restrictions then when it was originally presented. This is a great example when the government entities that are effected by a development get together and try and work the issues out. I am confident that we made the right decision and when a developer comes to us with a plan they will have to follow all of our rules, regulations and ordinances and we will end up with a high quality development.
District 3
Dale Kehr (Democrat): The project is not wanted by the residents and not needed at this time with shopping in Deer Park less than 5 minutes away. As I understand it the board has approved the property to be rezoned only. The Project has not been green lighted to break ground. I would not support this as a board member at this time.
Tom Weber (Republican): The board made the right decision. The owners of the property did what was required and worked to appease much of the issues regarding size etc. The decision for the zoning change was well deserved. Once a proposal is made we can judge further but should work to make the right decision. This project could employ thousands of people during the construction and thousands of full and part-time jobs upon completion.
District 5
Patricia Ferruzza (Democrat): I understand that the property owners want to get the best use of out of their land, and are certainly within their rights to seek a zoning change. But when the land is surrounded by established residential neighborhoods, the needs of the residents must be given much greater weight than I feel it was in this instance. Much time was spent with the property owners and County staff behind closed doors, and then municipalities were brought into those meetings before the residents had the opportunity to air their concerns—they were allowed to present their views only after those negotiations had taken place. If a developer is found for this property and a concrete plan is put forward, I would advocate that the minimal additional height and landscaping requirements that the Zoning Board of Appeals approved after listening to the residents be made a part of the plan, and that traffic be routed away from the surrounding neighborhoods.
Bonnie Thompson Carter (Republican): Yes, the County Board made the right decision. After 35+ hours of public testimony, the approval of the project included: the reduction of square footage from 1.4M square feet under a straight rezoning to 650,000; half the property preserved in permanent open space; 80 pages of conditions and a laundry list of prohibited uses; slower release rates protecting runoff; and land set aside for the Sheriff’s office and Fire Protection District if requested. The rezoning does not take effect until a developer has met all 80 pages of conditions. This development will provide short and long term employment for Lake County residents. It will also provide tax relief to the other taxing districts, in particular, the local school system will realize over $800,000 annually from property taxes.
District 9
Mary Ross Cunningham (Democrat): ? Yes we made correct decision base economic reasons; more of a tax base, which helps us keep our expense low, increase funding for our schools in that area and hopefully this type of project can find its way North East of Lake County. We must weigh the economic impact before we can make any decision on the various proposal.
Joe Schmitt (Republican): I feel the board made the correct choice. Development of the western portion of the county is in full bloom. Development of shopping centers will ease the congestion of traffic moving toward Gurnee Mills and keep much need tax revenues from going to Woodfield Mall and places in Cook County. The main consideration is the traffic flow affecting the area.
District 16
Terry Wilke (Democrat): I don’t believe that property rights are sacrosanct nor do I believe that the public should be able to dictate every single aspect of a property’s development, rather I think a proper balance has to be struck in each case individually. In this case it was a very sensitive area, both in terms of environmental concerns and also in terms of residential concerns. Because of this, additional restrictions were placed on the property that alleviated most, but not all of the issues, as with most things, no one got everything that they wanted, but a solid majority of stakeholders walked away with most of what they asked for.
Michael Carbone (Republican): I believe the decision was correct. What I would suggest is that the development coincides to the aesthetics of the local community and that all concerns are met to the majority.
District 19
Deborah Barry (Democrat): No, this massive rezoning was completely improper, an example of “upside down” zoning. There’s no developer; all this approval does is increase the potential sales price of the Dimucci — at a time when the rest of us face plummeting home values. County staff should have rejected this “un-plan” until there was an interested developer.
There are good reasons no one has been interested in this property since the mid-’90s. First, we have over a million square feet of empty retail space in the region; there’s no lack of retail space. Second, there’s no demand for additional shopping; another mall would merely cannibalize the sales at nearby malls. Third, such a development, if properly planned might enhance the lifestyle locally and attract visitors; but the bottom line is that even the best multi-use project is a zero sum game. The ongoing costs of public safety, traffic control, municipal and county services can even outstrip the revenue.
I want to see site to determine precisely what parts of this property is buildable. The scale of any development should be proportional to that calculation instead of pulling square footage out of thin air. The many unique, fragile ecosystems in this area are county treasures; this development will impact water, air, flora and fauna. If elected, I will resist further approvals on this development as proposed and monitor county expenses on this project.
Craig Taylor (Republican): I believe the Board made the right decision, though this was a difficult decision for me. I have worked to build consensus, facilitating getting Hawthorn Woods and North Barrington to sit down with the county and participating in crafting an agreement that is acceptable to all three governing bodies. The action the board took is just another step in the process. In order for the requested zoning change to take effect the property owner must find a developer willing to meet all the criteria contained in the 89-page agreement and must provide detailed plans/drawings and studies for any project they propose. If it meets all requirements it must be approved by the Planning, Building and Zoning Committee (and board) before anything can be developed on the site. The villages and county will work together to make sure any proposal that may come forward is high quality and minimizes the impact on the surrounding community.