Build it and they will come from all around. Chicago residents will abound, paying non resident fees, increasing crowds evermore.
In April 2021, the parks’ $3.5 million referendum failed. This year seeking $6.3 million hoping that historically low primary turnouts would help passage.
Now, we’ll also get new tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball fields, parking lot and concession stand.
A patronage army of government employees, elected officials and their friends were out in force, knocking on doors and in front of polling locations on election day tugging at heartstrings. Firefighters had $25,000 in union money with no organized opposition.
The Fire Department made it a safety issue. But, the blame does not lie with our first responders, who I wholeheartedly support, but with the fire trustees and their lack of fiscal responsibility.
The Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) limits tax levy increases to the lesser of 5% or the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) without voter approval.
The Fire Department was to get the maximum 5% this year and another 5% next year. With inflation expected to remain high for years, they will probably get another 3% or 4% after two 5% annual increases.
This $1 million fire tax levy increase is forever, unlike a bond, which is eventually paid off. A bond specifies how it can be spent, this $1 million tax levy increase has no limitations.
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My opinion, with no restrictions on how this 15.55% fire department $1 million tax levy increase can be spent, it will make its way to salaries and to underfunded pension and health benefits, which are funded at only 5.54 percent.
Wouldn’t spending $6.3 million on Giles-Leigh be a better investment?
It’s your money, the more you know, the less you don’t know
Riccardo A. Mora
Norridge