At issue: With state and federal revenue sources shrinking, Show You Care Kane is seeking a referendum that would increase property taxes by about $83 for the owner of a $250,000 home.
Back in early December, Geneva's City Council dispersed $139,000 to about a dozen local agencies, from the Ecker Center for Mental Health to Tri-City Family Services to Lazarus House and many more. At that time, Lynn O'Shea of the Association for Individual Development spoke passionately about the desperate financial situation facing Kane County's mental health providers. "We have (hundreds of people) on the waiting list, and that is the issue we are trying to address right now," she said. "Resources continue to decline, and we cannot keep up with the pace of need. We have people who have been waiting 10 years." O'Shea announced then that the AID board had made the decision to pursue a referendum on the April ballot seeking a .1 percent …
On the Kane County website, new Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen sets his priorities in writing.
Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen has set his priorities and started a process to rearrange the structure of county government, including the creation of a "deputy chairperson" position. According to the Kane County website, Lauzen reviewed with the County Board and the public his initial priorities for Kane County, which are basically the same as his campaign promises: 1. Freeze property tax levies 2. End cronyism 3. Introduce management best practices through innovation and austerity Lauzen noted that Kane County's tax levy has increased 50 percent from 2003 to 2010 with Kane County Government growing at more than twice the rate of taxpayer income. That's why the first of his top priorities was to freeze the levies. Lauzen said …
Reports: Judge Thomas Mueller cites "lack of evidence" in case accusing former Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay of dishing out raises to cronies.
A Kane County judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a former County Board chairman candidate that accused Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay of dishing out hefty raises to high-level employees. The suit, filed by Jim MacRunnels, said McConnaughay didn't follow proper procedures in administering county personnel and salaries. The suit was filed in 2010, then dismissed, and was dismissed again Tuesday in appellate court, according to an article in the Daily Herald. A McConnaughay press release referred to the lawsuit as "politically motivated" and "frivilous." “While it is gratifying that the court has again found these allegations meritless, it is unfortunate that the county had to incur the cost of defending itself from what …
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Rob Russell wins the race with 56 percent of the vote. Here are some quotes and a recap of other Kane County races.
Republican Rob Russell won a contentious race Tuesday for Kane County coroner, according to unofficial election results. With 291 precincts reporting, Russell captured about 56 percent of the total vote. His opponent, Democratic candidate Tao Martinez, came in with 43 percent. "I’m very happy, very humbled for this opportunity," Russell told Patch. "I look forward to serving the citizens of Kane County for the next four years." Martinez said the campaign, his first time running for public office, was a challenging one. He congratulated all of tonight's winners on both sides of the political spectrum. "I have no regrets in how I ran my campaign," Martinez said. "I tried to set an example. I was not your typical candidate. Everyone noticed …
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9:20 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Yea where is your info coming from Romney won Kane county. more ›
Local newspapers should not be letting politicians get away with playing Lady Gaga.
Geneva Patch just posted portions of a Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay press release in which she actually threatens to freeze the county property tax levy. Why, she even went as far as taking the Finance Committee to task for having the temerity to suggest otherwise. “I could not stand by and watch an irresponsible budget increase the burden on the taxpayers,” said McConnaughay, who also is the Republican candidate for state senate in the 33rd District. “When property owners are seeing values go down, it is unconscionable to raise their taxes, especially without any coherent reason why.” Ain’t it funny how she was never quite as sympathetic to our plight until she aimed for Springfield with one eye on the lieutenant governor…
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7:08 am on Friday, October 12, 2012
Max, I'm not yet so cynical to say that it can't be done. As voters one thing that we can do to help is to stop focusing on our own partisan politics and vote for people that are qualified and have a track record to prove it. I tend to lean toward democrats on many of my views but I will vote for anyone that has practical ideas for better government and the ability to see them through. more ›
Kane Board chairman pushes through zero-increase levy after Finance Committee chair suggests a tax increase.
After the Kane County Board Finance Committee Chairman proposed a 2013 budget that would raise the property tax levy in spite of declining real estate values, Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay countered with her own budget proposal that freezes the levy on existing property for the second consecutive year. "I could not stand by and watch an irresponsible budget increase the burden on the taxpayers," said McConnaughay, Republican candidate for state senate in the 33rd District. "When property owners are seeing values go down it is unconscionable to raise their taxes, especially without any coherent reason why." County Finance Committee Chairman Jim Mitchell wrote a budget that increased the county tax levy in spite of a 6.8 percent decrease…
9:48 am on Monday, October 8, 2012
Mr. Loebel you raise a very valid point. Eventually, they will bankrupt us all with their trickery mathemical "tax to the max" scams. The fact that they have access to our funds like this and can attach any configuration system to it is a prime example of tyranny. I would like to know how they derived at this system along with the school district tax levy(the sky is the limit, spend, spend, spend… more ›
I'm getting so aggravated, I may just run for mayor!
To ensure my fingers are squarely on the pulse of the public, at least once a week I call state Sen. Chris Lauzen’s Aurora office to ask his eminently capable administrative assistant Kim Murphy the following question: “What are the fine citizens of Kane County calling about this week?” Though it’s generally a random assortment of regular issues, sometimes there’s a theme. And last week’s theme was property tax bills, as in no one was happy with what they were asking for the first 2012 installment. I suppose we could consider ourselves fortunate not to live in Elburn or Sugar Grove, the loci of this spring discontent. Apparently, some of those bills skyrocketed by 8 percent! That said, I’m not sure if anyone already paying $9,000 in …
12:41 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Here is the real problem...Kane County had a 21% voter turnout. Until the payers have had enough the band will play on. Two elections ago the Kane County Forest Preserve passed a $34 million bond and only 15% voted on it. How much did the KCFP portion of your bill go up? The payers continue to let things happen to them. more ›
Tom O'Neil: A Department of Defense directive prohibits members of the armed forces on active duty from “participating in any political activity while in military uniform.
To the Editor: Last weekend, my wife and I received a political advertisement from Chris Lauzen in the mail. It was a handsome political piece which contains, among other things, a color photograph of Sen. Lauzen and his family. Two of the senator’s sons are shown in their full dress uniforms, one from the Marine Corps and one from the United States Navy. Sen. Lauzen is justiflably proud of his two sons in the military. However, Department of Defense directive No. l344.10, effective Feb. 19, 2008, prohibits members of the armed forces on active duty from “participating in any political activity while in military uniform.” (DoDD 1344.10 E32) Political activity is defined as “activity supporting or relating to candidates representing, or …
8:37 am on Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Tim, I haven't seen the photo you describe; is it possible his sons are attired in Marmion uniforms? Certainly THAT wouldn't fall afoul! Even Chris could wear his full-dress cadet duds. I've known Chris longer than Kevin, this is a conflicted decision, but I'm off to the polls to vote for Burns. more ›
U.S. Congressman Peter Roskam says Chris Lauzen is a "principled conservative with business acumen" and endorses Lauzen in the Kane County Board race.
U.S. Congressman Peter Roskam, who represents the 6th District of Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives has endorsed state Sen. Chris Lauzen for Kane County Board chairman. Roskam is the chief deputy majority whip, the fourth-ranking Republican leader in the House. “I am honored to wholeheartedly endorse Chris Lauzen for Kane County Board chairman. Chris is a principled conservative with business acumen who understands the challenges we face today," Roskam wrote. “He is committed to a bright future for Kane County and knows how to make government live within its means." Lauzen said he appreciates Roskam’s support and looks forward to continuing to work closely with him for the good of Kane County. SOURCE: Chris Lauzen campaign …
Kane County may lead the way in electric vehicle standards in the state and Fermi's Tevatron isn't dead yet.
The Kane County Board will be voting on an ordinance in a few months that will set standards for electric vehicles, making it the first governmental body to do so in Illinois. According to a recent article in The Beacon News, a task force including several industry experts has been meeting to draft the content of the ordinance. Following a presentation expected at the January Committee of the Whole meeting, the ordinance will then go to the full board for approval. The county is planning to build charging stations, according to another good story by Chicago Tribune freelance correspondent Clifford Ward, but it is setting the standards so that private enterprise can jump in. That story has been picked up via Tribune syndication in a lot of …
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craig
8:29 am on Saturday, January 5, 2013
With my first paycheck of 2013 in hand, which is less than the last check of 2012 thanks to taxes, is it too early to vote NO. more ›