D41 Referendum FAQ

[Jasper]

I was on holiday when you posted this. There was a $600, maybe a little less, benefit for health clubs that used to be in most FT admin and CSO contracts. I found it thru FOIAing all admin contracts maybe 3-4 years ago. After some conversation with Gordon, I believe early in his tenure, it disappeared from all contracts.

That was when I started on TRS reform. We should get that this year. For those not familiar with this--16 admin not only get a healthy salary, but nice health benefits, that 75%ish pension waiting at the beginning of retirement. Some get small stuff like phone reimbursements(it was $75/4 weeks for their using their cell phone for school business). These 16 also get us chumps to pay for their portion of their retirement benefits that go into the TRS(Teachers Retirement System). Think SS where your employer pays 1/2 and you pay 1/2. Here, just for these 16 that average over $120,000 in salary a year, we pay this whole thing. I computed that last year alone, this benefit cost us over $250,000.

Thanks for the update and for keeping your eye on all of this spending in the district. I'm definitely glad to hear that the health club membership benefit is gone. I agree that the TRS portion currently paid by taxpayers should be paid by the employees.

[Clamato]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/

[DTM]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/

Best line:

Do residents get the connection? If you keep authorizing your district to spend more, there are consequences to your property tax bill.

Those increases cannot be blamed solely on state government. While Springfield has not fixed a broken school funding formula that punishes wealthier districts, residents in wealthier districts also dig the wound. They keep voting for bigger and better things — and for school board members who like to spend.


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[Michael]

Did my taxes over the weekend. Interesting to compare my RE taxes here in NC versus GE. A Six thousand dollar a year difference. Think about that 500.00 extra a month I get to keep .

[innovator]

Hey all you "Vote No" people - I want to know which one of you voted "No" because D41 didn't go HIGH enough on their referendum amount? At Monday's BOE meeting, Lincoln Parent Ms. Jessica Buttimer claimed during her public comment time that she has spoken with someone who voted "no" and gave that reason.

[DTM]

do they have architectural drawings of the additions yet?

[Grateful]

My mother is a sub teacher at Prospect HS and has been for 35 years. She brought up an interesting point to me, the number of students 35 years ago was about 2,000 and today it's about the same.

However, the size of the teacher's parking lot has more than doubled. I bet this is the case in D41 & D87.

It's not just the massive pension costs, but the shear increase in the numbers of staff that makes up the huge costs.

[DTM]

absolutely. There are a lot more specialists and support staff than there was years ago.

[ackerman]

Hey all you "Vote No" people - I want to know which one of you voted "No" because D41 didn't go HIGH enough on their referendum amount? At Monday's BOE meeting, Lincoln Parent Ms. Jessica Buttimer claimed during her public comment time that she has spoken with someone who voted "no" and gave that reason.

As shown in a previous PP comment by Ms. Buttimer about me, she has no problem creating her own fake facts and fake truth. The NO side was coordinated by a gentleman that I can assure you was not looking for a higher ref. Nor, was I. Unless she wants to name this person, I believe she is creating fiction.

At the last board meeting, she also questioned that there are taxpayers feeling that taxes are too high. I call that being arrogant and delusional. I know there are many that feel taxes are too high. Many have already moved.

[Lolita]

Hey all you "Vote No" people - I want to know which one of you voted "No" because D41 didn't go HIGH enough on their referendum amount? At Monday's BOE meeting, Lincoln Parent Ms. Jessica Buttimer claimed during her public comment time that she has spoken with someone who voted "no" and gave that reason. ❔

Hahaha...no.




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[Concerned]

A bunch of your crack me up. So you've finally figured out the high real estate taxes in GE are finally affecting home values, especially in the so called "upper bracket" range? You are also starting to ponder and assess the cost of the unions in the process of education? Let me assure you of 1 thing: Unless you have money to burn, and don't give a damn, you can't build a house in GE at current construction costs and expect to get your money back out, EVER. Unless there is a major change in the tax structure of GE and specifically within the D41 enclave. Now if you want my beloved GE to akin to Lombard, Villa Park, with cookie cutter lots and small bungalows you are headed in the right direction. GE has always had a nice mix of housing for decades. that's what gives it the charm of our village. There are some people in this town losing MILLIONS of their hard earned money on declining real estate values. People don't acquire assets by losing money or being dumb asses, but some are well on their way. Good luck to all of you.

[GE Fan]

A bunch of your crack me up. So you've finally figured out the high real estate taxes in GE are finally affecting home values, especially in the so called "upper bracket" range? You are also starting to ponder and assess the cost of the unions in the process of education? Let me assure you of 1 thing: Unless you have money to burn, and don't give a damn, you can't build a house in GE at current construction costs and expect to get your money back out, EVER. Unless there is a major change in the tax structure of GE and specifically within the D41 enclave. Now if you want my beloved GE to akin to Lombard, Villa Park, with cookie cutter lots and small bungalows you are headed in the right direction. GE has always had a nice mix of housing for decades. that's what gives it the charm of our village. There are some people in this town losing MILLIONS of their hard earned money on declining real estate values. People don't acquire assets by losing money or being dumb asses, but some are well on their way. Good luck to all of you.

Thank you for being so "concerned" about some of us. It warms the cockles of my heart. It's good to be loved.

[GEman]

Now if you want my beloved GE to akin to Lombard, Villa Park ...

My god, think of the horror of growing up in Villa Park.

People don't acquire assets by losing money or being dumb asses ...

You're right. Much easier to be born into wealth and then tell everyone how you're a great businessman.

[Concerned]

I'm not "concerned" anymore. my only point is it "costa bundle" to live in this town and it doesn't seem to get better. Time for you Big Data to carry the load. Good luck to you sir.

[GEman]