Busy, Busy, Busy

We've been busy trying to earn money to pay our soon-to-be due property taxes and thus the paucity of posts.

At this time of year, we are always reminded of how inherently unfair property taxes really are. As a single example, take for instance the following scenario:

Let's say that we "own" a $150,000 home. Let's also assume that our neighbor has a nearly identical piece of property valued the same at $150,000. We "own" our home outright. He holds a $100,000 mortgage on his. Now, why on God's green earth do we both pay the same tax?

The property tax is not even a good tax on assets like the death tax!

A Call For Referendum

The Heartland Community College Board's plan to double the campus size, at a cost of $60 million, is going full-speed ahead without public input. This underhanded property tax increase will pay for a project that includes extracurricular buildings and facilities. Homeowners in Heartland's district - which includes parts of McLean, Livingston, Logan, DeWitt and Ford counties - will be footing the whole bill for many years to come.

Our own Unit 5 public school system is bursting at the seams and will soon be asking for more building funds. But Heartland does not have to ask. They can ignore other community needs and blithely sell bonds for an expansion that has little to do with education.

Heartland's rush to provide superfluous amenities can be stopped by referendum.

Voters' only recourse is to mount a petition for a ``back-door referendum.''

The petition requires 12,600 signatures by about May 17. That number is 10 percent of district voters. We need your help. Call (309) 452-2690 to volunteer.

We have one month from the time when the public notice is printed to submit signed petitions to the Heartland board secretary. He will pass them on to the county clerks, who will put the referendum on the ballot for the next election.

In the meantime the projected bond sale would be moot. The board would be forced to justify their plan to the public, which they did not do.

Heartland should withdraw its $60 million plan and give the voters a proposal that reflects its mission to provide affordable education to a growing population of students.

If you agree, please join this grass-roots endeavor. Let the voters decide this most important fiscal question.

Sandra Jesse

Normal

Yep. Here Comes The Eureka Park District Director

These folks have to understand that a "Greater Eureka Park District" will be fought tooth and nail by property tax payers. Certainly the programs and activities which have gone on (Football, Soccer, etc) have been wonderful; BUT, creating another property taxing district is not the answer to retiring volunteers, Eureka budget concerns, and the desire to create a jobs program over there. No one would impugn the good intentions of those involved here, we just think their solution is flawed.

Once a new district is created is there really any question that it will get bigger every year and pay out pensions, health insurance benefits, etc.? We have a sneaking suspicion that this new district's boundaries might just be drawn around a Wind Farm or Ethanol Plant. Why not? It's a plum waiting to be plucked, right?

Let's create a real solution to the "problem" of families participating in the sponsored activities facing increased fees. Let's create a non-profit foundation and keep it off the property tax bills. We believe "the folks" will flock to support such an alternative. Let's give "the folks" the pleasure of supporting the endeavors by not forcing them to contribute.

Let's stop this nonsense right now.

Best Kept Tech Secret in Woodford County.

Selvey's Busy Corner restaurant in Goodfield had a wonderful surprise for us the other day when we popped in for lunch.

They have a free wireless internet connection available for their patrons. Randy and Peg, the owners, said it was their son's idea and that they've had the service ever since the new building opened two years ago!

If you see some folks having breakfast with a laptop on their table, come on over and say, "Hi". It might be a writer for Woodford Tax Facts.Org.

"No New Taxes" wiped from history?

Quote of the Week:

"The rhetoric of 'No New Taxes' will not be recorded in our history books and if by chance it is marked at all, it will be by the dead end milepost!" – Education Minnesota President Judy Schaubach, in her farewell speech to the union's representative convention.

courtesy of and hat tip to Education Intelligence Agency

Where's The (Community College) Outrage?

Under the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2008 budget proposal, the Chicago City Colleges would again receive a special grant for $15 million above their base funding. First implemented in 2004, this grant provides five times the amount needed to fill the gap created by the City’s property tax cap. If approved by the legislature, the City Colleges will see a nearly 36% increase in their funding while other community colleges see cuts or virtually no increase.

Since 2004, the City Colleges have received nearly 40% more funding from the Illinois Community College Board while downstate colleges have seen up to a 23% reduction in State funding over that same period of time.

Additionally, in this same timeframe, funding for the City Colleges has captured 93% of the total increase to all community colleges.

The Press Speaks To The Gov.

From Around the State: What People are Saying about Blagojevich's Massive Tax & Spending Plan

Gov. Rod is grossing us out Editorial March 15, 2007 "Gov. Rod Blagojevich wants to make sure he has enough money to pay his backlog of bills and for his ambitious social agenda. "Too bad he isn't as concerned about whether his gross receipts tax will put your salary, benefits or job in peril. Too bad he isn't as concerned about whether your employer might move to Missouri or new businesses choose to avoid Illinos." Blagojevich sets too high a price Editorial March 7, 2007 "Gov. Rod Blagojevich never met a big government program he didn't like." "Let's hope lawmakers put the breaks on the governor's grandiose plans. Economic growth, and not more government spending, is what Illlinois needs."

Tax Proposal is Too Flawed Editorial "Businesses are the backbone of this state, not the villian."

Get Ready, the Deal-Making Begins Today Editorial March 7, 2007 "This state continues to carry a huge debt on its shoulders, estimated at $2 billion last summer, and we continue to see Blagojevich and our elected leaders settle on short-term financial fixes that lack long-term structure and stability. "Adding new programs, as wanted as they may be, and paying for them with money that could instead be used to get us out of debt makes little sense to us."

Smaller Companies Oppose Tax Plan Editorial March 9, 2007 "It hurts the small guy that might be a high-profit company. Under this proposal, it not only taxes my business but my subcontractors," he said. "I think (the proposed tax) is an awful thing. It was used in the 1800s and found to be regressive and anti-business. It was phased out in the 20th century." Big Dreams, Taxpayers Beware Editorial March 8, 2007 "Blagojevich frames the choice here as between big, bad business and the long-suffering middle class, but that's simplistic. Corporations also employ Illinoisans who might lose jobs if this passes. These tax increases will be passed on to consumers. The governor says, "I will not raise taxes on people," but in fact he would be, through the back door."

The Blagojevich Legacy Editorial March 8, 2007 "This constant quest for new hills to climb conveys the governor's eagerness to solve problems and be noticed. Unfortunately, at a moment when he wanted to sell his state on some controversial concepts, he delivered a divisive populist rant ("middle-class families," good--"corporations," bad, bad, bad) that only confirms the perception of him in some quarters as a lightweight. Illinois citizens might have been swayed Wednesday by the bring-us-together touch of Barack Obama. Instead they got Hugo Chavez." Paying for Pensions Letter to Editor March 9, 2007 "The State of Illinois is going down a frightening road with a gross receipts tax. To my knowledge, Michigan is the only state with a gross receipts tax. Michigan is also the only state to lose jobs over the last five years. Michigan is the only state currently in a recession, despite the decent economy nationwide."

Gross-Receipts Tax Would be Harmful to Illiniois Editorial March 2, 2007 "Illinois has enough trouble trying to overcome its image of a bad business climate. But there will be real stormy weather ahead if the state enacts a gross-receipts tax. "It's not just because that will be hurt. Consumers will be hurt, too."

Woodford Unemployed Ranks Shrink Again

Woodford County unemployment decreased from 3.7 percent in 2005 to 3.1 percent in 2006 — the second-lowest in the state, according to statistics from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The lowest rate in the state was in Brown County in western part of the state.

McLean County came in third with average annual jobless rate of 3.4 percent, down from 4 percent in 2005.

Tazewell County’s rate decreased from 4.6 percent in 2005 to 3.8 percent in 2006.

Is it SAFE? IS it safe?

Remember the famous Marathon Man movie sequence where Olivier interrogates Hoffman?

Seth Godin (Seth's Blog) speaks today about "thrill seekers" versus "fear avoiders" in business. He summarizes by stating that "thrill seekers" love growth and change,

They most enjoy a day where they try something that was difficult, or--even better--said to be impossible, and then pull it off

and "fear avoiders" loathe change,

They want the world to stay just the way it is. They're happy being mediocre, because being mediocre means less threat/fear/change. They resent being pushed into the unknown, because the unknown is a scary place.

It hit us like a stone between the eyes that this seems to apply to public education in a big way too. Seth explains that in business:

. . . why not call them risk seekers and risk avoiders? Well, it used to be true. Seeking thrills was risky. But no longer. Now, of course, safe is risky. The horrible irony is that the fear avoiders are setting themselves up for big changes because they're confused. The safest thing they can do now, it turns out, is become a thrill seeker.

The "Big Education" folks are longer taking care of their own by eschewing creative educational solutions. The safest thing they can possibly do is, it now turns out, become thrill seekers.

It's time to step outside tenure schemes, accountability avoidance, non-performance based reviews, and unsustainable pensions. It's time to take some "risks".

Abuse Charges Against Illinois Teachers; Epidemic?

Does it seem to you that there have been an awfully lot of Illinois primary and secondary education teachers arrested for sexual abuse lately? It seemed that way to us. Here is a listing for the last THREE MONTHS:

Ian M. McDonald, 31, of 103 N. Walnut, Apt. 5, Glasford, was being held overnight at the Peoria County Jail.

Jodi E. Church, 26, a Manual High School special education teacher, is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old male student on several occasions. She also faces federal charges for allegedly using the Internet to try to lure another 16-year-old to have sex with her.

Jon Andrew White, 26, in McLean County, former Unit 5 teacher faces two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He is accused of sexually abusing two first-grade students in Normal. He also faces similar charges in Champaign County for allegedly molesting nine second-grade girls at Thomas Paine Elementary School in Urbana.

Michael Vonderohe, 29, who pleaded guilty three years ago to molesting a 16-year-old student while he was a high school teacher, denied violating his probation during a brief interview after his appearance in Madison County, Illinois Circuit Court.

Jason Krigas, 36, of Fox River Grove was convicted in September of one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Robert Sperlik Jr., 45, was still teaching last month when the parents of a 15-year-old girl contacted police with her story of abuse and he was arrested. The band teacher was arrested here and charged with sexually abusing 16 students, jaws dropped at the allegations: Police said the teacher had tied young girls to chairs with duct tape and rope and then re-enacted bondage scenes from his porn collection.

Randy DeJaynes, 56, a DeLand-Weldon High School English teacher was charged in Piatt County Circuit Court on Wednesday with three counts of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Please let us know if we've missed any.

Sure Fire, Drug-Free, Low-Fat Cure For Depression

Here's the top three things you can do to feel better about yourself and your life:

1. Get in touch with God. Whatever your beliefs, revisit them, study about your faith, rediscover the divine, and pray; not for yourself, but for the Divine plan for your life.

2. Serve someone else. Volunteer or just get in touch with someone who needs help. Concentrating on others will take your mind off of yourself, your troubles, and perhaps show you that you have it better than you ever imagined.

3. Turn off the tv, radio, and stop reading magazines. The nature of television and radio is the imposition of an artificial rhythm upon human lives. This is neither healthy nor relaxing. Recognize that these media are not out to help you, regardless of what they say, they are out to sell you something.

Try these remedies for at least three weeks and you will feel so much better you will start getting better sleep which will also help tremendously.

District Report Cards

Finally! The Illinois State Board of Education "School Report" cards are available for last year.

Visit here, for information on your district and/or your local school.

Stick It To "the man"

Want to get your revenge on all of those "rich white guys"? Here's one sure fire way:

That's right, get a degree in physics! Even though your financial gratification may be somewhat deferred, you may just want to go whole hog and pick up an advanced degree as well:


Ahhh, yes; revenge is best when served at -18 degrees Celsius.

A Free Society Is . . .

Adlai E. Stevenson Jr.

from Quotes of the Day

"My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular."

IEA: It's all about the Money, errhh, Kids.

Anyone still thinking that the Illinois Education Association believes "it's all about the kids" or their focus-grouped-to-death "Education is a Basic Right" slogan need only read this letter to the Bloomington Pantagraph.

Ken Swanson, IEA President, states among other things that they are "unalterably opposed" to tinkering with tenure, tying teacher pay to standardized test scores, and are "are unalterably opposed to “merit pay” schemes".

Schemes? Man, most of us have been "schemed" our whole lives. We're surprised he didn't use the phrase "risky schemes" in there someplace.

The Sun Times said the other day, "People who would never endorse the idea that businesses should be granted local monopolies, offer workers lifetime tenure, or pay employees based solely on seniority, embrace a status quo public [education] system that has all of these features."

After reading this, is there anyone left that believes these people have any interest whatsoever in "the children"? Let's recap; you MUST hire more teachers; you MUST not pay on performance; you MUST retain tenure (job for life); you MUST not hold us accountable (unless you lump together yourself, the money, the state, local, and feds). You MUST dump in more money into a dysfunctional system regardless of the results.

Mr. Swanson left unsaid on thing which has been uttered to the General Assembly more and more in the A+ Illinois circles: "We funded and voted you guys in for the last two elections and it's payback time - now!"

Fathers Against Distracted Driving

You've seen the news pieces. Cell phones, fast food, sleepy drivers, stereos, children, makeup, worriers, pets - they're all bad and need to be banned from cars!

To further this cause, we proudly announce our new activist group - Fathers Against Distracted Driving! That's right, we've decided to railroad legislators with FADD based issues.

We feel with the current Illinois General Assembly, the time couldn't be more ripe.

Woodford County Web Site (coming soon?)

No, now, we really, really, mean it this time. The County of Woodford IS going to have a web site soon.

We think.

The email addressing scheme for the County will be First Initial; Last Name@woodford-county.org. For example, the County Administrator - Greg Jackson's new email address will be gjackson@woodford-county.org.

E-mail should already be in force for departments under this scheme.

What's Our Gross Margin On That?

Is it just us or does it seem a bit disturbing that we're selling nearly half of all the arms on the world market?

Listen, we're as much for reducing our trade deficits as anyone, but is this really the way to do it?

Folks used to be shocked when we pointed out that arms sales during the Clinton administration increased faster than than any previous administration. For some reason they (particularly the supporters of said administration) thought that was just impossible.

Since 911 the Bush administration has made those guys look like pikers. We believe it's time to reaccess our arms sales, particularly those to the "developing" nations, and most particularly, those classified as "conventional arms".

For two interesting pieces on the state of the world market (white market, that is) see:

this Nov., 2006 Boston Globe article

and this congressional summary report.

McCain Saddling Up

Peoria Pundit Gets It!

Commenting on a Peoria Journal Star article, the Peoria Pundit reminds us of a few facts about our property taxes (emphases are our own):

. . . Time and again, I hear elected officials brag about how they’ve voted to maintain or even lower the property tax rate. They do this even though their consistently vote to raise the property tax levy as much as possible without trigging a dreaded increase in the property tax rate. The reason people get property tax bills that go up is because property is constantly being re-assessed at higher values.

It’s such a con job. Were someone to sit down and devise a means to tax real estate in a way that lets taxes go up, but lets politicians claim they didn’t raise taxes, it would look very much like what we have hear in Illinois.