Update:
Well, wouldn't you know, I goofed. A reader to this blog has pointed out that I completely missed the Daily Herald write-up on Tuesday night's Village Board vote on the tax increase. (I'll blame this one on Google, regardless- I'm sure the folks at the Herald are sure I'm either blind or dumb... lol)
Today's Daily Herald write up
I'm not sure how I missed today's story, even after specifically looking for it - So my use of the term "lagging media coverage" may have been a bit unjustified. However, I still think the village should have televised board meetings.
It should also be pointed out, as I pointed out a few days ago, the Daily Herald's Mick Zawislak had a really good piece outlining the background to the current village financial predicament. This story offers a good background into a major part of the village's cash crunch and is a good read, especially for those looking for what has led to the need for a tax hike.
Original Post:
A day and a half after the last Libertyville Village Board meeting, a newspaper article has finally appeared online, covering the recent utility tax increase -
Today's News Sun article from Ed Collins
Other related stories:
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=319305&src=63
Libertyville Sports Complex key to village d
deficit
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/libertyville/news/1744744,libertyville-finances-090309-s1.article#Comments_Container
Finance Committee Suggests Higher Taxes
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/mundelein/news/forum/1744854,mundelein-letters-090309-s1.article#Comments_Container
Libertyville faces financial crisis
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/1737561,5_1_WA27_LIBMONEY_S1-090827.article
Libertyville sales tax receipts down 22%Libertyville seeks new revenue sources
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Tax Increase Update
Earlier this year, the neighborhood along Maple Avenue between Brainerd and Milwaukee Avenues, came together and prevented the tear-down of an old, historic Victorian home in their neighborhood. The First Presbyterian Church had planned to tear down the home and turn it into a parking lot. The neighborhood came together quickly and effectively, raised awareness across the village for their causes and successfully fought the demolition of the home. The Village Board meeting where the demolition permit was to be issued was packed (standing room only) with residents from all across the community to express their concern and outrage over the planned tear-down of the home.
Fast forward to last night - the mostly new Village Board has found themselves in a situation
where sales tax revenue in the village has been on a decline since 2001, and village expenses have been steadily increasing. Mixed into the financial mess is the Libertyville Sports Complex, which has drained the Village's resources, and with 25 years of debt payments and a horrible real estate market - this has no chance of going away anytime soon. All of the financial problems the board is now facing has been years in the making - most of the Village Board has only been on the job for four months. On the verge of a major financial crisis, the Village Board, under the advisement of the Village's Finance Committee, has approved a tax hike on resident's cable, gas and electric bills. Typically, I find any sort of municipal tax hike unacceptable - however, I'm not sure what other choice the Village Board has in this situation. 
One bright spot of the tax increase - after hearing an earful from the handful of Village residents who came to last night's meeting to express their concern - the Village Board adopted an amendment to their original plan, which will call for an annual review of the tax hike - theoretically, the tax can go away as soon as next fall, if tax revenues increase. I think this is a better plan than one Village resident's idea to cut back the personnel and equipment who respond to fire and ambulance calls.
Finally - what was my point on including the first part of this blog entry about the Saving Maple organization? Despite the fact that I feel last night's tax increase is a necessary result of a series of unfortunate events (Including the construction of the Sports Complex), I am still amazed that so few residents attended last night's meeting compared to the meeting earlier this year. The Maple Avenue tear-down brought in around 140 residents to the Village Board meeting - last night might have had 30-40 residents. I felt both issues were very important to the Village - but I would suspect the tax issues has a bigger, more immediate impact to more Village residents. Is it that this is such a small tax not too many people are that concerned? Did people not know about the meeting? I'm curious - feel free to post your comments/feelings about the tax increase and/or the current financial situation the Village is in.
Fast forward to last night - the mostly new Village Board has found themselves in a situation
where sales tax revenue in the village has been on a decline since 2001, and village expenses have been steadily increasing. Mixed into the financial mess is the Libertyville Sports Complex, which has drained the Village's resources, and with 25 years of debt payments and a horrible real estate market - this has no chance of going away anytime soon. All of the financial problems the board is now facing has been years in the making - most of the Village Board has only been on the job for four months. On the verge of a major financial crisis, the Village Board, under the advisement of the Village's Finance Committee, has approved a tax hike on resident's cable, gas and electric bills. Typically, I find any sort of municipal tax hike unacceptable - however, I'm not sure what other choice the Village Board has in this situation. 
One bright spot of the tax increase - after hearing an earful from the handful of Village residents who came to last night's meeting to express their concern - the Village Board adopted an amendment to their original plan, which will call for an annual review of the tax hike - theoretically, the tax can go away as soon as next fall, if tax revenues increase. I think this is a better plan than one Village resident's idea to cut back the personnel and equipment who respond to fire and ambulance calls.Finally - what was my point on including the first part of this blog entry about the Saving Maple organization? Despite the fact that I feel last night's tax increase is a necessary result of a series of unfortunate events (Including the construction of the Sports Complex), I am still amazed that so few residents attended last night's meeting compared to the meeting earlier this year. The Maple Avenue tear-down brought in around 140 residents to the Village Board meeting - last night might have had 30-40 residents. I felt both issues were very important to the Village - but I would suspect the tax issues has a bigger, more immediate impact to more Village residents. Is it that this is such a small tax not too many people are that concerned? Did people not know about the meeting? I'm curious - feel free to post your comments/feelings about the tax increase and/or the current financial situation the Village is in.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Village Board Meeting - New Taxes on Tonight's Agenda
The Libertyville Village Board is set to vote tonight on proposed tax increases on gas and electric bills - the tax increase is to cover the shortfall that has been created by the Sports Complex mess. Over the weekend, Mick Zawislak had a good write-up in the Daily Herald. Basically, bad 
planning and unreasonable expectations about what the Libertyville Sports Complex would do for the village has put the current village government in a situation where they have run out of money. Other alternatives to the roughly 5% increase in gas and electric bills, include talk of furlough days and layoffs - I personally don't think the village has enough higher paid employees to make it worthwhile to make village employees take unpaid days off. The amount of money that the Sports Complex sucks out of the village budget each month will require substantial cuts and/or revenue generation. Hopefully, the Village will be able to sell the land and sports complex facility and get out of the sports complex business.
planning and unreasonable expectations about what the Libertyville Sports Complex would do for the village has put the current village government in a situation where they have run out of money. Other alternatives to the roughly 5% increase in gas and electric bills, include talk of furlough days and layoffs - I personally don't think the village has enough higher paid employees to make it worthwhile to make village employees take unpaid days off. The amount of money that the Sports Complex sucks out of the village budget each month will require substantial cuts and/or revenue generation. Hopefully, the Village will be able to sell the land and sports complex facility and get out of the sports complex business.The Libertyville Village Board Meeting is tonight (Tuesday September 8th) @ 8pm at Libertyville Village Hall.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Parking Garage OPEN!!
As the headaches of the Milwaukee Avenue road construction seem to escalate - how about some good construction news? The parking garage at Lake Street and Brainerd Avenue is finally OPEN! According to the Daily Herald, a formal opening dedication ceremony is planned for September 22nd.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Goose Dropping Winners!
If you missed Saturday night's Goose is Loose Festival, you missed out on an outstanding time! This was the third year I had a chance to attend, and each year things keep getting better. There was a lot of food on hand (I had the pulled pork from Mickey Finn's, which I am massively addicted to), plus the beer tent, kids games, live music and a great fireworks show! The highlight of the evening was, of course - the goose drop! From the GooseDropping.com web site - here is the rundown of this year's winners:
2009 Winners
$35,000 – Tom Kron
$3,500 – Tom Zengeler
$1,000 – Jeff Roleck
$1,000 – Andy Robinson
$1,000 – JM Stanley
2009 Winners
$35,000 – Tom Kron
$3,500 – Tom Zengeler
$1,000 – Jeff Roleck
$1,000 – Andy Robinson
$1,000 – JM Stanley
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Congressman Mark Kirk's Healthcare Town Hall Meeting
It's now our turn! We've seen the media coverage of Congressional Town Hall meetings across America - now our U.S. Congressman Mark Kirk will host one of his own. We're still waiting to see if neighboring 8th District Congresswoman Melissa Bean will hold a forum of her own.
I received this e-mail early this morning from Lake County Republican Chairman Dan Venturi:
I received this e-mail early this morning from Lake County Republican Chairman Dan Venturi:
On Monday, August 24, Mark Kirk will hold an open town hall meeting at the Arlington Heights Village Hall's Village Board Room.
We will meet to discuss health care, including my concerns with the cost, complication and taxes included in the House bill.
We'll also talk about my alternative legislation, the Medical Rights Act, to protect your rights to make decisions with your doctor, blocking attempts by the government to deny care.
Of course, we also will discuss any other issues like bringing more jobs and new businesses to the suburbs.
Members of Mark Kirk's staff will also be on hand to answer any questions you may have about your Medicare, Social Security or veterans benefits.
I hope you will be able to join us on Monday. Please do not hesitate to call Mark Kirk's district office at (847) 940-0202 with questions.
Arlington Heights Village Hall
Village Board Room
33 South Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights
3:00 p.m.
We will meet to discuss health care, including my concerns with the cost, complication and taxes included in the House bill.
We'll also talk about my alternative legislation, the Medical Rights Act, to protect your rights to make decisions with your doctor, blocking attempts by the government to deny care.
Of course, we also will discuss any other issues like bringing more jobs and new businesses to the suburbs.
Members of Mark Kirk's staff will also be on hand to answer any questions you may have about your Medicare, Social Security or veterans benefits.
I hope you will be able to join us on Monday. Please do not hesitate to call Mark Kirk's district office at (847) 940-0202 with questions.
Arlington Heights Village Hall
Village Board Room
33 South Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights
3:00 p.m.
Sincerely,
Dan Venturi
Friday, August 21, 2009
Someone is going to win $35,000 tomorrow!
It's time again for the annual Sunrise Rotary Club Goose is Loose Festival at the Libertyville Sports Complex! Tickets are still available online - you have until 3pm Saturday to purchase tickets online, or you can just buy them in person at the festival tomorrow afternoon. Also, if you have a chance - make sure you stop by the festival - every year it becomes more fun! There will be some great food, Mickey Finn's Beer and live music! Plus, you'll have the chance to see someone (maybe you) win a lot of money!
Here is the schedule of events:
3:00 pm - 8:00 pm Kids Activities
3:00 pm - 9:00 pm Food Court
3:00 pm - 10:00 pm Mickey Finn's Beer Garden
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Live Music
6:00 pm The Big Goose Drop!!!
8:15 pm Winners Announced
8:30 pm Fireworks
More Information: http://www.goosedropping.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)