Guest Letter: Residents Should Act to Cut D211 Budget
July 6th, 2010 | by SFC Published in Blog, Education | 6 Comments
Guest Letter by Schaumburg Resident John Parker
Residents within Township High School District 211 are and should be concerned on why their property tax bills keep going up. Many are angry and may not be sure who is responsible.
The school district is a major contributor to the property tax levy. Approximately 70 percent of your property tax bill goes to pay local school districts. Eighty percent of Township High School District 211′s budget of $220 million goes toward salary and benefits. The average teacher’s salary is $93,000 per year and is the 3rd highest in the state – yet academically the schools rank 69th.
(Since) 2005, (when) District 211 convinced taxpayers to approve an increase to the levy our schools have fallen academically compared to the rest of the state. (Illinois State Report Card). More money does not equal a better education.
If all teachers and “administrators” were willing to take across the board reductions in salaries and benefits, layoffs could be avoided. As professionals they should all be willing to chip in their fair share. Education is about the children, “right”?
Property taxpayers in this school district can no longer afford these sky-high labor costs. The D211 administration and school board have found some areas to trim the budget, but no mention of concessions of salary and benefits or even a pay freeze.
If individual citizens don’t call, our 2009 and 2010 property tax levy will certainly increase. The most recent tax levy went up $1.2 million despite the recession/depression and it will happen again if we don’t get involved.
If you want to get involved and are mad about your property taxes call or write Superintendant Nancy Robb, nrobb@d211.org or (847) 755-6610.
The $220 million budget needs to be CUT!
Given the current business climate, record foreclosures and 13 percent unemployment in Illinois, budget cuts are needed, fiscally responsible and reflect economic reality.
Originally published in the Daily Herald on July 6, 2010.
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September 29th, 2010 at 6:14 PM (#)
As a school district D211 rankes 148th. This rank does not support the 3rd highest paid teachers in the state.
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October 11th, 2010 at 7:26 PM (#)
D211 did this and put taxpayers on the hook again.
In the late summer or autumn of 2006, the Daily Herald ran a very informative series of 3 articles on the subject of restructuring long-term debt, with a focus on local schools. The article mentioned how a school might do this to save money in the short term by lowering payments– for instance, they might take a 10 million-dollar debt originally financed over 10 years and stretch it out to 15 million over 20 years. The lenders for such debts, who will make more money in the long run, will give the borrower a bonus for agreeing to such a contract. District 211 participated in such a re-finance.
This practice is illegal in about a dozen states (not ours) because basically, a debt is financed (on the taxpayers) at an agreed amount, and then this re-finance is NOT what taxpayers originally agreed to and actually costs MORE in the long run. Plus, the district may have entered this agreement under the worst possible terms, similar to going on an ARM when you buy a house.
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November 6th, 2010 at 7:56 PM (#)
High school District D-211 in Schaumburg, Palatine and Hoffman Estates is raising our 2010 property tax levy another
5 million eight hundred thousand dollars.
If you have a problem with this call,
Robert LeFevre, Jr.
Board of Education President
Term: 2009-2013
847-705-9067
Email: Robert LeFevre, Jr.
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November 6th, 2010 at 7:58 PM (#)
High school District D-211 in Schaumburg, Palatine and Hoffman Estates is raising our property tax levy another 5 million eight hundred thousand dollars. If you have a problem with this call,
Robert LeFevre, Jr.
Board of Education President
Term: 2009-2013
847-705-9067
Email: Robert LeFevre, Jr.
Reply
November 19th, 2010 at 6:32 PM (#)
D211 Board:
See the following article re: County Board President elect. Toni Preckwinkle has the right idea; especially working with Unions to see what concessions they can bring to the table to lower the overall budget. By far, labor and benefits are the largest component of the budget. I know your standard response is that D211 needs to attract the best of the best, which justifies the disproportionate salaries. In my opinion, and others as well, that position is obsolete and self serving. I truly believe the momentum of government and taxing districts will be to reduce the bloated salaries and benefits. I urge D211 to do the same.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-11-18/news/ct-met-cook-county-preckwinkle-1119-201 01118_1_controversial-county-sales-tax-budget-cuts-county-budget
“We’re going to be talking to the labor unions about the contribution that they can make to helping us deal with the terrible problems we’ve got,” she added.
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December 22nd, 2010 at 11:01 AM (#)
NorthWest Suburban Tax Payer’s Union
A 501(c)3 Organization in Formation
Announces it’s First and Organizational Meeting
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
7:00-8:00 PM
Buechner Room
First Floor
Arlington Heights Village Hall
33 South Arlington Heights Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
(Free parking in garage behind Village Hall)
The purpose of this meeting is to adopt Proposed Articles of
Incorporation, to elect
officers and directors, and to adopt a plan of action for the next
three to six months.
The reason for establishing this organization is to provide
information to the tax
payers about financial and related matters of the various taxing bodies in the
North West Suburbs of the Chicago Metropolitan area.
In addition to forming this organization, it is the intention of the
organizers to form
a related, but separate, political action committee, that will seek
out and support
candidates for elective offices of the various taxing bodies that
support excellence
in public service at an affordable cost to taxpayers.
The vast majority of taxpayers in this area are very concerned about the sharp
increases in their real estate bills for the last two years and feel
it is time to do
something about it. Please join us in at least finding out what is
needed and how
you can help.
Everyone is invited. There are no dues or any other financial requirements.
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