In light of the recent proposal to increase property taxes by $24 million a year, I thought it would be interesting to see what Schaumburg Village Trustees said in the past about raising property taxes. What I found should be shocking to Schaumburg Taxpayers.

On April 29th, 2004, the now defunct Schaumburg Review interviewed Village of Schaumburg Trustees on their property taxes views, all 6 trustees, including 5 who recently voted to raise property taxes for the Olde Schaumburg Centre TIF district in April of 2009, at the time suggested that Schaumburg should avoid property taxes at all costs.

Trustee Marge Connelly- ”I don’t think…a property tax is necessary or required.”

Trustee Hank Curcio- ”I feel very comfortable that we’ll be able to do it without a property tax. The convention center and hotel, that’s going to go a long way toward keeping us from a property tax.”

Trustee Tom Dailly- “I see no reason to implement a property tax.”

Trustee George Dunham- “No. (in response to the question about implementing a property tax) I don’t think that we’re going to be raising any more taxes”

Trustee Jack Sullivan- “I do not support a property tax at all.”

Unfortunately for the taxpayers, the plague Schaumburg sought to avoid has arrived without any reservation or dissent from the Village Trustees. All 5 of the Trustees who said no to property taxes in 2004, have now voted in favor of the largest property tax increase in the history of Schaumburg. Newer Trustee Mark Madej also voted for the property tax hike.

Perhaps most disturbing was that Village Trustees approved the $120 million property tax hike just 7 days after 91% of Schaumburg voters said they wanted a lighter tax burden with a advisory-only sales tax rollback referendum. So much for listening to the citizens.

Let us hope Schaumburg voters will remember the broken promises by the current set of Village Trustees in 2011. You can be sure that the Schaumburg Freedom Coalition will be reminding voters between now and then.

While Trustee Daily has now retired, Trustees George Dunham,  Hank Curcio, and Mark Madej will be up for re-election in 2011. Jack Sullivan and Marge Connelly are up for re-election, along with new Trustee Frank Kozak, in 2013.

From: Should Schaumburg have a property tax?
Source: Schaumburg Review (IL), 4/29/2004.

Related posts:

1. News Alert: Costin Calls Schaumburg’s Budget Increases Reckless Costin has pledged to repeal the property tax and enact...
2. Schaumburg’s Out of Control Spending Continues, Expenditure Caps Needed From 1987-2009 Schaumburg's budget grew 260% faster than population growth...