Hmmm…after realizing your Mayor has voted for, and passed, 17 different major tax hikes since becoming mayor, you really don’t expect him to say something like this.

“We’re going to run out of money September of next year unless we do something about it. And the only revenue source that we can look at that would meet that kind of requirement is a property tax,” said Al Larson, Schaumburg Village president. Source ABC 7 News

Then again, he does have a pretty good record when it comes to tax & spend.

When Al Larson was first elected Mayor in 1987 the Village of Schaumburg’s expenditures were $24.9 million. If the Village of Schaumburg’s government grew at the rate of inflation (87%) + population growth (+10.7%) we would expect the Schaumburg to be currently spending about $51.7 million per year. Instead, the most recent Treasurer’s Report shows the Village of Schaumburg’s spending at over $200 million, a shocking 287% increase in the size of the  government since 1987!

Judging from his appearance on ABC 7 Nightly News Mayor Larson is 100% “in the bag” for a property tax increase, that will start at $24 million in 2010 and is planned to increase by 15% a year, every year after that.

Let’s go over the major tax hikes in Schaumburg since Al Larson became Mayor in 1987 (fees increases not included).

1. 1987: Real Estate Transfer Tax $1 per $1000
2. 1989: Added a 2% Bar & Restaurant Sales Tax Hike
3. 1989: Established Olde Schaumburg Centre (OSC) TIF district $7,270,000 Million in new property taxes
4. 1990: Added a .5 percentage point sales tax hike
5. 2000: Increased the Hotel Sales Tax Rate From 4% to 6%
6. 2003: Increased home rule sales tax another .5 percentage point
7. 2003: Increased the Hotel Sales Tax Rate from 6% to 8%
8. 2003: Created new Telecommunications tax 6% of phone bills
9. 2004: Created new Amusement Tax 5% of admissions price for all entertainment purchases
10. 2004: 1st Amendment to the OSC TIF District, $19.6 Million increase
11. 2005: 2nd Amendment to the OSC TIF District, $2.2 Million increase
12. 2006: 3rd Amendment to the OSC TIF District, $2.2 Million increase
13. 2008: 4th Amendment to the OSC TIF District, $6.4 Million increase
14. 2008: 5th Amendment to the OSC TIF District $11.9 Million increase
15. 2008: Cable/Video Service Provider Fee 5% Sales Tax
16. 2008: Cable/Video Service Provider PEG Fee 1% Sales Tax
17. 2009: Creation of new STAR line TIF District $120 Million increase  to property taxes
18. 2010: New $24 million per year property tax (Proposed)

Since Al Larson became mayor there has been 0 major tax reductions and 17 major tax hikes in Schaumburg. That 0-17 record for Schaumburg Taxpayers is worse  than last year’s feeble Detroit Lions!

This 0-17 record doesn’t even include the many times the Village of Schaumburg has raised other minor Taxes & Fees on the fee schedule (369 other Taxes & Fees in 2009) .

Mayor Larson is a Tax & Spend, Big Government politician. The Village of Schaumburg’s government expenditures have grown from $25 million to $200 million since Al Larson became Mayor in 1987, tripling in size even after adjusting for inflation and population growth.

The citizens of Schaumburg should say no to any further tax increases. It is time for a change of leadership at the top.

If we the people of Schaumburg don’t change our leadership soon, that 0-17 record will go to 0-18, 0-19, 0-20, 0-21….

But let’s not wait to let that happen.

Take action today!!!

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2. News Alert: Costin Calls Schaumburg’s Budget Increases Reckless Costin has pledged to repeal the property tax and enact...