Schaumburg Mayor Al Larson to Hike Property Taxes
November 18th, 2009 | by Brian Costin Published in Blog, Features, Taxes | 13 Comments
Hmmm…after realizing your Mayor has voted for, and passed, 19 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
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.
Let’s go over the major tax hikes in Schaumburg since Al Larson became Mayor in 1987 (fees increases not included).
- 1987: Real Estate Transfer Tax $1 per $1000
- 1989: Added a 2% Bar & Restaurant Sales Tax
- 1989: Established Olde Schaumburg Centre (OSC) TIF district $7,270,000 in new property taxes
- 1990: Added a .5 % Home Rule Sales Tax
- 1995: Added a 1% Telecommunications Tax
- 2000: Increased the Hotel Sales Tax rate from 4% to 6%
- 2000: Increased the Telecommunications Tax from 1% to 3% of all telecommunications/phone bills
- 2003: Increased Home Rule Sales Tax from .5% to 1%
- 2003: Increased the Hotel Sales Tax rate from 6% to 8%
- 2003: Increased the Telecommunications Tax from 3% to 6% of all telecommunications/phone bills
- 2003: Cable/Video Service Provider Fee 5% of Gross Revenues
- 2004: Created new Amusement Tax 5% of admissions price for all entertainment purchases
- 2004: 1st Amendment to the OSC TIF District, $19.6 Million increase
- 2005: 2nd Amendment to the OSC TIF District, $2.2 Million increase
- 2006: 3rd Amendment to the OSC TIF District, $2.2 Million increase
- 2008: 4th Amendment to the OSC TIF District, $6.4 Million increase
- 2008: 5th Amendment to the OSC TIF District $11.9 Million increase
- 2008: Cable/Video Service Provider PEG Fee 1% Sales Tax
- 2009: Creation of new STAR line TIF District $120 Million increase to property taxes
- 2010: New $24 million per year Property Tax (Passed December 22nd, 2009)
Since Al Larson became mayor there has been 0 major tax reductions and 19 major tax hikes in Schaumburg. That 0-20 record for Schaumburg Taxpayers is worse than last year’s feeble Detroit Lions!
This 0-20 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 not, that 0-20 record will go to 0-21, 0-22….
But let’s not wait to let that happen.
Related posts:
- Schaumburg Hikes Taxes on Local Businesses, Again! Considering the economic recession and the increased taxes the Village...
November 19th, 2009 at 12:10 AM (#)
Reading this makes me sick. When will it stop. Who will stop it? SFC! Yes, I said it. Right now I’m just getting many citizens of our village informed with the factual agenda of our very near future. Oh, elections! I love them. When all this living beyond our means hits the front door step of every registered voter in town… OMG. Look for a new horizon. We can only accept so much. And the people will speak… this is America.
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November 24th, 2009 at 11:11 PM (#)
If a local sports team had a 0-17 record that might get some attention. Fire the coach the manager and the staff.
Time for some leadership!
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December 11th, 2009 at 12:11 PM (#)
[...] shoulder some of the burden especially considering that the Village board has already raised taxes 17 times since 1987, and the Village government grew almost 300% over that same time period. Last night in combing over [...]
February 9th, 2010 at 7:55 AM (#)
I used to live in Schaumburg from 2003-2008 and will never return. Schaumburg is corrupt from the top to the bottom, and their main concern is taking care of themselves first at the taxpayers expense. Not enough people get involved and this is the result, years of status quo and government employees getting rich off the taxpayer because people keep voting for the same old status quo. The resident’s of Schaumburg are partially to blame for allowing this financial mess of tax and spend to continue by not voting for real change. The solution is relatively simple, pay cuts and staff cuts in the Village of Schaumburg are long overdue to reflect the broader economy. When will the people of Schaumburg fight for real change? Government is here to serve your needs as a taxpayer, you are not here to serve government’s needs. Vote!
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February 9th, 2010 at 11:28 AM (#)
Bryan,
Please tell your friends whom still live here about Brian Costin. And make sure they tell their friends… and on and on. You have the right sentiment… VOTE. Our high and mighty have been unopposed long enough. I have my 4 adult children all working on this, spreading the word to the young people in Schaumburg from 18 to 30. And when I hold court in the waiting rooms of doctors offices, EVERYONE is sick of the spending and maintenance cost of the unnecessary tree/flower boxes in the middle of the road and the fancy brickwork and benches installed where nobody will sit on them. “HOW MUCH DID ALL THIS STUFF COST?” is what they ask me. They are all pleasantly surprised that someone will oppose our mayor finally. BRIAN COSTIN for Mayor of Schaumburg! April 2011
I want a lawn sign now! -tom2-
BTW: Brian can do it without pay cuts and staffing cuts. But the village turned a deaf ear to him.
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May 10th, 2010 at 1:31 AM (#)
[...] certainly isn’t lack of or shrinking revenues elsewhere. The vote to hike property taxes was the 18th major tax hike since Mayor Larson was first elected in 1987, and includes tax hikes on sales, restaurants, hotels, telecommunications, amusement, cable, and 2 [...]
May 13th, 2010 at 11:22 PM (#)
[...] new property tax is the 14th tax increase Mayor Larson and the Village Board has enacted since [...]
October 9th, 2010 at 8:14 AM (#)
Schaumburg, like Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Arlington Heights and other surrounding suburbs, have had just TOO MUCH MONEY over the years.
Their in-house staff of experts, coupled with part-time Trustees who buy into their half-baked advice, have created fiscal monsters the taxpayers can ill afford to keep shoveling money into.
But I’m afraid non-politicians like Mr. Costin won’t stand a chance against them.
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Thomas Dorsch Reply:
October 13th, 2010 at 11:03 AM
YouCantStopWhatsComing,
I talk local politics wherever I go in town (Dr. office waiting rooms are my favorite place to hold court). I have yet to find one person whom has lauded Mayor Larson. And when I tell them we will have Mr. Costin running against him in April 2011, they are excited about making a change. We all have to live within our means… but somehow government doesn’t seem to understand that. Larson and his yes-men need a change of the guard and it’s coming.
Never say Never… and we can stop what’s coming if we all rally together.
Brian Costin, Schaumburg Mayor 2011
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December 1st, 2010 at 7:11 AM (#)
Brian thanks for the work you’re doing informing the public! Keep it up amigo, you have my support!
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December 1st, 2010 at 4:09 PM (#)
THIS is the kind of guy we ALL need in our communities; someone paying attention to the real issues..you’re right..’time’ for a leadership change.
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December 2nd, 2010 at 1:20 PM (#)
I am sick of the government trying to take more from us. The folks who are working are being taxed to death. That is NOT a solution to the economic problems we are having. We need to get rid or elite big spenders and get some real folks who are as tired of the lies and pocket lining government as the rest of us. Folks who will actually cut government costs and stop voting raises for themselves while the rest of us are paying and paying and paying with no raises and less and less to pay with!
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March 9th, 2011 at 3:11 PM (#)
I can’t believe you (Al) haven’t found a way to avoid the TAX BOMB that was dropped on the loyal residents! I’m absolutley amazed how you and the board thought there was no other alternative to keep the cities high standards without a TAX INCREASE!! Just a fast look at one area, city equipment! Maybe you should hire someone who knows how to maintain and preserve equipment for a longer period of time. Taxes were levied and now I see way too much new equipment!! Good maintenance and a paint shop does wounders! Furthermore, TIME TO TRIM THE CITY STAFF….doesn’t take that many employees and at that pay scale to GET THINGS DONE! I guess we’re too close to Chicago! Let’s go in another direction, how about increasing land value by getting ride of all the “JUNK” residents have in front and on the side of their homes….we ALL know what the eye soars are, value decrease!! This city is starting to look low-income over all…time to raise standards or enforce them. I’ve over heard many residents, IN YOUR FACITLITIES, saying they will vote accross the board against ALL incumbents! I hope your staff CATCHES THIS MESSAGE!!
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