DuPage County could take over water commission

Hmmm. One part of me says YAY! But another part of me says - Hell No!

If the current Water Commission Board, along with Bozo-in-Chief - Bob Martin - weren't such an embarrassing Klown Kar Show, I would be against this move.

However, since the DWC people have proven themselves to be amongst the most incompetent, self-serving, and possibly corrupt [note this line from the Tribune article - "An outside attorney recently concluded an investigation into the matter that has not yet been made public] "public servants" I have ever seen, perhaps Danny Boy has a good idea here.

Say, did I mention that the quarter-penny sales tax that the DWC levies brings in $28.5 million smackers a year?

Say, didya hear that the Klown Kar Show FINALLY voted to sell the Lake Michigan water FOR MORE THAN THEY PAY FOR IT!

I have a strong hunch that there is much more to this waterpalooza than meets the eye. Given the fact that these boobs have basically operated out-of-sight, out-of-media, out-of-touch in a Twilight Zone of quasi-public-private feelgood for nearly 20 years, who knows what will scurry out from under the rock once Big Dan puts the Springfield hammer down!

What most raises my suspicions about the entire "process" is how outraged all of the Mayor-Members get when any idea of reforming their WaterWorld is brought up.

In Glen Ellyn's Citizen's Financial Report, available as a link right here on this board, a pie chart shows that they receive 28% of their municipal revenue from Water/Sewer Fees. Property taxes comprise 19% of revenue.

I have the idea that for too many years, the DWC has acted as a too-good-to-be-believed middleman for all of the charter towns, selling them water at ridiculously low prices just so the towns can mark up the water to make it "profitable".

While some of this is "OK" - the rates per thousand gallons are still pretty cheap - based upon what has happened at the DWC in recent months, the entire process might benefit from more oversight, transparency and let's be blunt: Honesty.

Fox at the henhouse

Be afraid, be very afraid. I think the DWC needs to be overhauled but with less County input, not more. Need an independent czar.

I don't know who Shrugged is, but I'd vote for him or her.

I wanna see the results of that "investigation" [or forensic audit?] that has "not yet made public".

Where you living in DuPage back in 1985 when this DuPage Water Commission was first chartered?

Yes, but not in GE. Grew up in Cook and missed the water quality when we moved here. Couldn't have been happier to get Lake Michigan back in my home. That whole raid on the commission was a crock. I get the need for reserves to offset any unforeseen really expensive repair, but there's got to be a better way, and I'm pretty sure it's not the County. Maybe some sort of agreement between the communities on what their shares would be in the event of needed infrastructure work, and then give some of that money back. Who among us couldn't use a million or so?

I remember when the DWC showed up as a line-item on my 1985 property tax, pay 1986. "Who is this?" was my response.

I quickly learned and like you, was happy to hear that Lake Michigan water was going to flow out here to DuPage. Still say it was an excellent move.

The property tax by DWC was dropped about 1992 but if you look at your current tax bill, they're still there. "No Levy" appears where the rate/money would normally appear.

For many years, I never even thought of them. I did hear about them building up a massive "contingency fund" that a number of people - many of them lawyers and activists - were raising concerns about.

The concern? They take a quarter penny of the ROT on pretty much everything sold in DuPage County. This is why they no longer levy a property tax. In the early years of this century, it was well over $100 million dollars and people were [rightfully] asking: "Why are you collecting a tax and just putting it in the bank?"

I neither opposed nor favored Schillerstrom's $75 million dollar [$15 million per year for five years] strong-arming of their honey pot but if I was forced to choose, I'd say I favored it.

Schillerstrom made a valid point in that, here's this commission, serving DuPage County, that is building up a massive pile of cash - off of a sales tax levied in the county he led -and they're just sitting on it.

Many current water commisars [Frank Saverino, Mayor of Carol Stream foremost among them] are quick to blame the recent malfeasance and ineptitude on that Schillerstrom cash raid. I don't buy that line of reasoning.

The raid lasted from 2003-2007 and took out a total of $75 million. But, the Water Czars still got to rake in about $12-$15 million annually [perhaps more] in sales tax moolah during those years even with DuPage skimming their 15 meg. Plus, what about the Scrooge McDuck money vault they had built up over the years? The $100 million plus that caught the attention of the activists?

Oh, and let's not forget about the money coming back to them from all their "customers" - the charter towns, a private utility and some special county-built water system. I know I pay about .25 per K on my water bill to help retire their soon-to-be-paid-off bonds, the ones issued way back in the late 1980s, early 1990s.

By the way, this paying-off-the-bond thing is a current issue. Many are asking the Klown Kar show: If you pay off your bonds, have a reasonable reserve AND run your water sales more businesslike [i.e. sell the water for MORE than you pay for it], why do you still need the quarter penny sales tax?

When I read about some of their recent budget requests - raises for everyone, new cars, new furniture - I can't help but see a picture of the Illinois Toll Authority at its $800-dollar-a-pop, stainless-steel garbage can best.

They bear watching, in other words. And if the County can do it? So be it.

Somehow, stand-alone entities like this that are allowed to get their hands on too much tax money, have almost no accountability to the public and operate pert near in total secrecy, always seem to break bad.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ByTheNumbers,

I would rather see the money go back to the local towns from whence it came, rather than fund some County initiative (tech park, anyone?)that either benefits county politicians or their cronies. If it came here, it could mean some sort of relief, if it goes there it more likely means additional bloating of the bureaucracy.

When you write that you would "..rather see the money go back to the local towns from whence it came.." are you referring to the quarter cent sales tax?

If so, I heartily agree. Let the DWC become a self-sustaining entity, either stand-alone OR as a part of the county, keep the quarter penny sales tax but, distribute it back to the towns/villages from "whence it came" ["whence" - what an odd word!].

Since our pals down in Springfield are now coming out and telling counties, towns and villages that they're not going to be getting income tax rebates, this will further put the pinch on already pinched municipal budgets. Some "found money" that has always been collected but they have never tapped would ease this lack of income tax being kicked back.

I like the idea, if this is what you meant.

By the way, according to the Glen Ellyn Citizen's Financial Report, 7% of Village revenue - $5.5 million - comes from State Shared Taxes.

quote:

State Shared Sales Taxes & Income Taxes

The Village receives 1% of the State of Illinois 6% sales tax as well as a per capita share of the State income tax. These revenues are used to pay for general operations.

What if Ill-Annoy reneges on or drastically cuts the portion of this that is the "per capita share of the State income tax"?

I think that is exactly what Gov. Quinn is proposing. That is what I meant, along with any current reserves they are holding. The 19 milllion that is missing may only be, pardon the pun, a drop in the bucket. I think they have other fund balances.

quote:

I think that is exactly what Gov. Quinn is proposing.

Cutting back on the per capita income tax sharing? I have heard this and it'll be a killer to all of these towns in DuPage. DuPage County itself too.

It will have the same impact on the towns/villages/counties as the state failing to pay schools is having.

Note to DuPage County: Don't spend that $10 million dollar surplus too quickly!

And Dan gets cut-off by the mayors of DuPage villages/towns/cities that buy their water from the DPWC....

DuPage Water Commission legislation sent to Quinn

quote:

The proposal was sponsored by Elmhurst Republican state Sen. Dan Cronin and Carol Stream Republican state Rep. Randy Ramey. Initially it would have consolidated control of the commission under county government. But critics portrayed that as a power grab by Cronin, the GOP nominee for county board chairman, even though Cronin pointed to audits showing substantial cost savings.

A power grab. LOL!

Sales tax gone. In 2016!

Ackerman, whadda ya make of this?

Law would force entire DuPage Water Commission to resign

Both you and I have been rather outspoken about the need for these Commisars to resign. Quit. Bug out for the dugout. If for no other reason than shame.

Yet, now we need a law to FORCE them to resign? Good to read a comment from S. Louis Rathje though.

First one I have seen in print from The Chair Man.

Liz Chaplin calls him out too - funny.

quote:

"In a nutshell, I would be wasting my time there because they really don't listen to me," she [Liz Chaplin] said. "The commission is slowly going to be reformed, but since Rathje was appointed chairman I just never felt he took my concerns seriously and it felt like I was beating my head against a wall."

Rathje is the guy who made her file FOIAs just to get expense receipts.

Far from the last bit of idiocy to come out of this Water Commission. Much more to come, trust me.

As Bio is so fond of stating: "Ya get what ya pay for."

Do ya blame her?

Ack, didya see where Quinn signed Danny Boy's water commission reform law a few days ago? Main feature: All current commisars have to quit on 12/31/2010.

Of course, several have already stated that they'd seek re-appointment in 2011. You know, with all that good "experience" they have and all.