The agenda for the November 12 D41 board meeting looks interesting. It includes a levy presentation and a long range financial plan update. I would also be interested in hearing more about "parental involvement committee."

Don't you just love that "maximize the levy" is now referred to as getting "the legal rate"? Orwell would be proud.

I will be at that meeting.

Amy, since you are planning to attend the meeting, if you get there early you can take in the Finance Committee meeting. It meets at 6:00 and similarly has a levy presentation and PMA presentation. Also listed on the Finance Committee agenda is the "update on Com Ed PTAB." Could it be that Com Ed has appealed its taxes? Maybe they are taking issues with the "maximize the levy" philosophy.

As a post script to the above post, this Herald article should be copied and given to the administration/board. Best quote in the article from the D46 Board President:

District 46 board President Michael Linder said elected officials are the only ones who represent taxpayers at schools. He added that he objected to Garcia referring to students as a reason not to provide a small savings to residents.

"My conviction is very strong," Linder said. "This 'for the children' stuff is a red herring."

What a contrast to D41.

Dearest Ohma: You are so jaded. I think you should just break out into song at the next meeting. Something to be sung to the tune of the Country Joe and the Fish classic. Add verses as you will. With apologies to Joe, this is called:

THE FIXING TO PAY THE MAXIMUM LEVY RAG

Come on all of you women and men
The district needs your help again
They got themselves in a terrible jam
trying to fix another tax scam, so
open your checkbooks and pick up a pen, we're
gonna get hit once again
(CHORUS)
And it's one, two, three, what are we fighting for
don't ask me, I’m paying once more, taxes will rise again
And it's five, six, seven, open up your bank accounts, well
ain't no time to have a say, whoopee we're all gonna pay

now come on parents, don't you whine
classroom sizes are really fine.
and don't you worry about those trailers
they're district tactics for tax derailers
. . .be the first one on your block
to have your children taught in a box.

hoo yeah, and it's one, two, three, what are we fighting for
don't ask me, I’m paying once more, taxes will rise again
And it's five, six, seven, open up your bank accounts, well
ain't no time to have a say, whoopee we're all gonna pay

Love ya T.A.

right back atcha.

country joe on the GE BB. . . whoda thunk it?

Don't know Country Joe and the Fish, but sung to Beverly Hill Billys:

Come and listen to a story about a former Prez,
For whom the bobbleheads did exactly what he says,
Then one day they claimed that we are all out of space,
Even though the numbers don't support their very case,

Grand illusion that is, frik'n Houdini.

Well the first thing that you know, they tried to scare some folk,
Used a dozen trailers as the mirrors and the smoke,
Said Super Hadley is the place kids ought to be,
And we can do it by raising your taxes ever so modestly.

Millions that is,
Bigger unions, Administrators!

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

From the same era as BitterBoy's choice, I hear strains of Don McClean:

"But February made me shiver
With the backpack mail they'd deliver
Referendum news at my door
I couldn't take it anymore

So bye, bye miss american pi
Drove my Chevy to the Levy
But the (maxed out) levy was dry"

Backpack mail is one thing. But many of us get numerous fluff emails courtesy of the communications director. Then, we see them again on paper in the backpack mail. In the spirit of Christmas, perhaps we should start "The Island of Misfit Press Releases".

Did you ever think we could hire a budget analyst to avoid the maximum levy issue and divert the PR - oops - communications director's salary?

if you're interested...the new tax assesments are being mailed today. my assesed value has increased SIXTEEN PERCENT from 2006...
aren't I lucky!?

BBoy, Ohma, that was AWESOME!

quote:

Originally posted by howdy60137:
if you're interested...the new tax assesments are being mailed today. my assesed value has increased SIXTEEN PERCENT from 2006...
aren't I lucky!?

ACQ

Time to open our tax appeal business.

Gus,

The lyrics were penned while consuming less than a single martini. Wait until I've had a few.

Just had my appeal hearing last Monday in front of the Illinois Propery Tax Appeal Board for 2005's taxes. That's right, it took only 2 years. Represented myself and it went extremely well. I don't anticipate a decision until April 2008. I contested "fair and equitable" taxation regarding land only. Milton Township is F'd up, no question about it. Ask anyone who is in the business and they will tell you.

quote:

Originally posted by ronkas:

quote:

Originally posted by howdy60137:
if you're interested...the new tax assesments are being mailed today. my assesed value has increased SIXTEEN PERCENT from 2006...
aren't I lucky!?

ACQ

Time to open our tax appeal business.

No ****. I started doing them in the City...I need to expand my practice apparently. 16%???????

I'm telling you, a revolution against tax eaters (teachers, administrators, politicians) is afoot....and rightfully so. If this real estate market and economy go where I think they will go, it will only get worse....a lot worse.

Ohma -

The Miss American Pi line nearly killed me. I can think of a few others it would be good to say bye-bye to.

this patterson guy who's 4th wife is missing resigned from the police force, and i just heard on the radio he's eligible (after age 50, 20 years service) to a 50% pension. that does end, at least, if he's convicted of a felony. just one more example of the public servant dole.

Hmmmm. Put aside the distasteful (fill in your adjective here) nature of Officer Peterson. He's still a cop. Lumping him in with the politicians slopping it up is inappropriate. What kind of contribution was he required to make under the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund? Do municipal employees pay into FICA? Let's refine the broad brush to go after the real pigs.