Monthly Archives: October 2013

Case of the Week – Tax Preparer Could Not Deduct Cost of Hotel So She Could Get a Good Night’s Rest!

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Taxpayer testified that she ran Joyce’s Tax Service from her home and that clients would come to her home to have their tax returns prepared. The taxpayer testified that living in her neighborhood was stressful and that she felt harassed by her clients who would call her at home at any hour. For these reasons taxpayer contends that it was necessary for her to travel “just to get rest so that * * * [she] could function.” She provided invoices from a Holiday Inn, a car rental service, and a casino.

Surprise! The Tax Court found that taxpayer’s travel for a good night’s rest was a personal expense, not a deductible business expense.

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A Response to Mr. Gitz – More Government and More Ordinances Are Not the Solution to Freeport’s Problems!

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Mr. Gitz in his weekly column in the Journal Standard on October 13 talks about new ordinances to regulate noise and other undesirable conduct in the community. He said problems are contagious. He talks about delapidated houses and the impact of living next to one. He states that he would like every street to be a neighborhood of choice. My reponse to you Mr. Gitz is that the City of Freeport is part of the problem. Mr. Gitz and the present city council should also be concerned about the impact of living and driving on streets everyday in this community that are in such bad shape that they are not even safe. No wonder people fail to maintain their homes. For years they have paid high taxes and have seen few results. Mr. Gitz – there are few neighborhoods left in Freeport which are neighborhoods of choice. Mr. Gitz states that property owners have to act responsibly in order to restore our Freeport. The question is – when is OUR government going to start acting responsibly? Those in government believe that more money (which means more taxes) and more laws will solve all problems. More money and more laws are not the solution. The City of Freeport must allocate its resources where they will do the most good for the majority of people living in this community which means fixing the streets and a police department enforcing existing laws.

Oh, by the way Mr. Gitz, where are the ordinances that say the City should maintain city owned buildings such as the Germania, City Hall, and the Carnegie Library? Is it true that intentional neglect and waste is acceptable in the public sector? What a shock – one standard for those in the public sector and another for those in the private sector who pay the bills!

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It’s Week 6 of High School Football – Only 3 Conference Games Remaining for Most Teams – Here’s a List of Some Area High School Games for Friday, October 11:

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Freeport (1-5) at Belvidere (2-4) – 7:15 pm
Milledgeville (1-5) at Aquin (5-1) – 7:00 pm
Durand (0-6) at Eastland-Pearl City* (6-0) – 7:30 pm
Dakota (2-4) at Forreston (5-1) – 7:00 pm
Lena-Winslow (4-2) at Galena (4-2) – 7:30 pm
Orangeville (2-4) at Polo (2-4) – 7:30 pm
Warren (1-5) at Stockton (6-0) – 7:30 pm

*Conference Leader

Football Forecast for Friday, October 11 – Looks like a perfect night for football. Temperture in the 60’s.

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You Pay for Comcast – No Chicago Bears for You Tonight Unless You Pay Extra for NFL Network!

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Good Day Illinois reports from another state and city tonight where the NFL Channel is included. Soon Comcast will drop the Madison Channel so you will not get the Packer games. The City of Freeport does nothing since it has granted Comcast exclusive cable rights in Freeport. You pay big fees for Comcast and the City gets big franchise fees. No wonder the City does nothing. Anyway, good night from another state. Back to the game!

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Let Us Entertain You – Go to a Stephenson County Board Meeting Tonight!

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The next meeting of the Stephenson County Board will be tonight, October 10 at 6:30 pm in the County Board Room at the Stephenson County Court House, 15 N Galena Avenue, Freeport.

For a complete agenda go to http://co.stephenson.il.us/board/mins.asp

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And Your Case of the Week – Is Clicking “Like” on Facebook Protected Speech by First Amendment?

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It could be according to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. A sheriff’s deputy supported the Sheriff’s opponent and “liked” the Facebook page of his opponent. Of course, the sheriff won re-election and the deputy who supported his opponent was terminated. The Court ruled that “liking” a candidate on the internet is the internet equivalent of displaying a political sign in one’s front yard which the Supreme Court has ruled is protected speech.

See Bland v. Roberts at http://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/Opinions/Published/121671.P.pdf

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Congratulations to Our Neighbor and Friend Heidi Schindlbeck of Whole Body Studio and Spa on its 10th Anniversary!

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On Thursday October 10 – Help Heidi celebrate by stopping by her Studio at 1650 S Hance, Freeport. For details go to http://www.wholebodystudio.com/

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Mayor Gitz Says in Article in Journal Standard “Property Tax Burden Discourages Expansions, moves to Freeport”

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Mr. Gitz correctly states in this article that the high real estate tax rate in Freeport discourages economic growth. Unfortunately, he just blames other taxing districts for the high tax rate stating that the City’s portion is relatively small which is correct. Mr. Gitz fails to state that the City of Freeport taxes everything else. If you go out to eat – special food tax. If you buy gas – special tax. If you sell your home – special tax ($4.00 per thousand of the sale price). Cable TV Taxes, telephone tax, electric tax – you name it Freeport taxes it. Look at your residential water bill – each month $10.00 capital improvement fee and $4.00 storm water fee – another $168.00 per year. If you are a small business look at your water bill – each month $10.00 capital improvement fee and $20.00 storm water fee – another $360.00 per year. Call them what you will, but to most of us they are just taxes! When looking at the tax burden – you must look at the overall picture. The City of Freeport is just as bad as the school district. In some ways worse since city bureaucrats pretend that they are fiscally responsible, but that is far from the truth. The present City Council does not know what “fiscal reponsibility” means.

To Mr. Gitz’s credit he does recognize there is a problem which is refreshing compared to his predecessor. But really Mr. Gitz – The City of Freeport shares the blame equally as far as contributing to the area’s economic situation.

Don’t Miss Good Day Illinois on October 8 for a Response to Mayor Gitz who Blames the Areas Economic Problems on Other Taxing Bodies!

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It’s Monday, October 7 –Let’s Have a Good Week – Fall Is in The Air This Morning!

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Thought for the Day – When you apply for ObamaCare, they ask you if you smoke since smokers will pay a higher premium. You are allowed 4 cigarettes a week or if you smoke for religious or ceremonial purposes unlimited cigarettes – I bet a lot of smokers will be getting religion now! In fact maybe Obama should think about passing the peace pipe!

Freeport City Council Meeting Tonight, October 7

6:00 pm at City Council Chambers at 524 West Stephenson Street, 3rd Floor
If you have Comcast Cable, go to channel 17 to watch live. Hopefully, there will be sound for those watching on Comcast. At the September 16 meeting there was no sound. See complete agenda at

Click to access A20131007a.pdf

Somethings of interest on the agenda:

Memorandum from Special Committee of the Freeport City Council recommending purchase of iPads for all council memebers. See Good Day Illinois on September 23, 2013 for comment on iPads! How can members of this council operate iPads when they cannot even get sound for the council meetings?

2nd reading of ordinance dealing with such things parking lot screening, lighting, and parking stall size requirements. On September 16 it was said in Good Day Illinois:

” Don’t build or modify a building in Freeport with a few parking spaces since you will have to spend thousands of dollars on a photometric plan prepared by a lighting professional. This is just a small part of this proposed ordinance. The Gitz administration says it is for economic development, but actions speak louder that words.”

1st reading of ordinance extending to November 5 the time to change portion of Chicago Avenue around the post office to a two way street. Horrible allocation of time and resources. Let’s spend hours on this street and neglect the many other streets which are falling a part and are dangerous!

1st reading of ordinance increasing penalty for violation of Noice Ordinance. This will do a lot of good! What are they going to do – post the fine on every corner in this community! It is nice that our police chief is so concerned about noise – but his priorities are certainly not in order of importance. What are the priorities in this city? Enough said.

Memorandum recommending approval of grants from Downtown TIF Fund for exterior improvments on downtown buildings. Grants total $31,146. The list of grants is worth looking at. It would be nice if the rest of the taxpayers in this city could get grants to help pay for roofs on their homes or small businesses located elsewhere in the city! Remember for every TIF in Freeport it means that the rest of the taxpayers in this city must pay more in taxes to subsidize some of the businesses in the TIF. Of course, we all know that Wal*Mart needs your help!
See list at http://www.cityoffreeport.org/OrdRes/TIF%20GRANT_20131003.pdf

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