Tag Archives: tax and spend

How Many Times Must the Voters of Stephenson County Say NO?

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 The answer is simple.   If there are not changes on the Freeport School Board, this question will be put on the ballot at every election until it is passed.    Vote NO and then vote for changes on the Freeport School Board.   Tell the candidates that Freeport cannot afford a higher sales tax or higher property taxes.  To make matters even worse, the City of Freeport led by Alderman Tom Klemm and Shawn Boldt would also like to see the City’s portion of the sales tax increased . More taxes are not the solution to every problem.  Taxing bodies must live within their means.  

Tax and Spend Shawn Boldt Must Go in 2ndWard – City Needs New Leadership on Council

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 Shawn Boldt’s solution to every problem facing Freeport is more spending coupled with more taxes.  Boldt is quoted in the Journal Standard saying he would like to see tax increases on services.  What does that mean?   A special tax for police services, fire services, street cleaning, and snow removal?   Boldt is part of the problem.   Boldt helped create the mess Freeport is in and now he wants to spend and tax the City’s way out.  We need new people like Peter McClanathan on the Council.  Peter was not part of the problem, but will be part of the solution.

Question of the Week: What Does The Freeport City Council Have in Common With the Freeport School Board?

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IMG_3463.JPGThe answer is obvious. Both the city council and school board have a majority of members who have no conception of fiscal responsibility. Most of the members on each of them believe that the taxpayers of Freeport have unlimited funds to pay outrageous real estate taxes. There is a reason homes are empty all over Freeport – people are leaving and one of the reasons is high real estate taxes which have contributed to the destruction of real estate values and with it the City of Freeport. Do the citizens of Freeport deserve better? Perhaps not! The school board and city council may accurately reflect the values of the citizens of Freeport since they were all elected by the Freeport community. If that is the case, you see the future of Freeport in every empty home for sale.

Now for the bad news. The Freeport City Council will be meeting Monday, September 15, 2014 at 6:00 pm in the City Council Chambers at 524 West Stephenson Street, 3rd Floor. If you have Comcast Cable, go to channel 17 to watch live.

Some highlights of the meeting:

Alderperson Klemm will lead the council in the Pledge of Allegiance. He also leads the Council when it comes to spending our money.

2nd reading of an ordinance amending the garbage collection ordinance allowing the City to exempt certain dwellings from paying garbage collection fees if they have their own dumpsters. When it comes to garbage, this is an area that this council has real expertise. As they say, garbage in and garbage out – this council does it twice a month.

2nd reading of ordinances dealing with Meadows Tax Increment Financing District (TIF) which will just shift more of the real estate tax burden to homeowners and small businesses not in a TIF! Solution – TIF the rest of the town. Then everyone will live in a TIF.

1st reading of ordinance to change the zoning to M-1 of property at 928-930 W. Galena Ave. so that the owner can establish a small restaurant with alcohol and video gaming. It’s nice to know that video gaming is such a growth industry in Freeport.

For a complete agenda go to

Click to access A20140915.pdf

The Good and the Bad – People, organizations, governmental agencies, and taxing bodies which deserve special recognition. This Month the Bad – Freeport (Illinois) School District 145!

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Freeport School District Has A Lot in Common With The Politicians in Springfield – The Solution to Every Problem Is More Taxes!

Real Estate Taxes in the City of Freeport are some of the highest in the country with the rate going up each year. Ask your local politicians about the rate for next year.

The school districts in Stephenson County led by Freeport want another 1% added to the sales tax so Freeport will be 9%. Spend $10 and pay almost $1 in taxes! They say it will be used to pay off existing bonds. A sales tax increase is only justified if there is a corresponding decrease in real estate taxes dollar for dollar – and that must be guaranteed which is joke. Give the bureaucrats running the school districts more money, and they will just spend more money. Schools in the Freeport District received failing grades since not one grade met state averages, and has the lowest graduation rate of school districts in Stephenson, Carroll, and Jo Daviess Counties. So much for more money for failing schools. More money is not the answer.

The Freeport School District has already announced it is increasing its levy 1.83% and that an owner of $100,000 residence will pay an additional $120 more in real estate taxes!

Yes, Freeport School District is recognized this month for consistently raising our real estate taxes and now it wants a special sales tax to raise even more money. Perhaps, it will request a special exit tax on everyone leaving the community until no one remains! True bureaucrats don’t care as long as they get paid – since they can just move on to their next victim when a community is destroyed.

For more details and to compare this district to schools in other districts go to http://fh.suntimes.com/reportcards/search/index