Since my name has been mentioned in letters to the editor recently and my integrity challenged, I want to put some things straight. I apologize if my words have been misconstrued, but I don’t apologize for wanting to help Cook County schools.
For years my wife and I attended football games in Cook County. We appreciate the community spirit, family values, and small town atmosphere. We enjoyed seeing the band trying to play in cold weather.
We decided to contribute some money to the band and athletic department. I took the check to the school and talked with then-Principal John Engelking. I learned that enrollment was going down and that the school had fewer dollars than in the past. I wondered why and did some research.
In my homework with Auditor Braidy Powers, I found that in 2001 under #9 on the tax bill, it says: School District – State determined levy – $373.47; 166 voter approved levies – $48.32; Other local levies
$11.
In 2008 my tax bill line #9 read: State General Tax – $450.10. Line #10 School District: voter approved levies – $40. And other local levies – $5.
I was told that after 2001, school tax for nonresident owners was split into two parts. Thelargest part is now called the State General Tax. I was told that it is paid to the state and doesn’t come back to the local school. Thisresulted in an annual deficit of $1.5 to $3 million to Cook County schools.
I learned there had been a push by some prominent nonresidents to quit paying more than their fair share of school taxes in Cook County. The argument was since they had to pay school taxes in their local counties, and since they had no children in Cook County schools, they didn’t think that was right. Evidently the legislature, with the help of Mr. Forester of the MN Seasonal Recreation Property Owners Coalition agreed. They split the school tax and now call it is the state general tax.
I have never disputed the fact that nonresident owners pay a majority of taxes in Cook County. “Exempt” in my first letter to all the nonresident owners in Cook County was in part correct. I was trying to get the concept across that nonresident owners never saw their taxes go down. They just went in two separate directions.
This not only happened in Cook County, but all over the state. Thatis why many small rural school districts are merging. Theproblem is more severe in Cook County since it is the only school district— the next nearest is Silver Bay in Lake County.
My plan was to inform others of the problem. I mailed two letters to the 3,200 nonresident owners using my own money. We established “Support for School District 166 Fund.” In the last two years, it generated close to $18,000 for the school district.
I have not asked anyone to contribute, but if they want to walk with me on this program, they can. I can be reached at the address below. My wife and I continue to contribute. At the end of the year, donors get a report on where the money was spent. Many nonresident owners have come forward to help.
The unfortunate thing is that everyone loses except the state. It appears that they keep the money. Mr. Forester said the money went to a general fund that school systems could apply to for funds. But, apparently that changed with the new administration.
In any case, I plan to continue with my program, since I know what happens in politics. Nothing really gets done. The money will never come back to the schools. We now have 80 to 100 owners helping out. They are spreading the word to other owners.
Hopefully we can make a difference to an area that we all enjoy, appreciate, and respect.
David Stuart
959 W. Bauer Road
Naperville, IL
Lutsen
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