Sunday, May 17, 2015

Will You Step Forward?

A few weeks ago I wrote in my blog about saving 4.4 million by changing to a Centralized Assessment System in Lake County. I provided a Lake County Report and Power Point that discussed a Centralized System in Lake County that would eliminate 18 Township Assessors and produce 4.4 million in savings. Like all positive change in this world, it does not come without some negative outcomes that challenges ourselves and our relationships with others. Pain will simply be an unintended consequence as we move forward in transitioning government to align our citizens ability and willingness to produce revenues to support governmental service structures. But it is our job as elected officials to present choices that will produce overall good for our residents and remain sustainable so we can provide needed core services for the future. It is the Citizen's job to support or reject those choices. Citizens make those choices by referendum or voting for a candidate. More information from articles in Tribune / News Sun and Daily Harold.

Strongly supporting open space preservation through purchases, land use petition conditions, and easements, I was constantly faced with rational and reasoning of why we should not or could not save the land for nature and our citizens. Reasons included too much money, not a priority, land should be developed for economic growth, not governments job, strangers will be allowed on lands, people will be harmed or killed, and on and on and on. . . . . . Bottom line is there will always be reasons put forward by good well intentioned folks not to do the right thing or make change. But open lands would have not been saved without challenging objectors and protecting our core value of saving open lands by promoting positive reasons to make it happen.

I have chose to move forward and create positive change, will you? As we move forward on this discussion of Centralized Assessments in Lake County, I need you to raise your voice in support by emailing, calling, and participating in the public process. You need to step forward and continue to express your concern about high property taxes and demand your elected representatives do more to reduce the tax burden placed upon you. It can be done through constructive dialog and cooperation.

Just like the objectors to the Open Space discussion people will come up with many reasons not to proceed. Don't let them stop the discussion. The League of Women Voters of Highland Park had proposed a study on the viability of township government but unfortunately some league members STOPPED that study dead in its tracks. Objectors to reform in government will again blame the schools for your taxes and will say this reform will produce only a small savings on your property taxes. While there is some truth to those assertions, reform across all governments including the 4.4 million projected savings by elimination of Township Assessors should move forward as a viable starting point for providing a less burdensome taxation and removal of waste for our residents.

So Will You Step Forward and help support my efforts on Township Assessor Elimination and save 4.4 million for Lake County?