Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Belvidere School District to discuss possible sales tax increase - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

Bonds were issued seven years ago to help construct Belvidere North High School. The board made lower payments early on with the idea that more individuals would eventually move into the area and property values would increase.

However, neither occurred as planned, sticking the board higher bond payments with less people to pay for them.

By implementing the proposed sales tax, the estimated $2.2 million generated yearly could help increase revenue flow without increasing property taxes.

Read the entire story by clicking on the following:  Belvidere School District to discuss possible sales tax increase - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Monday, May 21, 2012

Belvidere residents could see substantial electric bill reductions | Belvidere Daily Republican

 

Residents will realize almost a 50 percent savings over what they are currently being supplied by ComEd,” Brereton continued about the bid information which was for a two year agreement.

Finance Director Chamberlin said moving forward, the city’s residents will get two letters, from one the supplier and one from ComEd which will explain how they can opt out of the aggregate program. Brereton said he couldn’t imagine who wouldn’t want to switch sand save nearly half on the energy portion of the bill, but the program requires an “opt out” feature for those who want to do so.

Chamberlin explained those who participate in the new program should start seeing the reductions in bills beginning in August. Alderman Michael Chamberlain added that the average resident would save about $300, considering average kilowatt usage.

Brereton reminded the council that the percentage reduction applies only to the energy portion of the bill and not maintenance and other costs.

Click on the following to read the rest of the story:  Belvidere residents could see substantial electric bill reductions | Belvidere Daily Republican

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

What’s this $176,000, anyway?

Written by Bob Balgemann


BELVIDERE – Boone County’s finance, taxation and salaries committee found itself with $176,000 on the books and no one being sure where it came from.

The revelation occurred at the May 8 meeting, near the end of an audit report on the 2011-12 fiscal year, which ended Nov. 30, 2011.

It was pointed out that the money was in the “collections account,” where property tax money is kept. “It’s on the books,” county
Treasurer Curt Newport said. “I don’t know why it’s there.”

He said he didn’t know where it came from, either, adding, “I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t just leave it there. I have no plans to do anything with it.”

Committee member Laura Guerin-Hunt thought it probably was the result of “a lot of little mistakes and issues. There are a lot of different ways that it could get into that account.”

She said she thought the money should be divided among the various taxing districts. But that would bring up the question of “how to you determine who gets what?”

Sikich LLC representative Carla Paschal suggested an opinion be sought from State’s Attorney Michelle Courier, as to what should be done with the money.

Meanwhile, Newport said he would continue to report the money to the auditor on a yearly basis “until a judge or the state’s attorney tells me to do something with it.”

The above was taken from the Belvidere Republican’s on line versionhttp://www.belvideredailyrepublican.net/news/news-briefs-road-work-means-demise-of-boone-county-family-restaurant/

Eagle’s Club building sold; YMCA weighing its options | Belvidere Daily Republican

Written by Bob Balgemann

new owners of the club called and said they had purchased the building. But she said there have been no further conversations.

“We’re in the middle of (developing) a strategic plan right now,” she said. “We’re looking to see how we can expand our programs.”

Belvidere Township attempted to buy the Eagle’s Club building last year, but the proposal was roundly rejected by the electorate at a special town meeting in October 2011.

Mark SandersonReply

May 16, 2012 at 9:05 pm

Reporter Balgemann would have had a real interesting story on the Eagle building being sold if he had done some investigative reporting and found that when Belvidere Township had offered to buy the building with ‘taxpayer’ money, they had offered much more than the building actually sold for.

Does anyone know what the building sold for? 

Click on the following for more details:  Eagle’s Club building sold; YMCA weighing its options | Belvidere Daily Republican

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Northwest Herald | Marengo starts talks on video gaming

 

put it on this evening’s agenda for discussion because I’ve had quite a few people approach me about it,” Lockhart said. “It’s coming quick. The Illinois Gaming Board has said they felt [video gaming] would be up and running by August 1.”

The Marengo establishments that have applied to install the machines can’t do so unless the council votes to change an ordinance that prohibits video gambling.

The council will vote in two weeks on whether to allow video gaming at bars, restaurants and other liquor license holders.

 

Read he article by clicking on the following:  Northwest Herald | Marengo starts talks on video gaming

Monday, May 14, 2012

Boone County Real Estate Tax Bill Highlights

 

Tax year 2011, payable 2012

By Curtis P. Newport, Boone County Treasurer

Total real estate taxes billed for all districts in Boone County dropped about 0.76%, from $86,611,375 last year to $85,952,738 this year.

· The drop was largely due to a reduction in some bond levies from Belvidere School District 100. The total tax extension for School District 100 declined by $931,557.

· Other districts with significant decreases in their total extension include Rock Valley College (down $499,757), the City of Belvidere (down $185,658 including all TIFs and special service areas), the Village of Capron (down $92,865) and Belvidere Township (down $32,335 including the township road district).

· Other districts with reduced extensions include the Village of Poplar Grove, Hiawatha School District 426, the Boone County Historical Museum, Kishwaukee College, Bonus Township, the Spring Township Road District, Kinnikinnick School District 131 and Hononegah School District 207.

Lack of real estate development in the county continues to limit total property tax extensions under the tax cap law. Only $11,347,219 (less than 1% of the county’s total assessment) was assessed for the first time in 2011.

Total assessed value for the county dropped 9.3%, from $1,272,966,717 in 2010 to $1,154,154,597 in 2011. However, the changes vary greatly according to property class. Farm land assessments are up 7% while residential property is down 10.7%. This is the fourth consecutive year that farm land assessments have risen significantly, while other assessments have dropped for three straight years. Over time, this results in a shift in the tax burden. Homeowners are paying a lower percentage of the total county tax bill, while farm land owners are paying significantly more.

2011 was a quadrennial reassessment year, and the changes in residential property assessments vary significantly throughout the county. Because of market influences, some neighborhoods dropped as much as 20% while other neighborhoods barely changed.

Tax rates tend to change inversely with assessments. As property values drop, rates tend to increase. Overall, tax rates are higher this year because of the lower assessed values, but some taxing districts lowered their levies enough to result in lower tax rates.

Senior citizens who have had the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze for many years will likely see higher tax bills, since their taxable value remains frozen while the tax rates have increased.

Generally speaking, taxpayers whose assessment dropped 10% or more are likely to see lower tax bills this year, especially if that property is located in School District 100. Those whose assessments dropped 9% or less will likely see higher tax bills, especially if they live outside of School District 100. There are many factors that influence individual tax bills.

Friday, May 11, 2012

BCJ: Jail Bonds/sales tax for jail

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Click on the photocopy o enlarge: 

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The above article is available free of cost at merchants across the county and on the internet at:  http://www.boonecountyjournal.com/news/2012/Boone-County-News-05-11-12.pdf#page=2

Monday, May 7, 2012

Former Dixon comptroller pleads not guilty to taking $53M - chicagotribune.com

 

Former Dixon comptroller Rita Crundwell pleaded not guilty today to a federal charge that she looted more than $53 million from the small northwestern Illinois town over the last 22 years.
During her arraignment in federal court in Rockford, federal prosecutors said they have amassed more than 11,000 pages of documents in their case against her

Click on the following for more details:  Former Dixon comptroller pleads not guilty to taking $53M - chicagotribune.com

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Dixon comptroller fraud a different view

The following is from City Barbs:  http://www.citybarbs.com/2012/05/05/11770/#more-11770

Click on the photocopy to enlarge: 

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Thursday, May 3, 2012

Indictment of Dixon Comptroller Rita A. Crundwell

Note the amount is now $53 million.

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Click on the following to read he entire indictment:  Indictment of Rita A. Crundwell

Meet Dixon’s City Commissioners | City Government | About Us


Dixon City Council

Meet Our City Commissioners

Commissioner of Finance:  Dave Blackburn
Phone:  815-288-1485
Email:  dave.blackburn@discoverdixon.org This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
daveDave Blackburn was first elected to the Dixon City Council in 1991 and has been re-elected in 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011. He has previously served as the Commissioner of Public Health and Safety.
He is a graduate of St. Mary's School, Dixon High School, Illinois State University (BS/Polictical Science-1975), and Northern Illinois University (MPA/Public Administration-1991). He has also attended Sauk Valley Community College and done post-graduate work through Western Illinois University.
Commissioner Blackburn is employed by Dixon Public Schools #170 as Business Manager. He is also a 30 year member of the International Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers Local #498, Rockford, Illinois, although he has not worked actively at the trade for the past 13 years. He is married and has two children. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #690, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks Lodge #779 and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials.

Commissioner of Public Property:
Colleen Brechon-Vancil
Phone: 815-288-1485
Email: colleen.brechon@discoverdixon.org This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
colleenBrechon croppedColleen Brechon-Vancil was elected to the Council in 2011 for a four year term. She is currently the Commissioner of Public Property,  ie Water, Sewer, Cemetery and public parks and buildings.
Colleen graduated from Amboy High School and continued her education at Sauk Valley College and Northern Illinois University graduating with a degree in Business. She is the owner Travel Consultants of Dixon, Inc. working full time but with the freedom to handle the needs of her Commission in the City Council thanks to a great travel agency staff. Her past experience in volunteer work with City projects like the City petunias, Memorial pool renovation project, Dixon Tourism, and Petunia Festival prompted her run for City Council.
Colleen has two sisters, Julianne Malach who lives in Sublette and Rhonda Brechon of rural Dixon. Her parents are Arvilla Brechon or rural Dixon and Sylvester Brechon(deceased). She was married to Dennis Vancil who is deceased.
She is willing to sit down with anyone to discuss City projects or any new ideas to improve the services of the City. You can email her at Colleen@awayugo.com This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  with the subject line "City of Dixon" or call the City of Dixon 815 288-1485 to leave a message.
Commissioner of Public Health & Safety: Dennis Considine
Phone: 815-529-5100
Email:  dhconsidine@hotmail.com This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
DennisConsidine croppedDennis Considine was elected as the Commissioner of Public Health & Safety on May 1st, 2011.
Dennis has diverse experience as a business development professional, corporate planner, and industry leader. He worked with Kline Department store for 18 years developing a community
working retail environment and team of exciting retail specialists. He is recognized as the beauty industry’s most innovated, involved, cutting edge, get-it-done educational leader for more than 23 years with Marshall Beauty Supply. Dennis has always been involved in professional and community service.
Raised in Dixon, he attended South Central School, St. Mary’s and graduated from Dixon High School. He also graduated from Ray Vogue Schools-Chicago, American Floral Art-Chicago, Massey College-Altanta, Ga.
Dennis has a vested interest in downtown Dixon businesses. He and his partner, John D. Delong are owners of Jsalon. He is a proud father of two adult children; Jennifer (Mark) Truesdale of Sterling and Jared Paul Considine (Sada Bradley), Klemath Falls, Ore. He also has two grandchildren Zach Truesdale, 14 and Jenna Truesdale, 10.
Commissioner of Streets & Public Improvements: Jeff Kuhn
Phone: 815-288-1485
Email: jeff.kuhn@discoverdixon.org This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Jeff Kuhn croppedJeff Kuhn was elected to the Dixon City Council in 2011. He is the Streets and Public Improvement Commissioner where he oversees the maintenance of the streets of Dixon, new construction as well as the snow removal, repair and rebuilding of the current streets.
He attended the Oregon, Illinois, schools before graduating from Illinois State University in 1973 with a degree in Junior High Education. Jeff later earned a Masters degree in education from Northern Illinois University in 1977 plus advanced study courses. He taught in the Dixon Public Schools at Washington, Madison and Reagan Middle School for a total of 33 years retiring in 2006. While at the schools he taught junior high Math, History and Government. He was a member of National Education Association, Illinois Education Association and Dixon Education Association where he served in many offices including negotiator and Association President.
Jeff is married and has two children. His local involvement includes membership in Dixon Evening Lions Club, Dixon Petunia Festival where he served as a President, Dixon Veterans Park, Dixon Elks Lodge #779 where he is a local and district officer, Illinois Education Association-Retired and the Lee County Emergency Food and Shelter Program. He is also a member of the Stewardship Committee for the First United Methodist Church.
Meet Our City Commissioners | City Government | About Us