Thomson prison appraisal, fed's offer differ

 

220 million price represents the average of the three appraisals … the state can accept no less than $219,932,218 for the facility.

higher than the $170 million the Obama administration requested of Congress in its 2011 budget proposal to cover both the purchase price and security upgrades.

state built the prison for $140 million in 2001, but it has remained largely unused. It costs $2 million a year to operate.

Click on the following for more details:  Thomson prison appraisal, fed's offer differ

Bill proposed to close property-tax loophole | News-Gazette.com

 Illinois House Bill 6241 that should eliminate the confusion.

The bill creates the Manufactured Home Installation Act, which requires a manufactured home that's installed on private property and not located in a mobile home park, to be assessed and taxed as real property. And mobile homes located inside mobile home parks will continue to be taxed according to the Mobile Home Local Services Tax Act. But mobile, or manufactured, homes that are located outside mobile-home parks and not classified, assessed and taxed as real property prior to the new law taking effect will remain that way unless the home is sold, transferred or relocated.

Click on the following for more details:  Bill proposed to close property-tax loophole | News-Gazette.com

Genoa Chamber to hold forum on Chicago-Dubuque Amtrak route

 

Illinois Department of Transportation chose the Canadian National line, which runs through Genoa, in its application to the federal government for stimulus funds.

 
The project was not picked for federal funding, so Gov. Pat Quinn appropriated $60 million from the state’s capital budget for it. In late March, Quinn announced the route would go through Belvidere on a Union Pacific route. A few days later, IDOT officials confirmed to the Daily Chronicle that the Chicago-to-Dubuque service would stop in Belvidere – noting that the route was decided by Quinn and not transportation officials.

Genoa Chamber Executive Director Bonnie Hanson said that a final decision has yet to be made.
“According to the last time we spoke to Amtrak, which was last week, no contracts had been signed, no construction had begun,” Hanson said Monday.
State Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Rochelle, said the money for the project hasn’t been released by the state, which is why contracts haven’t been signed

Click on the following for more details:  Genoa Chamber to hold forum on Chicago-Dubuque Amtrak route | Daily Chronicle

Boone County looks at early retirement to save money

Fairness?  Can you offer this benefit to one employee and not to another with similar age and seniority?  You can’t just offer it to employees whose slot is eliminated or who is replaced with a lower priced worker.  It may work at counties with large number of workers but Boone County is too small.  Look at the numbers -- I question if there will be any real savings, no less one that which help the deficit.

Boone County may offer early-retirement incentives to employees to help erase a projected $1.5 million budget shortfall in 2011.

Click on following for more of the story:  County looks at early retirement to save money - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star