Schaumburg Drive-By
This week’s drive-by shooting in Schaumburg, a relatively quiet suburb Northwest of Chicago should be a clarion call for tougher sentencing for handgun violence. What should come with a conviction of “the unlawful discharge of a firearm, with intent to harm” is a minimum 25-year sentence with no parole. That should be a strong enough deterrent to the gangbangers, criminals and crooks who seek to hurt decent law abiding citizens here in Illinois.
Presidential Race 2012
Most of us look forward to the November elections this year where we will be able to vote out the rascals who have been part of the economic mess our nation finds itself in. Immediately thereafter there will be many that will be jockeying for position for the 2012 Presidential campaign. I will be looking for a candidate, who as President will have the chutzpah to offer a balanced budget with wholesale cuts to specific departments. He or She could then present it to Congress during a State of Union Address as follows:
“Distinguished Supreme Court Justices, Vice-President, Senators, Members of Congress, ladies and gentlemen:”
"The State of our Union is fair. We can do better! Tonight I am submitting my budget and governmental re-organization plan for your consideration. In it, my administration has provided 2500 specific cuts to get our nations budget in balance. Additionally, we have provided ten specific tax cuts to stimulate the economy."
"This budget will provide a solid foundation toward helping the United States of America retain its singular position as the beacon of Free Enterprise in the World."
"Thank you, God Bless you and God Bless the United States."
With that, the President would walk down from the rostrum and into the crowd of dignitaries and begin fist bumping the Republicans, Libertarians, and pro-growth Democrats.
Spending Limitation Amendment
The great Indiana Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) along with the solid free-market Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) have introduced an amendment to the US Constitution that would limit federal spending to 20% of economic output. This is a terrific idea that would need to be ratified by 34 states after passage by 2/3 of both the US House and US Senate. This Spending Limitation amendment would constrain the legislative branch from its profligate spending.
Recent Letter for the US Census Bureau
Did you get the letter from the US Census Bureau announcing that the 2010 Census form will be arriving in the mail?? I know the US Post Office is hurting, but what a waste of money. Another question, shouldn’t the official language of the United States be English?? This Census form letter advises people to go to the US Census Bureau web site in several different languages. Ridiculous!
Showing posts with label Village of Schaumburg. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Village of Schaumburg. Show all posts
Monday, March 15, 2010
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Schaumburg Succumbs to a Property Tax
It is with sadness that we all recently learned of The Village of Schaumburg’s decision to levy a property tax to meet the current budgetary shortfall. Schaumburg as not had a property tax since its formation in 1956. My family moved to Schaumburg in the early sixties and this is where I grew up. I still consider Schaumburg my hometown. Skokie is now the only major suburban Chicago community that does not levy a property tax.
Village leaders say they had to implement this tax in large part because of a significant decline in retail revenues during this great recession. You see Schaumburg is considered the Retail Mecca of the Midwest. Woodfield Mall, one of the largest malls in North America, anchors its beautiful skyline. Rolling out from the mall are numerous shopping centers (that include big box retailers), car dealers, furniture retailers (IKEA comes to mind), and restaurants.
With a projected $17.6 million General Fund deficit, Schaumburg has decided to levy a tax of 8.1% of the 2009 property tax bill. The Village manager and his staff recommended the property tax levy to the full Village board. There are other ways for Schaumburg to get out of its budget quandary, some of which were ruled out because market conditions are not favorable. That is the arrogance of government.
First, the Village should sell off the Convention Center and Hotel. Some consultant recommended that they build the Convention Center and that it would pay for itself. Baloney. The private sector does a much better job than any governmental entity at running hotel businesses. Government should not be involved in enterprise.
Second, the Village should sell off the Schaumburg Flyers baseball stadium. Minor league baseball is much more profitable than the majors. Fans enjoy the natural play of the sport and any team ownership worth their salt is able to increase their fan base and profitability. Sell it to the baseball team owners, perhaps on a long-term contract. Ownership of a baseball stadium is not the role of government.
Third, re-evaluate the village’s master plan and zoning laws around the Woodfield Mall area. The village should allow for high-rise residential development. This can provide a base of retail consumers for that area. The net effect of this would be greater support of the existing businesses and attraction of new business. In turn, tax revenues will increase. While the housing market is not yet fully recovered, in time it will improve. Demographic population changes will fuel the increase in popularity of condominium dwellings.
Fourth, join the other five Northwest Suburban townships in forming a new county (Lincoln or Reagan) thereby telling Crook County to go stuff it. Cook County and its daddy, Chicago, are the most corrupt units of government in the State of Illinois. Its fair time that the municipal leaders of the Northwest Suburban region wake up and sever all ties to this unit of government. Not only has Crook county levied a large retail tax (part of which was recently rolled back), but its method of assessing commercial property makes these property taxes a huge burden on businesses in the Northwest Suburban region.
Schaumburg can survive without a village property tax by taking the steps mentioned above. The community has a lot to offer. It has a solid library district, a strong park district, and quality schools, which are a part of elementary school district 54 and high school district 211. These government entities survive just fine with their tax revenue. Schaumburg should be able to do the same.
A property tax levy will only hasten the departure of businesses in Schaumburg to more tax advantaged areas outside of Crook County. The Village should concentrate on providing basic services and not try to build a real estate fiefdom.
Village leaders say they had to implement this tax in large part because of a significant decline in retail revenues during this great recession. You see Schaumburg is considered the Retail Mecca of the Midwest. Woodfield Mall, one of the largest malls in North America, anchors its beautiful skyline. Rolling out from the mall are numerous shopping centers (that include big box retailers), car dealers, furniture retailers (IKEA comes to mind), and restaurants.
With a projected $17.6 million General Fund deficit, Schaumburg has decided to levy a tax of 8.1% of the 2009 property tax bill. The Village manager and his staff recommended the property tax levy to the full Village board. There are other ways for Schaumburg to get out of its budget quandary, some of which were ruled out because market conditions are not favorable. That is the arrogance of government.
First, the Village should sell off the Convention Center and Hotel. Some consultant recommended that they build the Convention Center and that it would pay for itself. Baloney. The private sector does a much better job than any governmental entity at running hotel businesses. Government should not be involved in enterprise.
Second, the Village should sell off the Schaumburg Flyers baseball stadium. Minor league baseball is much more profitable than the majors. Fans enjoy the natural play of the sport and any team ownership worth their salt is able to increase their fan base and profitability. Sell it to the baseball team owners, perhaps on a long-term contract. Ownership of a baseball stadium is not the role of government.
Third, re-evaluate the village’s master plan and zoning laws around the Woodfield Mall area. The village should allow for high-rise residential development. This can provide a base of retail consumers for that area. The net effect of this would be greater support of the existing businesses and attraction of new business. In turn, tax revenues will increase. While the housing market is not yet fully recovered, in time it will improve. Demographic population changes will fuel the increase in popularity of condominium dwellings.
Fourth, join the other five Northwest Suburban townships in forming a new county (Lincoln or Reagan) thereby telling Crook County to go stuff it. Cook County and its daddy, Chicago, are the most corrupt units of government in the State of Illinois. Its fair time that the municipal leaders of the Northwest Suburban region wake up and sever all ties to this unit of government. Not only has Crook county levied a large retail tax (part of which was recently rolled back), but its method of assessing commercial property makes these property taxes a huge burden on businesses in the Northwest Suburban region.
Schaumburg can survive without a village property tax by taking the steps mentioned above. The community has a lot to offer. It has a solid library district, a strong park district, and quality schools, which are a part of elementary school district 54 and high school district 211. These government entities survive just fine with their tax revenue. Schaumburg should be able to do the same.
A property tax levy will only hasten the departure of businesses in Schaumburg to more tax advantaged areas outside of Crook County. The Village should concentrate on providing basic services and not try to build a real estate fiefdom.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)