Businesses are not interested in coming to this area because the population is too low to support them, and consumers have cut their spending.

I agree...what buildings are sitting empty? I don't know of any that are sitting empty in 308. All the ones I know about are near or over 100% capacity

Don't forget the major league $$ we're throwing into the administrator's pockets - look at our new Superintendent. $$. Freezing the multiplyer at the county clerk's office might help.

Please cite your sources. 308 pays their teachers less and removes the 9.4% as a separate accounting line item. The teachers are actually paying for it (as required by law) as part of their salary but it is allocated differently for accounting purposes. It guarantees that the pension money will be paid and properly allocated. If you don't believe it, ask any teacher.

While pension reform is definitely necessary, it is not the teachers we need to go after, it is the administrators. There is no reason why any public servant should be earning in excess of $200k much less $300k and several of our local government administrators are earning far more than their private sector counterparts running similar size organizations. They cut here and pad their own salaries with the savings so we get no tax benefit.

In other words, if you want tax savings, reform the pension systems (no payment from the pension until age 65, no double-dipping.) and hold our local administrative public servants accountable for their salaries and salary increases.

As I recall, that plan was dropped: http://www.wbez.org/news/criminal-justice/speaker-madigan-drops-cost-shift-pension-plan-99675

HAs anyone else been keeping track this summer just how many qualified, amazing abministrators D308 has/is losing just this year alone because their pay is one of the lowest paid in the area?!

Let me remind people that the most resent BOE members who ran on a "fiscially conservative spending ticket" are THE very ones who, without recordings of, approved the drastic $ increases for the tope FEW central district administrators salaries... The lower level administrators in the schools (principals/asst. principals) are not at all overpaid. Infact, we cannot keep the experienced ones in 308 and benefit from their years of service and dedication to our community.

@Donna Thill "HAs anyone else been keeping track this summer just how many qualified, amazing abministrators D308 has/is losing just this year alone because their pay is one of the lowest paid in the area?!"

I thought it was because they didn't like the BOE, or the class sizes were too big, or, or....
Donna, who are you comparing us to ? Naperville ? to quote Matthew "please site your sources" . We're not Naperville and we don't have their commercial tax base. Quit comparing us to them. Why don't you check out the search firm site's pay scale on administrators and pay, and see how much $$mucho$$ dineros we're paying out above and beyond what a lot of the other towns pay.

Qualified and amazing administrators??? Please!

It doesn't help that we're not getting any help from the Federal end anymore - something to gripe at during this election year. Let's get that money pouring back in. You want your candidate in ? have them say things like "we will pour federal money back into Education to the levels it was at in 2002".

I may be wrong or can't remember, but didn't LeClerq propose a lot of tax or deferred tax cuts to businesses to come to Oswego?

ayar,
your suggestion of throwing more tax payers money at education is ok if it's federal money, "turn back on the money tap" will not fix the problem ......just push it down the road , all levels of government are broke there is no money left.
we spend as a country more than any other nation per head on education and our standards fall behind what we would consider many third world countries.

@Matt Hannah, who said we were "broke" ? plenty of money - look: http://costofwar.com/

Also, "we spend as a country more than any other nation per head on education":, not quite true: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/sep/14/education-spending-class-sizes-school-funding

and as far as how "lousy we're doing", bear in mind, the stats are skewed due to "full inclusion" which other countries *do not do*. Facts are, you pull out the special needs kids out of those stats, and we fare up pretty well. Proof ? look how many foreign students *come here* at U of I circle campus in Chicago as opposed to staying in their own country for a "quality education". We may not be perfect, but we're darn good. The only thing we're missing are some good civics classes, and teaching a foreign language *besides* Spanish, like Chinese for example, where there's a lot of money to be had..

Ayar, the U.S. ranks a lowly 27th in the world in math skills and education. Don't blame low scores on the inclusion of special needs kids. Our schools (teachers & administrators) are doing a sub-par job in educating American students.

@olivia5307 - "Ayar, the U.S. ranks a lowly 27th in the world in math skills and education. Don't blame low scores on the inclusion of special needs kids. Our schools (teachers & administrators) are doing a sub-par job in educating American students." I stated that because they DON'T include those in their stats. Kids who can't hold their own in those countries get sent to farm or some other tasks [I didn't say it was right, just that the stats show this]. I *will* say "no child left behind" did not work. If they did the stats correctly, we'd rank somewhere between 5 and 8. And again, I maintain, how come if they're so great, they come *here* to *our* colleges for an education instead of staying home ? that says it all.

Ayar, yes, there are many excellent colleges in America. There are foreigners who can qualify to get into these colleges when many of our local kids cannot. We need to require that our high property taxes attract top-level, experienced teachers, rather than 22-year-olds fresh out of school.

@olivia5307: "We need to require that our high property taxes attract top-level, experienced teachers, rather than 22-year-olds fresh out of school.". Olivia, many of these qualified teachers *do* apply for those jobs, but are turned away by Administration. Why is that ? we seem to have money coming out of our ears for new administration getting raises even before they start, so why not hire some experienced teachers who are proven performers?

Board pays the money to the TRS wherever the district is. It is their responsibility in every district because they control the funds. How it is worded in the footnote is incendiary in its potential interpretation but essentially the note means that the teacher's pay would be the additional amount if the money was not withheld.

It is very true that it is a shell game: the teachers do get paid within a few thousands of each other in each district if you add everything up. And no, they don't get paid little amounts of money but considering the education required and the workload they usually make less than someone with similar responsibilities in the private sector (supervision over 20 or so unruly, untrained employees.) The benefit is that they get to do it with a break in the summer and a good pension when they retire.

It is NOT every district that does this, but it is a majority of them. There is no defending this practice, and in fact the Rockford area is proposing to reverse this poorly made decision that it only recently enacted. Mostly due to a massive pushback by the local citizens once they found out about it.
http://rockrivertimes.com/wpapp/wp-content/uploads/Message-from-Superintendent-3-26-2012.pdf

In fact, 555 of the state’s 867 districts paid some or all of teachers’ required contributions. So no, not ALL of the districts do this, no matter what your union told you.

It is not inflammatory, it is a push back against unsustainable greed.

If the Bleeckers are concerned about running through their savings quickly to cover taxes, seems it's not time to retire yet. There's not enough tucked away in the piggy bank to last.

Whatever shell game you are getting fooled by, it doesn't not change the fact that the taxpayers are paying your full pension contribution. And no, they wouldn't "pay for it anyway", because it is not coming off your salary, it is coming off the money the board gives you to pay for it, THEN is getting documented on your stub.

It is specifically designed to fool you, and the taxpayers, and it seems to be working.

I keep hearing how the district has 'the best and the brightest'. If you are being fooled by simple actuarial tricks used by every business that cooks its books, then you are not the best, and you are certainly not the brightest.

Tim,

If my employer gives me, say, $1000 and I choose to allocate $94 of that to my 401k then where exactly did the money come from? Did I take the money from my pocket and give it to my employer to put into my 401k or did my employer give me the money I earned then I decided to put it into my 401k? It came from my employer as part of my compensation, right? If I'm lucky, my employer might even add some and maybe even match it with additional funds.

The 9.4% toward the teacher's pension is required by law and is part of a teacher's pay. The only difference is that they cannot opt-out.

If anything, the money being required by law to be separated only makes the contribution obvious so that certain people can latch onto it as a line item without looking at the wider view. Considering a majority of people in our area are being trained by certain unscrupulous media outlets to focus on such things, the separation may have a small origin in political gamesmanship.

I looked at some of the agreements in surrounding communities per your recommendation and found similar wording, i.e. board paying the TRS as required, but less obvious separation of funds. It would be curious to see in what year that obvious distinction and inflammatory wording was added to the pay scale in Oswego.

Your arguments are good and debate-worthy. Please don't cheapen them with insults.

Matthew,

The only difference is that your employer is giving you $1000, AND THEN giving you $94 extra to pay into your pension.

There is nothing inflammatory about it. It is a cold hard fact that this money is not coming out of the pay, but is an extra 'benefit' paid above salary.

Does your employer give you an extra percentage of your pay in order to invest in your 401K? Or do you have to pay it out of your total salary like your example?

That is the difference, and it is exactly why the wording is designed to be confusing on pay stubs. It makes the individual teacher(who lets be honest, usually has little idea of the machinations of their own union), think they are the one paying for it, when in reality they are not.

The back peddling that I have heard every time this is brought up, is fascinating to watch. Like I said, it is designed to be confusing. D308 did not start this shell game, but they certainly latched onto it very quickly to be deceptive about the flow of funds.

This is the #1 reason your taxes keep going up, for the #1 largest item on tax bills. What is so inflammatory about requiring a teacher to pay their own pension out of their own salary? The actuarial tables setup by the pension board do not take this into account, because pension contributions are based off salary. When the contribution is removed from salary, it skews the equations needed to keep the fund solvent because the payout is 9.4% larger at retirement time.

TIm,

Then let's just say that the teachers are earning $1094. It is pretty simple. Then realize that with that $94 extra they are still earning what other teachers are earning so it is an accounting wash. It is their retirement AND they don't get Social Security like you or I or get to choose whether or not the contribution is made so I really don't see the same problem you do.

@ Kate - See other posts/BLOGs on Patch - http://yorkville.patch.com/blog_posts/kendall-county-property-tax-revolt-forms-instructions

That makes no sense at all.

What farm field needs a sewer line run to it?
What farm field needs a fire truck to ever respond to it?
What farm field needs police protection?
What farm field has students to educate?
What farm field needs a traffic light?

These are the things that residential(and commercial, if you had any meaningful amount), pay for. It is also why the SSA(special Service Area) became so popular. How many of you know that your SSA is legally required to go up 1.5%/yr, no matter what?

Aside from the meaningless comparison you just made for farm fields, there is a historical reason that farms at taxed the way that they are. The current structure is specifically designed to prevent the bubble-bust cycles that used to occur in farming. If the food supply was run the same way as housing, millions of people would starve to death.

In other words, there is nothing wrong with the way a farm field is taxed. I can guarantee you, the 'county' portion of your tax bill is dwarfed by the school portion of it. Changing the county tax rate, will do absolutely nothing to the school district tax rate.

Keep ignoring the elephant in the room, teachers pensions paid by taxpayers, at your own peril. Maybe you can come up with another meaningless distraction instead of talking about the #1 reason your taxes continue to climb faster than inflation.

I wonder how many persons that are fed up with taxes are living in a house in this county that was built on land that was zoned ag 20 or less years ago?

If we had strong schools and well-educated students, local citizens wouldn't be angry at having the predominance of their property taxes going to the school district. That's why we take it out on teachers, since they're the ones hired to educate the kids.

It was pointed out to you that the individual teachers don't seem to be aware of what their own union is doing. It is your union, it is representing you, and you have failed in your responsibility if you have not at least voiced your concerns to them and voted in a similar matter in your union elections. If you claim there are 'many others like this', there should be some real change, but there isn't.

Now, in your post you just admitted that you think teachers are required to contribute to their pensions, even though it has been pointed out that you in fact do not pay them. The school board and the union have agreed in their labor contract that the school board(taxpayers) will be responsible for paying the (employees)teachers share of the contribution. The district also pays for the employer portion. So the individual teacher is actually contributing a whopping $0. If you continue to hold to this incorrect view of things, do not be surprised when people say you are not paying attention. It is not personal, it is a description of your level of understanding of the situation.

Sources;
http://76.227.214.198/assets/5/employment/contract_teacher.pdf

pg 51.
*includes Board-paid TRS contribution
*In addition to the amounts show above, the board will also pay the 0.84% employer contribution.

These are very real problems facing every one of us, and some hard truths need to be addressed. Like I said it is not personal, but it is necessary.

Well said!

If you are going to continue to make ridiculous claims, at least back them up with something. I notice you never actually linked to what the assessed value of any farm property is currently, as it would blow a hole right through your argument.
Post a property from here;
http://taxinquiry.co.kendall.il.us/forms/search.aspx
That supports your argument of not paying enough.

Otherwise, when you grow agriculture crops on your property, instead of worthless grass, you will be taxed accordingly. Do you pay taxes on your grass when you mow it? The farmer does.

All of the loudest tax cut proponents have one thing in common. It is always someone elses burden to bear. Tax someone else more, not me.

No wonder you are facing the problems you are, every single squeaky wheel wants the solution to be borne by someone else. Keep on your record setting pace of selfishness, as a county. Remind me in 12 months how far you got with that mindset. I honestly think most of you have no idea what is barreling straight for you.

The county paid its shortages last year out of its reserve fund, and taxes STILL went up. That gravy train is over, and you are about to get hit with the REAL cost of paying for the infrastructure required to live in the middle of nowhere. Maybe the bridge you use every day will collapse next, to give you an idea of the requirements of infrastructure needed for that charming home overlooking a corn field.

Have you tried to grow corn or beans at a profit the last several years? No one likes taxes, but you either pay the tax or pay higher food prices. I do agree not-farmed AG land should not get a tax break. I owned 65 acres in Kendall county of which 3 were AG zoned. Not being a farmer I let my neighbor who is one farm the land for 20 years.

poor who jumped at the chance to see the monetary realization of their hard work that non-farmers take for granted. Taxing bodies saw the tax dollars that would come in from all those houses and families and didn't quite do the math of how much they would have to pay out to keep up with that kind of a population. And they continue to pad the top. Our community has an identity crisis. WE ARE NOT NAPERVILLE, Naperville was able to grow from an agri-based community to a blazing suburb because of it's main arteries into the city of Chicago, as well as that corporate corridor they developed. We fell all over ourselves to build the same generic strip malls as every other community instead of focusing on making our commercial corridor stand out and be a destination for other communities. Oswego started out as a farm town/bedroom community for the CITY of Aurora and it's factories. Putting in an obscene number of overpriced subdivisions- most of which are not finished but hey- the developers already made what they needed- does not make this a substantial suburb.

Not Mill Race, I Apologize- Mill Street.

Yep, can't wait to collect that Social Security money that I pay into. Gonna be big money. Oh, that's right. By the time I retire it will all be gone. I guess that's why I don't count on it.

No, teachers do not pay into social security.

It is fascinating how many lies the union has told its members. When they go out into the real world with what they were told behind closed doors, they end up looking like fools.

Leah I've lived here all my life and saw the mess that our former Mayor was getting us into. What seemed like a great deal back then sure doesn't feel like it to many now. I think the worse it yet to come and we're on our way to bankruptcy.

Did you ever find your cat?

And how many driveways on on that road in front of the farm contributing to the traffic on that road?

You have become a parody of yourself.

The teachers make a normal, competitive salary and have slightly higher class load than the surrounding areas. It is not the teachers. Take a look instead at administrative costs. Our administrators are hog over-paid throughout the local and county governments. Want to save money? Get rid of some of them and force the rest to take a pay cut. It is obscene how much some of them make for what they do and they wouldn't get anywhere near the same pay for the same job outside government.

If this is the best you can do, you are going to have to explain why the majority of counties in IL are not on the verge of bankruptcy, as they are far more rural than Kendall is.

This is why nobody takes you seriously, even though you are almost arguing for the right things. All I have seen so far, is a selfish desire to pay less taxes. I haven't seen a single proposal that involves you giving up a single thing. It is always 'someone else' who has to make the sacrifice, or pay more taxes, so you don't have to.

When next years tax bills come out, I will be getting out my popcorn to watch the disaster you have all caused by your own doing. Because the ugly truth is that it is not 'someone else' who needs to fix it, and it is not 'someone else' who caused it. It is you who caused it.

And don't forget tanning/nail salons; tobacco shops; gold buying stores; um, what am I leaving out?

Ouch!!!! As a single mom for 10 years, I raised 3 children in Oswego, made much less than $55K, and never visited a pawn shop, rent to own furniture, tanning or nail salon, title loan shop. Aldi's, WalMart, Goodwill, Salvation Army was more like it...... 55K low income? Heck I would have been happy to make that much!