Lake County Gazette

Lake County Board members disagrees with proposed statewide property tax hike

By Karen Kidd | Aug 27, 2018

An outgoing county board member is calling on Lake County voters to support a ballot question banning a proposed a statewide property tax that could raise levies by almost 50 percent for the next 30 years.

Legislation that could lead to elected assessor benefits only Yingling, Lake County board member says

By Karen Kidd | Jul 10, 2018

Lake County board member Steve Carlson says Gov. Bruce Rauner shouldn't sign off on a referendum that could lead to the county's assessor's office becoming an elected official and told the board as much during their meeting earlier today.

From Prairie State Wire

People in prime working age are fleeing Illinois, think tank reports

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Not only is Illinois' overall population in deep decline, the number of people in prime working age also is going down in the state, a Chicago-based Conservative think tank said in a recent report.

Morrison complicit in denying voters chance at fair maps in November, Republican challenger says

By Karen Kidd | May 12, 2018

Illinois state Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) is complicit with the Democratic machine led by the House's powerful Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), recently denying Illinois voters a chance at fair maps in November, her Republican opponent said in a recent social media post.

Rauner has yet to respond to lawmakers' request for Quincy veterans home plan

By Karen Kidd | Apr 24, 2018

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has yet to respond to a letter from a bipartisan group of Springfield lawmakers calling for him to release his plan for a new facility at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy.

From Chambana Sun

McSweeney resolution urges U of I to sever ties with teacher who was a 1970s radical

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

If Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) has his way, former radical and terrorist, longtime fugitive and convicted murderer James William Kilgore will never again teach at the University of Illinois.

Lake County voters to decide on tax-or-borrow questions, and Republican state and national House candidates

By Karen Kidd | Mar 2, 2018

Going into the general primary election on March 20, Lake County voters will decide whether four local political subdivisions can raise their taxes or extend borrowing, in addition to mulling Republican candidates in state and Congressional house districts.

Lake Zurich resident hoping voters turn down school's $78 million bond sale request

By Karen Kidd | Mar 1, 2018

If Martin Filson can talk enough Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 voters into it, the almost $78 million bond issue request for school improvements and expansions on the March 20 ballot will fail.

Lake Zurich schools in uphill battle to stop loss of students, gain more state funds, taxpayer advocate says

By Karen Kidd | Mar 1, 2018

Try as they might, there is little that Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 officials can do to stem the loss of students – and getting more money for expansions won't help, the fix needs to come from the state, a taxpayer advocate said during a recent interview.

From Prairie State Wire

Better Government Association says Obama didn't say fathers in the home is a solution to gun violence -- but he did

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Sometimes the fact-checker needs a good fact-checking.

Rotheimer appeals to voters to remove Silverstein from office

By Karen Kidd | Feb 5, 2018

An anti-abuse advocate who accused former Senate Majority Caucus Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) of sexual harassment is asking the lawmaker's constituents to do what he and his colleagues have refused to do – remove him from the Senate.

Rotheimer questions sexual harassment report in email to state representative

By Karen Kidd | Jan 30, 2018

A victims rights advocate whose allegations of sexual harassment against a state senator have been all but dismissed by the state's legislative inspector general had a lot of questions today for a state representative about an alleged lack of public scrutiny and due process.

McSweeney: Algonquin Township 'best example of bad government'

By Karen Kidd | Dec 18, 2017

Nunda Township's decision to add former Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Robert "Bob" Miller to its payroll last summer is further evidence that townships in Illinois need to be consolidated, a 52nd District state House Representative said during a recent interview.

Local communities need townships but not their property tax freezes

By Karen Kidd | Nov 30, 2017

While local communities oppose property tax freezes that could have been put in place by Illinois township governments under recently proposed legislation, they count on those same townships, according to Shannon Yeaton, the president of the Village of Port Barrington.

Vote to cut Bannockburn schools tax levy benefits working families, board member says

By Karen Kidd | Nov 28, 2017

Working families are the primary beneficiaries of a recent Bannockburn School District 106 board vote to cut the district's upcoming tax levy, board member Jake Leahy said during a recent interview.

Freezing property taxes might be a great idea with costs, Mundelein trustee says

By Karen Kidd | Nov 27, 2017

Freezing property taxes in Illinois might be a great idea – if the associated costs can be absorbed, Mundelein Village Trustee Ray Semple said during a recent interview.

Barrington Hills village president says lawmakers need to take 'hard look' regarding property tax freeze

By Karen Kidd | Nov 20, 2017

Illinois' General Assembly, which had finally approved a budget but failed to act on an amendment regarding property tax freezes, should take a harder look at itself, Barrington Hills Village President Martin McLaughlin said during a recent interview.

Politicians need to give homeowners power to freeze taxes, Senate candidate says

By Karen Kidd | Nov 8, 2017

Township government in Illinois should support an amendment to an existing bill that would allow taxpayers to implement property tax freezes via referendum, McHenry County Board member Craig Wilcox told the Lake County Gazette recently.

McConchie calls for debate on measure to reverse part of new abortion law

By Karen Kidd | Nov 2, 2017

Legislation to reverse parts of a controversial new law that provides taxpayer-funded abortions needs to be debated in the General Assembly, Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorne Woods) told the Lake County Gazette.

McConchie dismayed by Rauner's change of heart on abortion funding measure

By Karen Kidd | Oct 2, 2017

Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) says he's lost some of his belief in Gov. Bruce Rauner.