When it comes to taxes, the system of government plays a shell game on taxpayers.
They tell you taxes only go up when governments raise taxes. But the truth is assessment increases push property values upward and increase property taxes.
Government asserts that assessments only determine how much of “the tax pie” a property must pay. In other words, they claim property taxes are a set amount, but when property assessments go up in some areas, they go down in others. They lie that the amount of taxes paid doesn’t change, it just “shifts.”
They argue that just because your assessment goes up, your property taxes don’t necessarily go up, too.
That is an outright lie. That’s the potion they pour into the understanding of the Illinois tax system to confuse property tax owners.
The fact is, when your assessments go up, your property taxes go up.
An anecdotal check of property assessment changes in the Southwest region shows that they have been pushed up dramatically, as much as 50 percent in some cases.
That’s the back-door property tax hike that government officials don’t want you to think about.
I challenge any homeowner whose property assessments have gone up to show me proof that their property taxes dropped as a result – not including those who recently qualified for tax exemptions (seniors, veterans, etc).
The taxpayers should not allow themselves to be dragged around by their noses like puppies that are trained and fed dog food and snacks to keep them happy.
But if you don’t fight back, it is your fault as a property owner. Most property owners who qualify to vote don’t vote at all. They complain, whine, and get angry, but they just won’t take the time to go to the polls.
It’s true that the election system is corrupt. Politicians with money dominate the elections, and when they get into office, they protect their advantages, like resisting calls to limit the amount of money that can be spent in an election. PAC money. Dark money, and powerful lobby groups like AIPAC are focused on foreign interests, not the interests of Americans.
But it all comes down to apathy. Taxpayers may scream and yell, but that’s about it. They don’t vote. They are the problem. They are the real cancer undermining the rights of homeowners and empowering the politicians who exploit their power for their own selfish benefit.
Those who do not vote fail to support good politicians and empower the bad ones.
Our political system needs to be changed. And until it does, I will vote against every tax hike that is on the ballot. Vote “NO” on all tax hike requests.
That includes the tax increase sought by Moraine Valley Community College. A no vote will send a strong message to demand accountability.
Governments, especially school districts, need to get a handle on their expenses. Most schools are top-heavy with high-salaried administrators. Instead of teaching our children so they achieve great strides, they lower the proficiency levels to artificially make it look like our children are learning.
They have made an F grade look like a C grade, instead of strengthening our teachers to teach more effectively. They spend more money on administration costs, salaries, and bonuses. As a result, most superintendents are paid way too much. They are not held accountable for the lack of performance. Artificially adjusting performance to make deficiencies look acceptable is done to protect their interests, not the interests of students.
We need to change our political system.
1 – Limit the money that can be spent on election campaigns. Ban PACs. Put a limit on the total amount of money that a campaign fund can have.
2 – Change petition signatures so all candidates have the same requirement. Eliminate the system where non-party candidates must file thousands while Republican and Democrat candidates file only a few.
3 – Force everyone to vote, not by penalizing those who don’t vote, but rather by rewarding those who do. If you vote, you should get a reduction in your property taxes and a reduction in government fees. If you don’t vote, there is no change.
4 – Everyone who runs for office should be given the same exact opportunity to convey their views to the public, creating a public website where every candidate must submit their bio, experience, and their platform on key issues.
5 – Replace party primaries with Open Primaries. If the Democrats, Republicans, or even the “Hanania Party” want to back or endorse someone, let them. As long as everyone has an equal chance.
That’s how we improve government, control taxes, and get the truth.
For more information on this, visit CourageousThought.com.