Tutorial: How To Find a Crooked Property Tax Lawyer Using Public Records
From “Watchdog Jenkins”:
Corruption does not exist in a vacuum; meaning that Illinois did not earn its reputation for being the US’ most corrupt state simply because of a mysterious culture of corruption that exists behind closed doors. Instead, all of Illinois’ illicit activities occur right out in the open; utilizing the inattentiveness of a State’s Attorney, Attorney General, and Illinois State Board of Elections.
But at least there’s some good news for the rest of us: we can query public records to find the leftover “crumbs” of that corruption that benefit us for a change. Of course, we’d be much better off without the corruption in the first place.
Download the PDF on how you can find corruption.
Stroger Finally Accepts the Truth and Ends Deceptive Farce
Cook County Health and Hospitals produces a budget surplus for FY09; Brought $231M to county coffers
CHICAGO - Financial data released today showed that the newly formed independent Cook County Health and Hospitals System surpassed their revenue projections for FY2009 and spent less money than they were allocated in the FY2009 budget.
Combined, the CCHHS made a positive contribution of about $236.5 million to the taxpayers of Cook County.
According to data from the Cook County Comptroller’s Office, the CCHHS:
- contributed $231.3 million to the County’s general fund in FY2009
- brought in $194M more revenue then was budget in FY2009
- spent about $42 million less than what was budgeted in FY2009“These numbers show that we are committed to making sure that we are using our resources wisely without affecting patient care,” said CCHHS CEO William Foley. “We will continue to find ways to make our System more efficient while also searching for opportunities to better serve
our patient’s needs.”CCHHS (formerly known as the Cook County Bureau of Health Services) oversees a comprehensive, integrated system of healthcare throughout Chicago and suburban Cook County through its hospitals, ambulatory and community health network clinics, public health department, correctional
healthcare facility, and outpatient infectious disease center.The CCHHS is comprised of: John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County , Provident Hospital of Cook County, Oak Forest Hospital of Cook County, Cook County Department of Public Health, Cermak Health Services, the Ruth Rothstein CORE Center and the 16 Ambulatory and Community Health
Network ACHN) health centers.
This is what I have been saying all along, for the last year. There is no deficit. There is no shortage of funds.
There is no need to enact the Stroger Sales Tax.
There is ample reason to roll back the balance of the Stroger Sales Tax.
As I was saying this for the past year, I was attacked of being a racist, of not knowing the facts, of grandstanding, of misleading the public, of political chicanery.
The fact is, as we now know, and, as I have been saying for the past year, there is no deficit.
Todd Stroger has LIED to the taxpayers and the public. He has engaged in gross exaggeration to justify the unjustifiable — a 135% increase in the sales tax in Cook County.
This deception of the voters and taxpayers should be punished severely on Feb. 2nd Election Day, by voting out of office Todd Stroger, Mario Moreno, Deborah Sims, Joan Murphy, Bill Beavers and Jerry Butler who have perpetrated this hoax on the taxpayers.
Honesty in government is rule number one.
Now is the time to show all of the above the door.
Sincerely,
Tony Peraica
Stroger Sales Tax Increase repeal deferred
16th District Commissioner Tony Peraica attempted to present at the Jan 12th Cook County board meeting an ordiance to repeal the second half of the Stroger Sales Tax Increase. He was forced to defer it because not one other Commissioner had the courage to second the motion.
John Daley personally told Commissioners not to second the motion beforehand.
Commissioner Peraica to Sponsor Rollback of Remaining Stroger Sales Tax Increase
Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica (16th District) has introduced legislation (attached) that, if passed, will result in the elimination of the remaining half percent of the sales tax increase pushed through by the Stroger administration in 2008.
The measures will be introduced at tomorrow’s county board meeting and will be referred to the finance committee, with a vote expected on January 26th. If the reductions are approved, the Stroger sales tax increase would be completely eliminated as of January 1, 2011.
“Recently, the board of commissioners worked together to roll back half of this ill-advised and unnecessary tax increase. Now it is time to finish what we started,” Peraica said. “I strongly urge all of my fellow commissioners to do what is right for the taxpayers of Cook County and join me in rolling back the remainder of this sales tax increase.”
Anthony J. Peraica
Commissioner 16th District
Thank you everyone!
Filed under: Reform, Taxes, Todd Stroger, fightback
Thanks must go out to all the county residents and taxpayers who helped our Fight to Rollback the Stroger Sales Tax Increase by calling or writing letters to the other Commissioners so they would change their minds and support Tony’s Roll Back ordinance.
But there is still much to be done to Reform Cook County Government…
Tony’s Plans for the Future!
- Repeal the other half of the Stroger Sales Tax Increase
- Require a Super-majority for all future county tax and fee increases
- Place a referendum on the ballot for November 2010 to let the people of Cook County decide if they want to remain a “Home Rule” county - which allows elected officials to raise taxes without voter approval. Tony believes that Cook County should NOT be Home Rule and that it was unfair that the people of Cook County never had an opportunity to vote on the issue.
Tony Peraica on the sales tax rollback
Todd Stroger foe Tony Peraica spoke out about the Cook County Commission uprising to toss out the recent one-percent hike in the sales tax. He says he’s been against it from the start. Watch the video below from Fox Chicago.
Cook County sales tax: How board members voted on Todd Stroger’s veto
The Chicago Tribune posted this article about how board members voted on Todd Stroger’s veto.
Cook County commissioners voted to override board President Todd Stroger’s veto and cut the county portion of the sales tax from 1.75 percent to 1.25 percent on July 1. Eleven votes were required for approval.
Voting to override and cut taxes (12): Forrest Claypool, D-Chicago; Earlean Collins, D-Chicago; John Daley, D-Chicago; Bridget Gainer, D-Chicago; Elizabeth Gorman, R-Orland Park; Gregg Goslin, R-Glenview; Tony Peraica, R-Riverside; Edwin Reyes, D-Chicago; Timothy Schneider, R-Streamwood; Peter Silvestri, R-Elmwood Park; Robert Steele, D-Chicago; Larry Suffredin, D-Evanston.
Voting against override and to keep tax increase (5): William Beavers, D-Chicago; Jerry Butler, D-Chicago; Joseph Mario Moreno, D-Chicago; Joan Murphy, D-Crestwood; Deborah Sims, D-Chicago.
Congrats, taxpayers
Todd Stroger wasn’t about to quietly accept Tuesday’s historic rebuke from taxpayers who demand reform of his fat government. The Cook County Board president wasn’t going to let board members kill half of his precious full-percentage-point increase in the sales tax without plenty of theatrics and threats.
Board members were not swayed by the exaggerations of a public official who abused the county payroll by hiring his family members and friends, that notorious steakhouse busboy included. Who refused even to freeze hiring in hard times, despite urgings from John Daley, the board’s finance chairman, to take that small step.
Read the entire article on chicagotribune.com.
County Board Overrides Tax Rollback Veto
Commissioners Vote 12-5 To Keep Rollback
A group of Cook County commissioners have overridden a veto of their 0.5 percent rollback of the county sales tax. In Chicago, the tax rate is currently 10.25 percent. You’ll save a half a penny on every dollar spent, bringing the new rate down to 9.75 percent.
Read the rest of the article on cbs2chicago.com here.
County Board gives taxpayers a break
Commissioner Peraica is praised in this Sun-Times article about Cook County tax relief.
Reform Tweets
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- Project Shield a big drain on taxpayers http://ff.im/gUAyV
- Corruption in City of Chicago Hiring Process http://ff.im/gJhye
- Ex-Bridgeport Village couple building a case against City Hall http://ff.im/gCjwn
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