Illinois Headed for Junk Status

[Teacher Terry]

Our property taxes are very low especially if your home is old. Our home is valued at 300k yet we only pay 700/year in taxes. No state income tax either. Schools are terrible-right near the very bottom and other services not good or available. I think if states change to 401k's then people will think twice about being a public servant or teacher since you usually get a smaller salary in exchange for a pension. Both my DH and I could have made more $ in the private sector. Our state has raised the minimum retirement age with no penalty and if you were hired at 2010 you won't get health insurance when you retire. We pay a ton of $ for our health insurance with the state. Active employees get a deal but they really stick it to the retirees.

[JaneV2.0]

I thought--still do, in fact--my property taxes were outrageous at $5K plus, but that pales next to $10K or more. I joke that we pay more here for views, and the roads, libraries, schools, etc. are well-kept. But still...

[ToomuchStuff]

Honestly, if my posts are so upsetting to you, Too Much Stuff, this begs the question: Why have you not used a blocking/ignoring feature to poof - make me and my awful posts go buh bye? I'm really curious as to this, please illuminate me if you would be willing to do so. Rob

As for letting go, well there is an ignore function, but that is the ONLY thing he can do as a moderator, avoid being on the ignore list and not use it as well.

Said multiple times. That is the only thing since the forum went into private ownership, that the moderator title provides. (hardwired into the software)

[LDAHL]

One of my tourist stops when I was in Chicago a few years ago was Lincoln Park to relive a memorable song of my younger days.

The streetlamps are on in Chicago tonight
And lovers are gazing at stars
The stores are all closing
And Daley is dosing and the fatman's counting the cars
And there's more cars than places to put 'em, he said
But I've got room for them all
So round 'em up boys
'cause I want some more toys
Hit the lot by the grocery store
To me way, hay
Tow them away
The Lincoln Park Pirates are we
From Wilmette to Gary
There's nothing so harried
And we always collect our fee

I miss Steve Goodman.

[LDAHL]

I see Illinois finally has a budget with a major tax increase. They had to override the Governor's veto. From what I'm reading, they're still under threat of credit downgrades from the major agencies.

[iris lilies]

I thought--still do, in fact--my property taxes were outrageous at $5K plus, but that pales next to $10K or more. I joke that we pay more here for views, and the roads, libraries, schools, etc. are well-kept. But still...

So, what is a fair price for you to pay? If $5 k is too much, what is reasonable? Should the people up the road with a bigger house pay at a higher rate? Not more, because of. Ourse they will pay more, but should their taxation rate be higher?

what about all of those library workers and their pensions, would ypu deny future library workers the same pensions?

Really, who are you to say that your own money is your own?!!!