State Representative Dennis Tipsword (R-Metamora) issued a press release on Thursday saying he, “cast a resounding “no” vote Wednesday on legislation that will raise property taxes for most taxpayers in McLean County by requiring all McLean County property owners to pay for the costs associated with the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington.”
That legislation was originally introduced in the State Senate by Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) and pertains to Central Illinois Regional Airport (CIRA). The Bill was supported in the house by State Representative Sharon Chung (D-Bloomington).
The CIRA legislation extends the area the Bloomington Airport Authority can tax from Bloomington and Normal to throughout McLean County. That would automatically increases taxes for everyone in McLean County outside Bloomington and Normal.
The legislation also creates a new airport authority, the Central Illiinois Regional Airport Authority, and authorizes it to raise the property tax rate for Bloomington-Normal and rural McLean County without a referendum.
According to Tipsword, “This is a local issue that will likely have an impact on families’ property tax bills in McLean County for generations. It’s wrong for Democrats in the General Assembly to impose their will on these families without allowing them to first weigh-in by voting on a local referendum.”
Other Republican House lawmakers representing McLean County; Dan Caulkins, Jason Bunting, and William Hauter, voted against the tax hike.
However Tipsword supported a similar bill sponsored by Koehler regarding School District 87 that Chung also supported.
That bill would exempt the district from having to pass a referendum for approval from the public before purchasing a building.
District 87 resident Robert Callis pointed out problems with this, “The inability of people to understand simple math in America just keeps me up at night. I swear to God. Because here is the problem. Number 1, all the money being used is the taxpayer money. They didn’t find a pot of gold over in District 87 on the football field. That is our tax money.”
“Secondly, we are gong to take a building off of the tax rolls that brings in half a million dollars (annually in property taxes) for Bloomington,” said Callis. “And a majority of that goes to District 87. So there is a hole right there.”
The building D87 is reported to be interested in is located at 2309 E. Oakland Avenue that Callis has stated is a $6 million dollar building. Should the district purchase the building that would expand their real estate footprint.
According to Callis, “That is going to require more money for utilities, for maintenance, for personnel, for insurance. All of those things, they are going to create a long term cost. We have one of these situations where we are trusting people to make decisions and the people who get to make the decisions are people who don’t want to follow the rules of engagement that were put in there to protect us, as taxpayers.
Tipsword justified his yes vote by saying, “This is a bill (SB2323) that would allow District 87 to purchase a vacant building from State Farm insurance to be used for Pre K classes. The district has identified the need for more space for Pre K. This is not something I would support in all cases, but in this specific case the vacant building is an opportunity to purchase much needed space for the Pre K program at a lesser cost than building new.”
The bill also stipulates the school can only spend an amount they already have from an existing fund balance, so there will be no additional taxes levied for the purchase,” Tipsword said. “There will be upkeep on the building moving forward, but given the much lower cost to acquire the space, it will greatly offset that cost. In addition there is a sunset on this bill that will not allow it to go on indefinitely. It will expire at the end of the 24-25 school year.”
Apparently, based on Tipsword’s vote on this bill, it’s not wrong for Democrats and Republicans “in the General Assembly to impose their will on these families without allowing them to first weigh-in by voting on a local referendum.”
Hauter also voted yes on the District 87 bill while Caulkins and Bunting were consistent and voted no.
