Our 2009 tax bill is officially through the roof, breaking through the $6,000 barrier for the first time. That’s right, $6,000-plus for an 1,875-square-foot, 85-year-old residence on a 50-foot lot. And that’s it for me. This year, I finally will file the appeal I’ve threatened so many times in the past. This year, I’ll stay [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Commentary'
Through the roof
May 3rd, 2010 · 7 Comments · Commentary, District 58, District 99, Education, state politics, Taxes, Village Hall
Tags: property taxes
Leaner and meaner
December 3rd, 2009 · Comments Off · Commentary, Community Events, Public opinion, Public Safety, Social services, Taxes, Village Council, Village Hall
If there’s something good to come from this agonizing budget season, maybe it’s the call by several commissioners for a debriefing where both the council and the community can discuss how the process can be improved. “We need to look at the process and what we’ve done right and and what we can do better [...]
Tags: 2010 budget
Unsustainable
October 23rd, 2009 · 19 Comments · budget, Commentary, Education, Fire and police, In the News, National Politics, state politics, Taxes, Village Council
There have been many articles about the budgetary crisis gripping various states and cities, including our own town. Reading up for a column on the subject, I came across this factoid from SUNY’s Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government: state tax collections plunged an inflation-adjusted average of 9.2 percent in FY 2009. As the village [...]
Tags: pensions·public payroll
Planning for sustainability
October 15th, 2009 · 28 Comments · budget, Commentary
Our village employees, in light of recent changes to overtime, health insurance and pay, still enjoy a generous compensation package. Some say too generous; some say well worth it. The reality is our local government is immune from free market private sector factors that set the pay point where demand meets supply.
Keys to downtown success
September 11th, 2009 · 11 Comments · Commentary, Downtown Redevelopment, Economic Development, Neighbohoods
You may be surprised. The debate surrounding a proposal to allow the ATI physical therapy and fitness center to lease 10,000 square feet of space in the Acadia on the Green development has elicited some pretty hot opinions pro and con. It’s understandable. The downtown area is the heart of our town, as the mayor [...]
Tags: central business district. retail mix·downtown Downers Grove
DGreport’s new buds
September 3rd, 2009 · 5 Comments · Blogroll, Breaking News, Commentary, Neighbohoods
The Tribune/WGN Chicago Breaking New Center has added headlines,teasers, and links to DGreport stories for their west suburban news aggregator. DGreport is showing up in Westmont, Naperville, Darien, all over. Take a bow EJ, and get back to work! Meat, let’s go boyo, fame’s a waitin’. Too bad EJ can’t get any local elected officials [...]
Village skinny 07/28
July 28th, 2009 · 7 Comments · Commentary, District 99, Village Council
Podcast on your computer in 23 minutes or less. In less time than it took to get home the village had posted up a complete recording of tonight’s council workshop meeting. Less than 23 minutes. How many years has the 99 Board of Education been saying yes we’re for it, yet not getting it done? [...]
Job action
July 8th, 2009 · 39 Comments · Commentary, Development
Union picketers have taken to the sidewalk at the site of the new Larson Eye Center, currently under construction on the corner of Warren and Forest avenues. Judging from their signs, the brick workers are unhappy that they aren’t earning the prevailing wage for their work. After googling the DuPage County Prevailing Wage for July [...]
Tags: job actions·union pay
Problem or solution?
February 24th, 2009 · 5 Comments · Commentary, From the Editor
Reading Eric Zorn’s column in the Trib this morning, I couldn’t decide whether the DGreport is part of the problem or part of the solution. Problem, because it’s a clear example of a journalist giving away her work for free. Solution (or maybe a step in that direction), because it represents the innovation sweeping this [...]
Civility or lack thereof
May 18th, 2010 · 13 Comments · Boards and Commissions, Commentary
Civility appears to be the new “anonymity,” i.e. a local topic of discussion that appears at first glance to be as uncontroversial and inarguable as the desirability of good government. Trouble is, even something we all can agree on — the need for civility in public office — can become a weapon by which to [...]
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Tags: incivility