Thank you to all who attended the open house this past Monday and on May 31.  Between these two functions C4CH hosted, approximately 60-75 people participated.  We greatly value and appreciate your input and ideas, which underscore C4CH mission to foster responsible and right-sized local government.

People raised both general and specific concerns regarding Clarendon Hills.

General Concerns

• Need for Volunteerism and Involvement
• Increased Government Transparency
• Cost Containment
• Continued upward increases in property taxes

Specific Issues to Investigate with Your Help

1.     Hinsdale High School District #86 approval of $17M bonds to fund major construction projects without a voter approved referendum

2.     Elementary District 181’s ACE program

3.     iPads purchase for ALL District 181 students

4.     Village’s downtown Business District

5.     Special Service Areas (SSA) for roadway resurfacing

6.     Village plans to re-vamp the train station and install a pedestrian underpass

7.     Village Electricity aggregation

8.     Village’s plan to cut the D.A.R.E. program in our schools

C4CH will be shining light on many of these issues with facts and analysis over time.  In the future, there will be investigation about downtown redevelopment and the proposed train station, an inquiry on special service areas as part of overall roadway resurfacing programs and continued focus on the budgeting process.  We need you to contact us and volunteer on above issues or show up to Board meetings to express support and viewpoints.

C4CH remains committed to pursuing actions and activities which lower taxes, reduce regulation and drive smart and responsible growth. 

C4CH is currently engaged in efforts to increase transparency and integrity in the local budget process.  In addition, C4CH encourages residents to have influence in the decisions of local taxing authorities, through attendance at board meetings, public hearings or informal conversations.

If you are interested to learn more, or would like to assist on above issues, contact us at citizensforch@comcast.net.

It appears the Village Board will be discussing the elimination of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (“D.A.R.E.”) at its next meeting on Monday August 6, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. at Village Hall.  If you want more information or have an opinion about D.A.R.E., attend this meeting.

Of note, stay posted for a future C4CH post possibly regarding D.A.R.E….

Thank you for your continued support.

 YOU ARE INVITED TO A

C4CH Open House

Thursday, May 31^st – 7:00pm

Clarendon Hills Library

We invite YOUR input.  Stop by and let us know what’s important to you.

HOME RULE RECAP:  

Home Rule Power Grab Defeated 86%-14%.

 Citizens for Clarendon Hills (C4CH) organized in 2012 with the first goal of stopping the Village Board’s home rule power grab.  We opposed home rule to protect residents’ voter rights, to control Village property taxes, and to limit unnecessary growth of government.

On March 20, Clarendon Hills residents defeated the referendum 86%-14% (2,012 No / 324 Yes).  This was, simply, a monumental defeat of home rule that future Village boards should not ignore.  To put this in some perspective:

46.39% – VOCH voter turnout rate (2,366 / 5,100)

20.27% – DuPage County overall voter turnout rate (106,686 / 526,358)

6 – Number of home rule referenda on ballots throughout Illinois on 3/20/2012

1 – Rank of VOCH by biggest percentage margin of defeat of home rule referenda in Illinois in 2012 (This was the biggest defeat of home rule in all of Illinois on 3/20/2012)

#13 of 334 – Rank of this VOCH decision by biggest percentage margin of defeat/victory of all 334 referenda in DuPage County in the past ten years.  (The #1 ranked margin was 89.47% of Addison Twp voters wanted to be reimbursed for O’Hare expansion on 11/5/2002)

NONE – No other voting bloc in DuPage County in the past decade defeated home rule by a wider margin than VOCH just did.

By this vote the residents told the Village that home rule is NOT a good idea—at all—for our Village. Thank you all again for your efforts, volunteering, and involvement.

What’S NEXT?

There is more work to be done.  Local governments directly impact our lives – and our pocketbooks  (How’s your new property tax bill look?)

C4CH does not exist solely to stop home rule (That’s done).  It exists to help address the concerns of our local community.  There are MANY more issues out there…. We want to protect our Village and have input on ALL local governments that impact our lives. This includes the Village, the Park District, our local school districts, maybe even the mosquito abatement district.

C4CH wants efficient, prudent project management to solve local problems. We favor lower taxes, less regulation, and smart growth.  We want to keep our local governments in check and responsive to the public.  We support strong development grounded to our Village’s history and community.  We seek transparency of our local governments.

C4CH seeks your input and help to tackle the next issues.  And involvement.

C4CHOPEN HOUSE:

We Invite YOUR Input!  Thursday, May 31, 7:00 p.m.

C4CH is hosting an open house at the Village Library on Thursday, May 31, at 7:00 p.m.

We want to listen to you.  We want YOUR input and ideas as to what issues about local government are of concern to YOU. Come by, tell us what is important to you. Come by to say hello!  Some possible issues we see are the following:

WHAT ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU?

• New Village Budget: The Village Board last month approved its new Budget with 12.7 Million in total expenditures (all funds).  What’s really in it?  How different are the details from what the Board claimed when pushing for home rule?   The Board appears to have ignored almost all of C4CH’s proposals (more detail to follow).

• Expert Budget Review Committee: C4CH strongly believes the Village Board should establish a volunteer committee to provide input to the Board throughout the budget process when it decides how to spend our tax dollars. We have been repeatedly asking for this Committee for 220 days (since 9/27/2011).

• Park District Pool Renovation: C4CH strongly applauds the efforts of the Park District to renovate the Lions Pool facility and strongly believe it is a great idea.  It will also impact our community for decades.  Right now it’s $1.5M. We believe Phase I could be expanded now to include the baby pool and other improvements.  C4CH seeks caution in proceeding with Phase II.  Is it a cost efficient plan?  Is it responsive to the long term needs and wants of the community?  What are the long term operational costs?  Has a user survey ever been conducted?  (more detail to follow).

• Transparency: We want to ensure that a strong light is focused on how our local governments function and how our tax dollars are spent. We believe the processes, data, and documents should be easier to view. (more detail to follow).

• Village Train Station and Downtown Master Plan:  The Village Board recently approved a revised plan for a $14 Million overhaul of the existing train station.  It is based in part on a now 7-year old idea.  What is exactly contemplated for the train station and why?  Is it in keeping with our Village?  How is to be funded?

• Police Department Consolidation: The Village Board seems to want to consolidate our police department with the Village of Hinsdale PD; this would require new state law.  If ever implemented, this experimental endeavor would be the first of its kind in Illinois.  Would it create a new governmental entity?  Is this appropriate?

• Electricity Aggregation Referendum:  Should the Village Board (instead of pushing a home rule referendum) promote a referendum for electricity aggregation that could save us some money (on our electricity bills)?  This is a very popular municipal trend.   Has our Village Board addressed this yet?  If not, why not?

• High School District 86:  Plans proceed for a $17 Million capital project for items including “entrance and air conditioning upgrades.”  Is this an issue that deserves closer scrutiny?

THANK YOU, CITIZENS OF CLARENDON HILLS!!!

Thank you to the 2,005* fellow citizens who voted “No” to Home Rule, who took the time to learn about this issue, and who donated time and money to this cause.

Thank you to those who read our mailings, who subscribed to our email list, and who wished to be informed and educated.

Thank you to the hundreds of residents who put signs in their yards, who shared their stance with neighbors, who voiced their opinions, and asserted their right to be heard at the ballot box.

Thank you to the brave store owners who very publicly displayed “Stop Home Rule” signs in their store fronts.

Your actions sent a strong message to the Village Board about this issue. You also sent an equally strong message about what we can do together as a community. Your actions were a resounding victory for your rights as taxpayers and put all other area taxing districts on notice that our residents are watching very closely and are deeply involved.

We are keen to continue participating in local issues and working with you to provide useful information (i.e., pushing to control spending and waste, improving projects, adding transparency, and providing information).  We want and need you as citizens to remain educated and involved with us.

It is incumbent on all of us now to stay involved and offer proactive, positive solutions.  In the coming weeks we will establish further positions, and we need your ideas on issues of concern in the community.

Thank you today.  And thank you tomorrow. Well done CH!

Sincerely,

C4CH Steering Committee

* This number does not include absentee or early votes.

CLICK HERE to view post election press coverage.

Today, Clarendon Hills’ property taxing authority is limited by State-imposed Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) limits.  These limits are removed if Home Rule passes.

In January, the Clarendon Hills Village President warned residents about Home Rule Power.

“The Reality is — Guess what. If we have home rule, YOU and your neighbors are going to have to work a lot harder than you do now….. you WILL have to become more diligent…. You will HAVE to stay better informed. And that’s the only way YOU will be able to safeguard against a President or a Board that runs amok.”

~ Village President Tom Karaba, 1/18/2012

 So what does running amok look like? Citizens for Clarendon Hills examined 131 HOME RULE municipalities to see if they OVERTAXED taxpayers. The results are shocking.

Here are the Top Five DuPage Home Rule Municipalities’ Real Estate Tax Levy Increases (2005-2010).

Downers Grove          104.1%

Glen Ellyn                  100.3%

Bloomingdale             78.4%

Naperville                  70.5%

Westmont                  67.2%
As a NON-Home Rule municipalitiy — PTELL Protected

Clarendon Hills                  23.1%

CLICK HERE to see the entire list of municipalities.

PROTECT yourself from overtaxation. Please remember and encourage your neighbors to vote on Tuesday, March 20th.

We have received some questions this week regarding the ballot and voting.  Thank you for all your support.  We all need to to our part and VOTE on MARCH 20th.

Below is some information that may be helpful.

The Ballot – The Home Rule Referendum appears at the VERY BOTTOM on page 2 of the ballot (located after all the retention of judges).  The wording will look like the following text:

Early Voting

ANYONE can early vote as long as you are a registered voter and have a picture ID. The nearest location to early vote is:

If there is a chance you may not be in town or unable to vote on March 20th, please take advantage of the early voting option. Last day to early vote is March 15th.

This week’s post includes important information regarding voting on March 20th.

Polling Places:

Walker School is NO LONGER a polling location for the March 20th Primary.  Please review the chart below to find your NEW polling location.

Early Voting:

Early voting began February 27th and the last day to early vote is Thursday, March 15th.  There are only two qualifications to early vote:

1. Must be registered DuPage County voter

2. Must present government issued photo identification

CLICK HERE for a list of locations and hours.

How about a yard sign?

Look around town this weekend and you’ll see the Citizens for Clarendon Hills yard sign opposing Home Rule Power. 

CLICK HERE to order yours today!

There are 18 days until the Home Rule Referendum.  Please remember to vote on March 20th.

On February 21, 2012, the Clarendon Hills Village Board passed a “self-restraining” ordinance that weakly addresses a problem actually created if the Village ever succeeds in its pursuit of Home Rule Power [HRP].

Bottom line, this is putting the cart before the horse because without a case for Home Rule, there is simply no need for this ordinance.  The Board has yet to make a coherent, non-shifting argument as to why it seeks HRP in the first place.

DETAIL:  This ordinance anticipates that the Village Board gets HRP.   Today, without HRP if the Board wants to increase your property taxes beyond statutory (“PTELL”) tax caps, the Board MUST follow State Law and ask permission from WE the residents by direct voter referendum.  If the Board gets HRP, this State Law protection vanishes.  To attempt to address this, the ordinance installs a local referendum, which is technically “advisory.”  This Board, or any future board, can just repeal the new ordinance by simple majority vote (4 Board votes) for any reason (like if there’s a sudden “emergency.”)

More reasons?  See C4CH Statement and Press Release in Response to Village “Self-Restraining” Ordinance 2/21/2012.

What’s at stake if the Village Gets Home Rule Power?

• Loss of Your State-Protected Right to Binding Referendum Direct Vote on:

1.      Property Tax increases beyond caps

2.      Local Sales Tax imposition

3.      Village incurring certain amounts of debt

Remember, before you even need to think about this new local ordinance:  Without a case for Home Rule, there is simply no need for it.  Without State controls on local taxes, a Village cost containment philosophy fades away.    Vote “No” on March 20.

The recent local news articles on the Village’s “self-restraining” ordinance:

CLICK HERE for The_Doings-Clarendon_Hills_article

CLICK HERE for Clarendon_Hills_Patch_article

Over the past few weeks, there have been statements that the Village Budget has been cut.  However, ACTUAL spending has increased every year for the past 7 years.

If Home Rule passes, a bountiful cash stream will exist. With this endless supply of new taxes, will the Village be more or less motivated to cut ACTUAL spending when they haven’t been containing costs for the past 7 years?

One thing is for sure, Home Rule equals TAXES. The Village has been intending to increase taxes by at least 20% since October 2011 (Click Here to See the Village Memo & Power Point Presentation).

Beware of the “Sleight of Hand.”

After two informational meetings, the question has been raised – Is Home Rule the only option?

The obvious answer is NO.  All the actions being promoted by the Village can be presented to the residents via an ordinary tax rate referendum.

In the past, our community has overwhelmingly supported numerous referenda when presented with well thought out plans.

But instead of following the normal course of action, the Village is attempting to obtain Home Rule Power.