Yes, we should continue to try to receive help from every resource to raise the money for the kids! If you do not have any children in the District; think of property values. When the schools start to suffer so do your property values. A successful district is great for Oak Forest, we cannot afford to take any other programs away from the children nor can we afford another hit on our home values.

HELL NO to new taxes this state can't control it's bad spending habits last night they rushed a 67% new income tax increase and a higher tax on business. We have a high unemployment rate now and this state voted to increas taxes and now the school district wants to raise our property taxes on top of that. Our property values have dropped but not the taxes on them I say find ways to cut the school budget or have teachers pay for some of their healthcare like the private sector. We are losing our business tax base in Oak Forest now Community Mazda will be closing soon and we lose more tax revenue for the city which means more taxes to make up for lost business taxes.

No way its time for everyone to tighten their belts. Lets get the state to pay thier fair share like they should

This is an absolute necessity. The administration has done what they can to cut the deficit already, now the citizens have to do their part to help. There has not been a tax raising referendum passed since the 1994-1995 school year. How many businesses out there are surviving on a budget based on the '94-'95 economy? If there are community members that have more ideas on how the school board can "tighten their belts" further without cinching children's education, I know they'd be open to hearing ideas. I'm sure they would also be open to suggestions on how to get the state to pay their fair share when they state is so far in the red that they owe everybody money.

Terri, Thank you for your support, my kids thank you as well. Ralph, simply put, without any anger or emotion behind it, we are in a crisis. If you believe the school could be more creative in coming up with solutions to a this real problem that we are facing, and would like to reach out to Arbor with your suggestions, let me know and I will find out when the next meeting is. As a parent of 3 kids in the district I have went to the meetings and informed myself with the facts. Please do not speak out against this any further if you have not found out the facts about the numbers from Arbor. My kids beg of you. I am willing to vote yes even though my husband and I are both out of work. Unfortunately, Next year we will see negative change in our district if this does not pass. My kids and I thank you in advance for your integrity as I feel you will do the right thing and contact Arbor to educate yourself. That is all we ask.

No New Taxes. Cut the pay on every employee if they make over 50.000.00. There are over 30% of houses that have no kids in the schools. I have told many politicians that if you have no kids in the schools for 10 years then we should get a tax break on our taxes. If you have not noticed, any school district that wants to raise taxes gets back stabbed in the local papers. Run a school like you run a household. When the house is out of money can we then ask for a vote by local residents. Their are a lot of middle age Families that are not working or working for less pay now.

Please NO NEW TAXES Sunday Chicago Tribune headline front page The High Cost of Single Scool Districts everyone should read it at the end was a website that lists all the salaries of administrators and principals in ILL its a long list here is what I found out about Arbor SD145
$464716 paid to 4 people the superintendent of SD 145 the principal and assistant principal and Pat Fournier who proposed the tax increase the figure is 707874 when you add in the principals of Scarlett Oaks and Kimberly Hts schools in District 145 here is the web site
www.isbe.net/research/htmls/teacher_service_record.htm
Check lines 632-1508-3557-7200-8762-8813 to save you time
How much your school spends web site www.webprod1.isbe.net/ilearn/ASP/index.asp

I agree with everyone NO NEW TAXES. Maybe we should picket in front of the school. We have a lot of good people that can not find a job in this poor economy. Their is a lot of jobs going over seas and to Mexico like Panduit and Andrews Corp. A lot of these employees live in this town and living on unemployment or maybe have ran out all ready. If anyone deserves a break is the Home owners.

One who lives Oak Forest and cares about the future of the town, property values, the type of student the schools can produce and the type of persons who may be attracted to live here you should try to evaluate the situation as a whole. If you do not care about these things, or do not have children, or care about others children, I understand where your coming from. IF you pay homeowners taxes anyway why wouldn't you want to ensure you are doing what is necessary to ensure your town has a great school system. The fact is that there hasn't been a tax increase to try to support our District 145 since the 1994-1995 school year. How many businesses out there are surviving on a budget based on the '94-'95 economy? We cannot control jobs going over seas, but we can control what happens in our own town. I would rather feel proud to live here than be at the whisper of other towns people, who had intelligent residents supporting the growth of their schools, knowing it is one of the strongest basis to a economical, thriving city. My children thank you again in advance for your integrity, to think of the children and not of our selves. If you would like to speak with someone at Arbor to get the fact about how small the increase may be an why exactly we need it I will be happy to get you that information. Until then your integrity is appreciated as I hope until you know all of the facts you will not speak out against our childrens' future.

A small increase may just enough to put us in bankruptcy! We are struggling to put gas in our cars to get to our low paying jobs, IF we're lucky enough to have one. And saying that we're not intelligent if we don't support a raise in taxes, is just ridiculous & hurtful. Maybe you aren't struggling enough to know the pain that more taxes will cause. Maybe our state could control the businesses? Maybe IL. should investigate the local company that was given 13 Million in incentives to KEEP production here. That company sent almost ALL manufacturing/production to other countries. In our home, our taxes have doubled in the last ten years! Almost every neighbor in my area agrees with me. We wonder if any of those school board people have taken a pay cut?

I am sorry to hear of your financial difficulties, my husband and I are both out of work. I have been looking for some time as well as he, we have 3 children and no, we don't have that foreign word "a savings". I can empathize. Sorry if you felt as if I were referring to you as an individual as being unintelligent, it was not my intention. In my opinion it is not smart to allow our schools not to receive an increase in funding from the tax payers when again we haven't received an increase since the 1994-95 school year. It is my sole intention on keeping my child's class size down & keeping out schools operating at a level that will prove to be an asset not a liability to everyones children. I appreciate your opinion, I truly pray for an economic change for the better for you , me and thousands of others improves for the better. Thanks you again for your integrity to contact Arbor to receive the facts about our districts situation before speaking out against the vote. I see you are wondering about the cuts. Please contact the district to receive the information about ALL of the cuts that have been made, again so you have the information you need to make a sound vote. Thank you for the discussion, it allows more facts to be available to the viewing public.

See Tribune article March 20th about Arbor Park Dist. 145 STATES BALLOT SHOWS ONLY $60 TAX INCREASE.
This does NOT show the State equalizer or multiplier which makes INCREASE MORE THAN $200

Chicago Tribune March 20th see page 10 chart Arbor Park Dist 145 highest tax increae of all the suburbs and G erald is right they did not figure in the state equalizer in the proposed TAX INCREASE what Gerald forgot to mention in his comment is that your taxes will not go up just $200 but it's 202.21 PER EVERY $100,ooo of the value of your house so if your house is valued at $200,000 your TAX GOES UP $404.42 per year. How can you justify this in a down economy when prices on gas and food are going up and people are struggling to make ends meet and keep their jobs and not getting any big raise . Please read my earlier comment on article in Chicago tribune and click on the link and see what the salaries are for administrators an principals in school dist 145 and tell me there is no room to cut budget.

For the sake of our property values, the Oak Forest standard of living and mostly for the sake of the thousands of children in the district, please do not discourage a yes vote with inaccurate opinions of the article, and by leaving things out. You forgot to add this quote. Due to the equalizer...“We want to make it really clear that if a referendum does not pass and the Equalized Assessed Valuation declines, taxes will still go up in the district,” Harris said.

All I can say, is that the kids deserve for all reading this, is to take the time to get the facts. Read the article, and if you do not understand it, call the district and ask the appropriate questions. That is the way you make an educated, intelligent decision on how you prefer to vote.

Your integrity in doing so is greatly appreciated by the 1000's of children that will be affected by your generosity.

Also, the 1,000's of residents who who do not want to see their homes continue to decrease in value, which is what happens when a community doesn't come together to avoid a failing school system. Here is a link to a study that was done (I found Several sources that state that the schools have a direct impact on your home values. Basically a couple hundred will save us thousands on our homes values) http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/educ/css/research/HarrelsonEtAl_Econ.pdf

AGAIN, I thank you and my children thank you for the discussion, it allows more FACTS to be available to the viewing public.

In regard to janies comment about inaccurate opioion s about the Tribune Article and leaving things out I left nothing out but the firm Chapman and Cutler that did the calculation did to hide the fact the TAX INCREASE would be higher than stated. on the voting ballot. The law firm and I quote from the Trib article (defended it's work saying it did not include the equalizer in its calculatons because state law did not specify it had to do so) It also states in the article ElSaffer an Oak Park Township Assessor who also is questioning his district TAX INCREASE referendum said just because the state law doesn't explicitly mention Cook County equalizer doesn't mean it should be ignored. The article about schools and effect on your home value that study was done in 2005 in a boom economy things have changed for the worse since then. I got my COOK COUNTY TAX BILL it went up $200 over my previous bill but my property value is down so tell me how a new TAX INCREASE will make my property worth more. It's obvious you have a vested intrest as you have kids in the school mine graduated from Arbor last year you can't keep TAXING people find ways to cut the budget. HEADLINE CHICAGO TRIBUNE WED 3/23 40 billion dallar hole pension shortfall for teachers I guess we could be expecting another TAX INCREASE to cover this form our ILL Tax and Spend legislators where does it end we are going to be taxes out of our homes

Oh and my name is Janine Perez, I have lived in Oak Forest for 11 years now. I have 3 children. My neighbors, who are active community members, who have lost jobs, have health problems and some who have NO children in the district know well enough that in hard times, you must support the schools. We haven't received an increase since 1994-95. Thank you to all of the residents who are supporting this! If I were a child, would I want the adults to give up on my schooling needs? Don't think so.

Well Janine you made a very good point to quote what you said When a person values a thing they find a way to BUDGET to have the thing well looks like our school board does not know how to do a budget or there would not be a 1,1 million dallar shortfall thats a lot of money. We have not had an increase since 1994-95 thats not the truth we had to pass a tax increase referendum to build Arbor Park School. I have lived in Oak Forest 30years my taxes were $800 a year when I moved into my new house it's gone up every year since I have been here and my property value has dropped. So next year or the year after if there is another BUGGET SHORTFALL do they hit us for another TAX INCREASE because you know the State of ILL does not know what a balanced buget is. My nieghbors agree we are being taxed out of our homes

I guess you should move where taxes don't increase annually! And when you find the place, let me know where it is and I will move there too. I am sure the school system would be great! The Board has budgeted, the has done a great job finding over a million dollars to bridge the gap in the past two years, we have no more ways out of this, or they wouldn't be asking. If you want the truth, the reasons why we are in this predicament we are in, I encourage you and your neighbors to call the District and find out the other side of the story. You will see that this is our only choice. The right choice for our kids,for our home values, and for our city to stay a place thats inviting to future families to be come residents. There are two sides. Again, thanks for the discussion, you continue to help me provide points to those who need to hear this.

Thank you for making my points about why we Don't need a TAX INCREASE for the school Dist 145 yes taxes go up every year because the State of ILL does not know how to run a budget and does not want to make hard decisions on BUDGET CUTS instead they just hit the tax payer and home owner annd business for the money. A case in point today Chicago Tribune headline 40 million hole for unfunded pension liabilities for school teachers. What tax they going to put in to pay for that you know its coming is our Governor Quinn going to try and borrow money by floating bonds and further burden us and our children with bad debt .

As I said before, our childrens' schools are not the root of the problem, and obviously not the source of your anger. We as adults can suffer and try to figure this out, but the kids should be the last to suffer. We are supposed to protect children not throw them under the bus.

Please direct your anger at IL somewhere else, and leave our children alone. Again, thanks for the discussion, you continue to help me provide points to those who need to hear this.

Ralph, I see your points but simply have a different view on it all than you do, and this is fine, but our discussion has come to this; we agree to disagree! Which is fine, it takes all types to make this world go around! Have a wonderful day, I wish you the best.

Janine

We may agree to disagree but I'm voting NO ON NEW TAXES the only way you get through that enough is enough is to turn them down. Then they are forced to be responsible and balance their budget. Once they know they can't put it on taxpayers anymore then they will get serious about a balanced butget and make the hard cuts that are necessary. If we keep caving in they will keep comming back for more money.

Ok, well you have a great day. Just an FYI to make an educated decision usually people educate them selves by researching both sides. Have you contacted Arbor to find out what they have done to balance the budget? Or possibly to find out that that the state has not paid them 1.56 Million dollars of scheduled reimbursements?? I didn't want to educate you on the FACTs, I wanted people to do the work themselves, educate themselves, but just in case you represent the masses, then here they are!

* The last tax increase for educated purposes WAS in 1994-95 * The building referendu passed 7 YEARS ago could ONLY be used for consruvtion purposes. * The district BUDGETED in and closed the deficit gap from $2.4 MILLION dollars to 1.4 MILLION dollars in the 2010 year. *The state currently owes us $1.56 MILLION dollars * The following school districts have recently as 2006 passed a tax rate increas to offset thier deficits, Tinley Park SD 146, Kirby SD 140, Alsip SD 126 * In 2010 the district took the following steps to reduce thier deficit: eliminated 10 teachers position which RAISED THE CLASS SIZE to 30 students, 6 total administrative and support staff were eliminated, Administrative salaries were FROZEN for support staff and salary increases were REDUCED, summer school and after school sutdy programs were ELIMINATED! *

In 2011 the district continued to look for ways to reduce the deficit; Administrative and support staff salary freeze, Health insurance changes to cut cost for all staff, No more eary or late extra-curricular buses, an additional administrative position elimanted! So do you have any more suggestion, if so attend a meeting or call the school district to donate some help instead of hurting us more!

To all the Arbor families watching this post, I have done my due diligence. I am removing myself from future post, if anyone wants to take over from here, then admire your courage. I am going to start talking to ALL my friends and neighbors now, it will be time better spent! Thanks to all who actually care about children and are voting yes!

I have spoke to my neighbors and they are in agreement NO NEW TAXES as far as admin people taking a salry freeze well if I was making over a $100,000 per year I could afford a salry freeze to if they are serious about the budget shortfall take a small cut in pay I had to in my job. Sems like the TAX PAYER ius always the one making sacrifices.

http://www.arbor145.org/what%27snew.html

I opened the link and I repeat THR FIGURES THEY QUOTE on the increase to TAX PAYERS IS WRONG the CHICAGO TRIBUNE article SUNDAY 3/20 on page 10 CHAPMAN & CUTLER did not figure in the state equalizer if the school board had put the real TAX INCREASE in the referendum they knew it would not have a chance to pass. Your taxes are going to go up $202.21 per $100,000 assed valuation of your home. You keep ignoring that fact and believing the school district figures which are not the truth . Look at the TRIB Article it's all there in black and white

Well, I sure hope you 2 aren't in the check-out line together at Jewel when I'm there-- and one of you decides to write a check !!!

LOL Lisa I'm just a little upset about how the school board leaves out facts that the Trib pointed out about what the real cost of this TAX INCREASR will cost the taxpayer . I just hope everyone reads it and gets the facts right so they are not blindsided when they get the next tax bill then it will be too late to complain. You can put a lot of blame on the politicians for not paying the school board what's owed them. Thats why the state is broke as are the Tax Payers too many unfunded liabilities.

I understand. Your points are well taken.

The Chapman and Cutler case is under review, that is true. Because the tax system is so complicated, the best way to find out how much your tax bill will increase is to contact the Cook County State's Assessor's office directly. As for my comment earlier this month I apologize. I should have written that the last referendum to pass "for educational purposes" was in 1995. The building referendum (which was matched by a 13 million dollar grant from the state) was for construction purposes only. APSD would not have received a dime of that grant had the district simply tried to remodel or rehab the old Arbor (which was built in 1928 and in serious disrepair). The city of Oak Forest is at a disadvantage. A lot of our land is forest preserves (I believe the figure is close to 30%). That land cannot be taxed. Also, our poverty level is not high enough to qualify for additional funding from the state. Nobody wants their taxes raised, myself included. But if it means that our school system will suffer without financial assistance; I'm jumping in with checkbook in hand. My family will find a way because it is important to us. Once again, contact the Cook County State's Assessor's office for the most accurate assessment of your tax increase.

Hello, readers. Thank you for your respectful discussion of this issue. It's nice to see such healthy debate. We're working on fleshing out the points you've brought up. Please stay tuned.

Signed,
Lauren Traut
Oak Forest Patch Editor

Well Janine I agree with you on the District does not calculate the formula the law firm Chapman & Cutler did it a nd left out the state tax equilizer and if you read the Sunday Trib article of 3/20 page 10 the other districts that used the firms numbers are all questioning them.it also states it's late to issue new ballots with corrected figures . The article said that Wilmette school district 39 which has a similar referendum on their ballot is distributing correct numbers to the public even if the the estimated TAX INCREASE on the ballot question is incorrect. So you said the Distrit called the paper what paper and as far as your your last line who is this Harris you quote making the statement Equalized assed Valuations declines taxes will still go up in the district where did that come from in is not in the Trib article of Sundat 3/20. This is a pulic forum so if the District is concerned about the figures on the ballot and does not want to mislead TAXPAYERS why does Pat Fournier who proposed this TAX INCREASE on the ballots come on here and state that the figures are underestimated and do not reflect the State Equalizer which will make them higher than what the ballot shows.
According to the Chicgo TRIB based on the state's standard formula our increase will be 202.21 per 100,000 of assed valuation on your home. Thats not a gusstimate as you stated Janine it's based on the state's formula

WWW.chicagotribune.com/cktax Please read and be informed

LOL, so your a no vote I take it? Ok, well nice chatting with you. Have a wonderful day.

The District administrators have contacted the Daily Southtown. Also, Mrs. Fournier was the person who informed me the best way for each individual taxpayer to see how this referendum affects them is for that person to directly contact the state's assessor's office.

Terri,

Are you in contact with the district administrators? Can you please encourage them to contact us, here at Patch? Editor lauren.traut@patch.com.

We want to help our readers be more informed.
Lauren

Lauren, I will forward your information to them. Thank you.

Yes now that I know the real cost of this TAX INCREASE I'm voting not just NO but HELL NO to NEW TAXES I have to write a check to oook county for my property taxes April 1st I dont want to give CROOK COUNTY politicians any more money than I have to so they can blow it .

http://www.arbor145.org/what%27snew.html
Here is the District 145 website above as Terri suggested I went there clicked on Whats New and District 145 Superintendent Jebens said
Earlier this week, it came to our attention that the methodology used by Chapman and Cutler has been called into question by the Cook County Township Assessors’ Association and others who feel the ballot language understates the actual impact of a tax rate increase because it does not consider the effect of the state equalizer on the referendum question.
I would encourage informed voters to go to the District website and read the entire letter before making a decision.

This comment below came through my email as an update, I agree, I cannot believe someone who had children go through the district would not want to help others children who now go through the district and also try to take down the superintend, Pat Fournier, discredit the district, and parents who wants to help her kids school! Wow! Simply amazing! I vote YES, it is for the Children!

"To give a maximum 50,000 salary is absolutely ridiculous. Would you want your job capped off at 50,000 even though your demands are changing. RALPH YOUR CHILDREN WENT THROUGH THIS DISTRICT. How can you NOT support the school district that educated your own children!! If this referendum does not pass, the school district will go down hill. Education is VERY important to most families that have children in Oak Forest. They will move out of the district, and you will be left with the ones that you don't want. 1 pizza a month. Not getting 1 pizza a month can provide a better education for children. CHILDREN!!! This isn't about the STATE...it's about OUR CHILDREN!!! Why should we let them down!!!!!! VOTE YES!!! SUPPORT OUR KIDS!!"

View the updated article and reply to the comment.

I don't know where that comment about $50,000 salary cap came from and yes my kids went to Arbor but the issue is a budget shortfall because County and State Government does not know how to live within a budget so now we the TAX PAYERS have to bail then out again in the name of children. I'm sorry it's time we hold people accountable plus if this does get passed the money for property taxes goes to Cook County and goes into the General Revenue fund which can be used for anything so there is no sure bet the school will get what it needs and we may have another shortfall next year. We have a shortfall because the State did not pay us what is owed in case you don't know the State of ILL is broke and trying to borrow money thats why thejust voted in a sales and corporate tax increase. Here is more bad news the head of the ILL senateMr Cullerton yesterday said teachers in school districts outside Chicago should pay for some of the teachers pension because of a 40 Billion dallar shortfall. So hold on to your wallet we may be hit again

Ralph, you may want to get off the computer and answer the phone, 1980 is calling

I went and voted yesterday and on the ballot was the wrong data regarding the District 145 TAX INCREASE it showed $60 which we know is wrong it should be $202.21 per assesd valuation of your home. I think there should be posted at the polling places the correct figures so voters can make an informed decision on this issue or at the very least state that the increase did not include the state tax multiplyer which will amout to a higher rate then the ballot has of $60.

I'm a newer Oak Forest resident. I think that the community is wonderful. As a parent of two children I agree that the education of our children is necessary for the growth and development of our community in future years. No one wants taxes to go up. However, educated children that grow up caring about their communities can stimulate their economies when those children grow up with a love for Oak Forest as their parents initially did and put back into Oak Forest's economy by developing businesses, right here in our town. I moved into Oak Forest because I saw a community with good schools. In a down economy, I chose Oak Forest among our neighboring communities because I felt that Oak Forest is more family friendly than any other suburb southwest of Chicago. If I thought that Oak Forest's school districts were going to suffer, I would have gladly moved elsewhere. A tax increase for our schools is necessary. Redirect your angers at the State of Illinois for mismanagement of public funds. Looking at the big picture, we as a community cannot keep our school districts from competing with those of our neighboring communities that have new home buyers entering their communities, and shopping, bringing in tax dollars that we need. There are many houses for sale in Oak Forest. Let’s fill them with families with children that will stay within our communities for many years buying products from Oak Forest businesses and starting new ones. Let's give them a reason to move here.