Month: December 2022
Flashback 2014 Election – 1% Sales tax for schools
By: Diane Benjamin I didn’t remember this so I bet you don’t either. A question was on the 2014 PRIMARY ballot to add a 1% Sales tax to be used only for McLean County school facilities. I did this story about the tax: https://blnnews.com/2014/03/13/just-how-desperate-is-unit-5/ Voters were promised property taxes would go down if the tax […]
Koos and his Rivian
By: Diane Benjamin I’m betting Chris Koos won’t be installing a super-charger at his house to charge the Rivian. He can charge it for free in the parking garage next to his Town office. If necessary he can leave it there and walk to his bike shop. This story has a list of other FREE […]
The Rivian disinformation
By: Diane Benjamin Asking the Council to approve buying TWO Rivian vehicles was on the Omnibus Agenda without a cost in the documentation: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4451 The only reason to put this on the Omnibus was to get a blank check vote without any discussion. That didn’t happen. Just hit PLAY to hear Chris Koos say both […]
Update on the Koos Christmas present: a Rivian
By: Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal has only received delivery of ONE Rivian vehicle, the one parked at Chris Koos’ house. The other one Normal put a deposit down on is an SUV. I have no idea when it will be delivered. How do I know Koos has the Town’s Rivian? Freedom of Information […]
Veterans Home For the Holidays fundraiser rescheduled to Thursday night
This event had been scheduled for last Thursday: Casper Brewing Company: Located in SE Bloomington IL. next to the Pony Fields, across from the soccer fields. 3807 Ballybunion Learn more about Veterans Maintenance Solutions here: https://servingvets.net/ These are the good guys folks! . .
How much did McLean County spend on Christmas gifts?
By: Diane Benjamin McLean County handed out presents to their employees, picture here: https://blnnews.com/2022/12/22/county-present-to-employees/ Government only exists because of money it takes from taxpayers. Government doesn’t create or manufacture goods and services. It taxes and spends the money collected. That is why the Illinois Constitution states: , What public purpose did Christmas gifts to employees […]
County Clerk’s office damaged by water pipe break
By: Diane Benjamin Kathy Michael was notified over the weekend of water damage to her office. The office is open today, the front part and vital records did not sustain damage. Most of the damage is confined to election rooms toward the rear. Crews are in the offices now assessing the damage. Desktop computers are […]
The GOP way
By: Diane Benjamin Not only did Jason Barickman win his election last November and then quit, so did Keith Sommers. Sommers isn’t sticking around long enough to finish his term. GOP Chairs from McLean and Tazwell County are picking his replacement. They met on December 22nd to review applications. GOP chairs from all of these […]
Did Bloomington create a new way to spike pensions?
By: Diane Benjamin I have looked at numbers for many weeks and I’m not close to answers. I’m going to print what I know anyway. From Open The Books: Why did salaries increase substantially in 2020 and go down in 2021? I FOIA’d these salaries from IMRF: Three of the 6 show less income in […]
Blessed Merry Christmas
To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible”. ~Thomas Aquinas . .
Did taxpayers buy Koos a Christmas present?
By: Diane Benjamin Take a trip down memory lane: Chris Koos had been driving a 2012 Mitsubishi owned by the Town of Normal. Of course that means taxpayers owned it: https://blnnews.com/2021/03/10/koos-car/ Instead of putting government plates on it that only require one payment, the Town paid for plates every year just like you do. Read […]
Michael Kasper should resign now
By: Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal’s hired attorney thinks he decides who gets on the ballot and who doesn’t. Remember when Mike Madigan’s attorney sent letters to the 3 who filed petitions to run for Clerk, Supervisor, and Collector? Michael Kasper thought he decided who was on the ballot all by himself. If Stan […]
Tri-Valley taxpayers: Proof of no transparency
By: Diane Benjamin At this week meeting the minutes from the November meeting were approved and are now on the school website: https://www.tri-valley3.org/documents/board-meeting-agenda—minutes/399692 NO copies of these minutes were available at the meeting or I would have asked questions. Here’s a big one: What are they buying and why? On the agenda for at least […]
County present to employees:
h/t a reader Evidently they couldn’t find a place that makes coffee cups in America. Buying from a company that manufactures in this country is too hard? In case you can’t quite make that out, the coffee cups were made in China Mote to tipsters: Send better pics! Next year if the County must buy […]
Town of Normal Trustee candidates
By: Diane Benjamin Normal turned in their certified ballet yesterday, 6 people are running for 3 seats: Lorenz and Byars claim to be Republicans. Byars is on the Planning Commission, appointed by Chris Koos. He was previously an intern for Jason Barickman but he didn’t recuse himself from the vote on Wintergreen Subdivision: https://blnnews.com/2022/08/05/planning-commissioner-byars-should-have-recused-himself/ A […]
Tom Devore’s response to Fritzen and Dullard
By: Diane Benjamin Make sure you read EVERY page: 888
Normal looking for new tenant selling food
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.normalil.gov/bids.aspx?bidID=372 The Subway in the Amtrak Station closed in October. The Town of Normal now thinks they need a new tenant. Subway closed because they didn’t have enough foot traffic to sell food in the volume needed. FYI, I know one of the former owners. I was in the parking garage a […]
Follow-up to THREE stories
By: Diane Benjamin 1) Follow-up to Chris Koos’ nomination to the Amtrak Board: https://blnnews.com/2022/09/08/koos-finally-got-a-hearing-in-the-senate/ The Senate will run out of time to get Koos on the Amtrak Board. See this story: https://www.railpassengers.org/happening-now/news/blog/amtrak-board-nominees-left-in-limbo/ Excerpt, this happened 12/7/2022: Dickie Durbin has nominated Koos twice and failed both times to put him on the Amtrak Board. I’d either […]
Tri-Valley, Zero Transparency
By: Diane Benjamin I attended most of the School Board meeting last night. Parents need to pay attention to the changes they are making. In my opinion they are dumbing down education. If your child doesn’t turn in an assignment and gets a ZERO, it won’t affect their grade. There was much discussion about “mastery” […]
Bloomington’s 3 TIFs
By: Diane Benjamin In case you forgot what a TIF is or never knew: Tax Increment Financing is meant to provide money for developers or reimburse government for investments in a blighted area. Money is generated by the increase in property values after the redevelopment. Government gets to keep the increase for 23 years – […]
Normal’s Other Four TIFs
By: Diane Benjamin 1) TIF report for 1 Normal Plaza: https://files.illinoiscomptroller.gov/LocGovTIF/FY2022/06409531/22TIF06409531One_Normal_Place_1.pdf All of the revenue generated is going to reimburse the General Fund for demolition costs. Last year that amounts to $48,087. The TIF is doing little to cover the $3,588,982 Normal spent so far. This TIF began in 2009. As of 4/30/2022 it has […]
Tri-Valley tonight
By: Diane Benjamin Agenda: https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/487/District/2640088/Board_Agenda_12.19.2022.docx.pdf Since they aren’t planning on anyone showing up to oppose the Tax Levy, the vote is right after the Public Hearing: Tri-Valley does not post any supporting documents for Board action. Obviously transparency and pesky taxpayers need to be avoided. The only way to know what the District is doing […]
Lahood & Durbin requests earmarks for Normal
By: Diane Benjamin Earmarks were abolished for awhile by Republicans because they explode the budget. Evidently both parties no longer care about the debt your grandchildren and beyond will be paying off. From Adam Andrzejewski of Open the Books: “Earmarks are member pet projects doled out to legally bribe congressmen for their votes on large […]
Three things you need to know
By: Diane Benjamin Town of Normal cancelled Monday’s meeting: No reason given. Maybe they are afraid of Public Comment after the last meeting’s staged lunacy! In case you missed it: https://blnnews.com/2022/12/06/normal-really-doesnt-want-citizens-interfering-in-their-playground/ FYI: Town offices will be closed on the 23rd and the 26th for Christmas. See the calendar here: https://www.normalil.gov/calendar.aspx?view=list&year=2022&month=12&day=23 Remember how Connect Transit buses […]
Want to Know How Illinois loses Your Money?
By: Diane Benjamin We hear all the time things like the State of Illinois paying unemployment benefits to scammers. We hear people getting put on Medicaid that aren’t eligible. This proves the State of Illinois is incompetent. I got this in the mail today, postage was .49. Nobody knows how much the people who sent […]
Update: Campaign Cash-the rules for using it when not in office
See update below By: Diane Benjamin At the end of September Dan Brady was sitting on $438,947.66. https://www.illinoissunshine.org/committees/7645/ Jason Barickman was sitting on $835,282.52. https://www.illinoissunshine.org/committees/23150/ We won’t know the actual balances now until both file 4th Quarter reports. Both will no longer hold elected office in January. Many states require closing campaign accounts 60 days […]
Yet again laws are immaterial in Normal
By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Obviously Normal is aware they have to comply with the Open Meetings Act because they have it right in the announcement of the Electoral Board meeting held on 12/9/22: The Open Meetings Act requires notice 48 hours in advance. This meeting was not posted by 11:00 two days before […]
Property tax increases explained
By: Diane Benjamin Why are many local governments holding tax hearings? Here’s the legal reason: (35 ILCS 200/18-56) Sec. 18-56. Legislative purpose. The purpose of this Law is to require taxing districts to disclose by publication and to hold a public hearing on their intention to adopt an aggregate levy in amounts more than 105% of the amount […]
Tri-Valley continues to hide information
By: Diane Benjamin Start with this link: https://www.tri-valley3.org/page/board-of-education Petitions to run for School Board are due Monday. 3 seats on the Tri-Valley Board will be on the April ballot. These people’s terms are expiring: Jill Messamore, Lori Stickling, Jessica Alt. I don’t know if any are running for re-election. I have requested access to the […]
Veterans Home For the Holidays – Please support
This is the same group featured in this story: https://blnnews.com/2022/09/02/this-group-is-helping-veterans-and-worthy-of-support/
Ask Unit 5 about this:
By: Diane Benjamin This sign is in a bathroom at NCHS: This organization wants to radicalize your children to demand an abortion law legalizing it across the nation. They want your kids in the streets demanding a law to legally killing their children. Activism forced on impressionable children has no place in schools. Forced motherhood […]
District 87 raising taxes tonight too-not spending ESSER money?
By: Diane Benjamin Tis the season to steal your money! Unit 5 will raise property taxes tonight. So will District 87. The District 87 levy is expected to increase 8.24% according to the Public Hearing notice: https://go.boarddocs.com/il/district87/Board.nsf/files/CLPP386222AD/$file/Notice%20of%20Public%20Hearing%202022%20Tax%20Levy.pdf Illinois school districts have received more than $7 billion in Elementary and Secondary School Relief Funds (ESSER) to […]
I have to laugh at WJBC
By: Diane Benjamin Notice anything wrong with the picture accompanying the story they posted to Facebook an hour ago? I can think of at least 7 things wrong the pic, how many do you count? I bet WJBC has press credentials! I wonder why?
Unit 5 meeting tomorrow – they are raising property taxes
By: Diane Benjamin https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1482?meeting=559216 The Unit 5 School Board will be raising your taxes over 5%, how much over isn’t in the tax documentation. A Public Hearing is being held before the vote, of course very few of you will show up and tell them what you think. You voted down the referendum so they […]
Normal’s Uptown TIF report, finally
By: Diane Benjamin The Uptown TIF report was not published with the other 4 TIF reports on the Comptroller’s website because it had errors and was returned to Normal for corrections. That information comes directly from an employee at the Comptroller’s office, she didn’t tell me what errors. You can see the report here: https://files.illinoiscomptroller.gov/LocGovTIF/FY2022/06409531/22TIF06409531Downtown_volpment_1.pdf […]
Bloomington recap
By: Diane Benjamin Julie Emig was absent again. Proving Covid is now no big deal, Tim Gleason attended by zoom from the other side of the wall. He stated he had direct exposure to Covid and didn’t want to sit next to other council members and possibly expose them. Remember when people were required to […]
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