By: Diane Benjamin Read this story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2026-09-22/mclean-county-superintendents-say-school-sales-tax-has-made-a-big-impact For now concentrate on Unit 5. The story claims Unit 5 collects more than $1 million a month from the 1% Sales Tax voters approved. Keep in mind the referendum was placed on a ballot for an elections few people bother to vote in – the local election […]
By: Diane Benjamin Of course Beirne wants you to believe he isn’t raising your property taxes. He posted this on his official Facebook page: HAPPY BUDGET SEASON TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE! McLean County’s FY2027 Recommended Budget is a BALANCED $150.42 million plan focused on maintaining core services while controlling discretionary spending and making targeted long-term […]
By: Diane Benjamin Source: https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/109/Filing-an-Assessment-Complaint I copied and sorted the Equalization Factors from that page. They are listed from highest to lowest. Some townships are getting hit really hard. This website has a good explanation of what is happening: https://www.cutmytaxes.com/what-is-illinois-equalization/ The Illinois Department of Revenue conducts their own sales ratio tests on all 101 counties […]
By: Diane Benjamin How many students did Unit 5 have last year? I don’t know because the Illinois Report Card website hasn’t been updated since the 2024-2025 school year. Once again, government transparency doesn’t exist. I do know 2 years ago the district had 12,219 students: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/district.aspx?source=studentcharacteristics&Districtid=17064005026 I FOIA’d Unit 5 for how many they […]
. Property Tax Crisis in Illinois Like a fierce thunderstorm with tornado-force winds, the property tax system in Illinois forces tax payers to take cover wherever they can. Insurance companies scramble to avoid paying claims after a major storm is like JB and his super-majority refusing any and all discussion of property tax reform. In […]
By: Diane Benjamin The first class by Carl Hinshaw teaching homeowners how to protest assessed values was well attended. Carl is doing it again. Whoever set your property value doesn’t get the last word. You can object and win. Carl will show you how. Wednesday October 7th 6-8 pm GOP office – 202 S. Eldorado, […]
By: Diane Benjamin A comment was made on line from a local far leftist about Rivian a couple months ago. He claimed Rivian is an emerging technology and therefore deserves government subsidies. In other words, he believes government is entitled to use your tax dollars to pick winners and losers. What Constitution, laws, or commons […]
By: Diane Benjamin It appears assessed property values will be increasing between 5 and 6% again. Local governments are salivating at the amount of money that will available to them. They will be setting their Tax Levy soon. That is the amount of money they want to collect in property taxes. ANY amount over what […]
By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader The tax levy is the total amount each government board wants to collect the following year. This amount is usually set in late fall. Boards do not set the tax rate but they know about what it will be based on the amount of money they want to collect. […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Tri-Valley School District sent a classy new magazine to all property taxpayers in the district. It is on line too. See it here: https://www.journeytwelve.com/vikingvoyage I read every story, student stories show a lot about opportunities in the district. But one story shows government ideology at its worse: Built With Intention. TV […]
By: Diane Benjamin Previous story, video works now: https://blnnews.com/2026/07/22/normal-township-stolen-land/ I wonder when the Normal Township Board will pass an ordinance returning the Stolen Land to the Indian Tribes mentioned in their monthly reading? It’s pointless to keep reading this every meeting on STOLEN LAND with no intention of giving it back. Sorry, I’m just now […]
By: Diane Benjamin What ideas does Josh have? Keep reading. . Crockett is on the Finance Committee of the Heartland Community College Board. How much have property taxes increased since he was elected? h/t a reader: How do I know Joshua Crockett will raise your property taxes? Because he did as a Heartland Community College […]
By: Diane Benjamin Unit 5 video of the June 23 School Board meeting: https://vimeo.com/event/5178329 The sound is horrible as is the camera angle. I wanted to see if parents of Chiddix students would show up in light of the teacher arrests and investigations. Evidently they didn’t. I did hear Superintendent Weikle’s comments. At 1:03:30 she […]
By: Diane Benjamin 1) For the first time I can remember, the Ecology Action Center has recommended opting out of electric aggregation because you will be paying more if you don’t. This applies to Bloomington and Normal. https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2026-05-27/ecology-action-center-recommends-opting-out-of-electricity-aggregation-this-year I don’t know if it is too late to opt out, see this Bloomington link: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/community/municipal-electric-aggregation Normal: […]
By: Diane Benjamin Sick of high property taxes? The City Council raised your taxes last year after being told they had no choice. The 1% grocery tax was added for the same reason. It’s dire. In the video below, go to 1:37:48 and listen to Sheila Montney. The Finance Director had just finished his report. […]
By: Diane Benjamin 1) Diana Hauman made a drive-by comment to me as she left the data center meeting. She thinks I need to know more about the League of Women Voters before writing about them. I spontaneously burst out laughing! I’ve been writing about the LWV since 2013. See every story at this link: […]
By: Diane Benjamin This property was randomly picked and is the same one from previous stories: https://blnnews.com/2026/04/30/congrats-how-much-is-stolen-from-you-is-posted/ The Bloomington house increases are in this story: https://blnnews.com/2026/05/01/taxing-bodies-in-bloomington-increases/ Total taxes paid in 2025 vrs 2026: . Congrats go to the Normal voters who fell for the “property taxes will go down” if you vote for a 1% […]
By: Diane Benjamin In other words, the new property tax bills have been posted. You will never own your property, you are renting it from government. If you live in the County you will be charged for the airport without a vote by you. Springfield elected officials passed it because Dave Koehler presented it. Taxation […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you aren’t a subscriber to their emails, you should be: Subscribe here Last week the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) released its seminal, annual Rich States, Poor States report, which ranks all 50 states on their economic competitiveness using metrics like total tax burden, labor laws and the cost of debt service. Open […]
By: Diane Benjamin Subscribers: I don’t think the Weekend comics posts was sent on Saturday (WordPress problem!). See it here: https://blnnews.com/2026/04/04/weekend-comic-truth/ Illinois has the highest property tax rates in the country: https://smartasset.com/taxes/illinois-property-tax-calculator Those rates make homes and rental units unaffordable. This year they will be increasing again. The new assessed values for taxes this year […]
By: Diane Benjamin Committee of the Whole was switched to special meeting because one item needs a vote: Remember when BNWRD tried to buy 3 properties and one showed it was owned by the City of Bloomington and not the guy BNWRD thought they were buying it from? https://blnnews.com/2025/12/31/bnwrd-story-6/ Tonight: https://bloomingtonil.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4376/files/attachment/8566 Bloomington is Quit Claiming […]
By: Diane Benjamin There was a long list of emailed Public Comments, a FOIA would be needed to find out what position they were taking. There was also a long line of in-person and phone Public Comments. A few people spoke about IDOT’s plan to add a sidewalk to the north side of Route 9 […]
By: Diane Benjamin Since some Federal Holidays are more important than others, the Bloomington City Council is delaying the Committee of the Whole meeting until tomorrow night. Remember when they met on Columbus day? https://bloomingtonil.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4125/files/agenda/9240 The Council held a retreat in November to set priorities. Of course there is no video since it wasn’t held […]
By: Diane Benjamin In case you forgot, review these stories. The McLean County Public Schools all wanted the 1% Sales Tax to pass, all used the same talking points, and all pointed to the same website to “inform” voters. https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2025-02-11/complaints-filed-over-alleged-political-advocacy-on-school-sales-tax-informational-website https://blnnews.com/2025/07/18/voter-deception-the-1-sales-tax-controversy/ Copied from an email to Dean Fletcher who filed one of the complaints: My […]
By: Diane Benjamin The below is from the Unit 5 agenda last Wednesday: https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1482?meeting=722323 The Board held a Public Hearing on property taxes. This slide was included: . The highlighted number is what they plan on taking from property owners. We know the increase Equalized Assessed Values are mostly due to higher values assigned to […]
By: Diane Benjamin Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is the opposite of meritocracy. Most people believe success has to be earned, not handed out to fill self-imposed quotas. Judging people on the color of their skin is evil. Most people used to know that. The YWCA doesn’t know that. https://www.ywcamclean.org/education-advocacy/ FREE DEI Education The YWCA does […]
By: Diane Benjamin The 7-2 vote last Monday to massively raise property taxes made housing even more unaffordable. Numerous people running for office claim they will lower your taxes. Monday’s vote proved that lying is how you win elections. Bloomington aldermen aren’t the only taxing body grabbing for your wallet. Below is Dan Brady’s campaign […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington Council voted 7-2 to increase property taxes 13.4% last night. The library increased taxes by almost 2%. After a Who’s on First like re-enactment, discussions took place by the Council both during the Public Hearing and before the vote. 7 members swallowed whatever staff fed them, only Alderman Sheila Montney […]
By: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington voted in July to suspend payments to the County for the Behavioral Health Action Plan starting July 1, 2025: Shared Sales Tax suspended Why is this payment listed on Bills and Payroll if payments are suspended? Bills and Payroll 12-15-2025 I’d ask but getting an answer is evidently […]
By: Diane Benjamin A special meeting is being held tonight. Since only the Agenda is posted with NO documentation, it’s likely safe to assume the answer is Yes. https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5453 There is no packet posted explaining what this means: Nothing about property taxes was on the December 1st meeting agenda. Don’t fall for “the rate will […]
By: Diane Benjamin See the comparison to last year and what the township just passed below. The first column came from the County records stating property taxes Normal Township received in 2025: PDF page 7: https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/DocumentCenter/View/30349/Districts-1-100?bidId= The second column came from the Normal Township levy they passed for money they want to receive in 2026 […]
By: Diane Benjamin With all the local taxing bodies raising property taxes, the cost of rent and homes will continue to rise. You are being taxed on unrealized gains. Your home is worth more but you will never see the profit unless you borrow against it or sell your home. Home Equity loans won’t be […]
Most of us show up to vote in presidential years, and that’s good. But too many of us sit out the elections that actually decide who runs McLean County day-to-day: the primaries and the spring local elections for county board, sheriff, circuit clerk, coroner, regional school board, township officials, and even the judges who will […]
By: Diane Benjamin Below is the playbook the far left uses to win elections. Show up everywhere, act like you are everybody’s best friend, pretend being elected isn’t about obtaining power, and saying whatever you have to for votes. See Abby Scott: https://blnnews.com/2025/11/25/bloomington-%f0%9f%a4%a6%e2%99%80%ef%b8%8f/ Of course Abby and her husband Corey Beirne are friends of Krystle’s. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Since October numbers weren’t available when I did this story: https://blnnews.com/2025/11/24/before-bloomington-raises-property-taxes-ask-them-to-explain-this/ Let’s look at them! In that story, for 5 months, Bloomington had already collected $2,434,698 more than in 2024. Half way through the fiscal year, they are already over $3 million more. . Your property taxes and grocery tax HAD to […]
By: Diane Benjamin Next May Bloomington water bills go up to make the trifecta of 100% increase in 3 years complete. All other fees go up 3% every year without a vote. Your property tax bills, courtesy of the City and Library, are also going up. There was an election in April of 2025. Cody […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington Library didn’t get the memo. A $200,000 house last year isn’t assessed at $200,000 this years. They expect you to believe your library tax is going down: . The City of Bloomington was smart enough not to pull that scam: https://blnnews.com/2025/11/22/bloomington-flunked-the-transparency-test/ The City claims that $200,000 house last year is […]
By: Diane Benjamin If corporations kept 2 sets of books, the leaders would be in jail. Bloomington is doing that: https://blnnews.com/2025/11/22/bloomington-flunked-the-transparency-test/ Did you know Bloomington is only paying interest in the Coliseum bonds? If it ever gets paid off the real cost will likely be close to twice what the original cost was. 1 year […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember this post with REAL profit from a show at the BCPA? The show was Adam Wainwright. The event report originally displayed was posted by mistake. That event report actually showed how much he got paid to appear and therefore the TRUE profit. Now go to this page to see the “revised” […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Town used the same tax scam recapped in the previous story: https://blnnews.com/2025/11/20/property-tax-scams/ WGLT gladly played along: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2025-11-18/normal-town-council-discusses-2025-tax-levy-during-sometimes-tense-meeting . That $280,000 home isn’t $280,000 now. Your Town of Normal property tax bill will increase MORE than $48. It would have been nice if Trustee Preston had mentioned that, he didn’t. Worse, they […]
