Tag: 1% County Sales Tax

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

No prosecution, the Unexceptional Rewarded

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 […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Voter Deception: The 1% Sales Tax Controversy

By: Diane Benjamin Remember the 1% Sales Tax approved by voters last March? Remember the investigation into election interference by the school districts? https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/mclean-county-sheriff-investigating-alleged-election-interference The sheriffs office completed their investigation – the report has been sitting in the State’s Attorneys office for awhile now. Does Ericka Reynolds think people are going to forget about it? […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal – find your ballot

By: Diane Benjamin The County elections site allows you to see your ballot:. This is everywhere but Bloomington because County taxpayers are forced to fund their election commission: https://mcleancountyil.gov/2023/Sample-Ballots-Normal Normal also has few choices except for mayor. You can’t chose your At-Large Trustees because 3 are on the ballot to fill 3 seats. Your don’t […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Update: 3 Things You Need to Know

See #2. Sharon Chung thinks Illinois corruption is over. She’s funny: https://www.nprillinois.org/illinois/2025-02-13/central-illinois-lawmakers-react-to-former-house-speaker-madigans-guilty-verdict By: Diane Benjamin 1) Continuation of this story: https://blnnews.com/2025/02/13/unit-5-staff-only-meetings-1-sales-tax/ Video of the “staff only” meetings concerning the 1% Salters Tax increase will not exist. I received the response below to that part of a FOIA request: Diane, There are no public records responsive […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Unit 5 Staff Only meetings: 1% Sales Tax

By: Diane Benjamin H/T a reader: . Why are “staff only” meetings scheduled? Isn’t everything “staff” needs to know on the website? https://april1cent.info/ We still don ‘t know who paid for that site, WGLT forgot to ask. https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2025-02-11/complaints-filed-over-alleged-political-advocacy-on-school-sales-tax-informational-website I filed a FOIA this morning on the meetings. Sometimes I get a same day response from […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Vote NO – 1% Sales Tax

By: Diane Benjamin https://april1cent.info/ That URL is linked from the District 87 website. Probably other area schools linked it too. It claims 35% of the new tax will be paid by people who visit or commute to McLean County. It DOES NOT promise lower property taxes. It says the new revenue can be used for: […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Nonpartisan local elections?

By: Diane Benjamin Are these the type of expenses donors expect in a nonpartisan election? Act Blue is under investigation for fraudulent contributions to national campaigns: https://republicans-cha.house.gov/2024/12/chairman-steil-releases-findings-from-subpoena-of-actblue Do donors want their contributions going to the McLean County Democrats? From the donor list for this candidate they probably don’t care: https://www.illinoissunshine.org/committees/39051/ If you haven’t figured it […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Epic Illinois fail

By: Diane Benjamin From the Illinois Constitution: https://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con10.htm . Pull out last year’s property tax bill. The State of Illinois isn’t the primary funder of public education. You are. Next year’s property tax bill will be even worse. Add to that a 1% Sales tax increase the schools want you to vote for April 1st. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Local Schools ready to Screw taxpayers April 1st

By: Diane Benjamin Since most registered voters won’t even know there is an election April 1st, this will be on the ballot. Dist 87 meeting tomorrow: https://district87.diligent.community/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=287 From a reader: Let’s examine the numbers. District 87 enrollment has declined from 6,528 students in 2018 to 6,120 in 2024, a 6.2% decrease. Despite this, spending per […]