upward movement in the economy? maybe by their standards!

They must be drinking the Kool-Aid also!!!!!!!!

let's see now; gas prices are up, food prices are up, all insurance prices are up, state payroll taxes are up, the value of the house is down but the rates went up and I received the benefit of another property tax increase and I've been sitting at the same salary for 3 years so I can keep my job. Never did buy into all that hope and change and now it seems we got more change. Just much less change in the back account and more to everyone else. Not quite grasping the upward swing in the economy myself.

Interesting. LW is starting to talk alot like Obama. Here's the facts. The levy is going up 4.5% and the eav is going up 2%. So guess what, your tax rate will go up and your tax extension (how much you actually pay in taxes) will go up. (This is a goofy story and leads you to think that a 2% growth indicates an economic recovery. Give me a break!) But, unlike the LW spinners I'll be honest, tax extension from LW cannot go up anymore than the cpi or 5% whichever is less. So actually we shouldn't pay that more in taxes to LW. Also LW is actually a pretty good deal for the LW community. That's why it is so frustrating that LW is such a closed camp. Getting clear info from them is almost impossible. The real problem at LW is that it has too many schools and they won't admit it. They could close West or North and save millions of $$$$. They won't do that because they would have to admit that building one of those schools was a mistake. The obvious good move would be to close is West and negotiate a sale to Lockport HS or even a rent deal. Lockport East HS is 7 miles straight north from LW West. What a great deal for both districts. You can be bet if Kruzich or Rosenquist were still in the Supt's seat, this would be done.

"...tax extension from LW cannot go up anymore than the cpi or 5% whichever is less." Can you clarify, is this for Residential Property only?

I'm not in the board room, but I am willing to trust the LW district with their financial decisions. The LW 210 district is one of the best in the state in terms of test scores (and athletics, music, etc.) while spending very little per pupil. That means the district hires effective teachers and spends money wisely on the students. People move to the LW area so their kids can go to school here, which is driving up our home values.

http://www.homesurfer.com/schoolreports/view/schoolrankreports.cfm?state=IL

It sure would be nice to know how much the recently negotiated and board approved new labor agreement between District 210 and the teachers union is going to cost the parents and taxpayers over the life of the agreement. Just a guess but I bet this new agreement has something to do with the tax levy increase.

James...you hit it dead on. Ridiculous.

The home building is going up everywhere and it's not due to an improving economy. Just another variation of the 80's savings and loan scandal. Most new houses are being built on speculation evidenced by the "for sale" signs. The banks make the loans and collect their fees then dump the mortgage on our collective backs. This is how the "fed" is creating a false impression of an improving economy. In reality the "fed" (nothing federal about it, private banking cartel) just adds this new amount of 40 billion$/month (no end to this madness has been announced) to our national debt, plus interest. So far district 210 hasn't paid a penny on the 225million$'s in bonds issued for the two unneeded schools. Only interest. Admittedly more space was needed due to overcrowding but the magnitude of building was way out of proportion. I remember the superintendent pointing to his layouts of future homes that would supposedly justify the new building program. Most of these subdivisions are now empty with nothing but tumbleweeds blowing around. Only a few years ago the total budget was around 60million$. Simple math show almost a 40million increase with nowhere near the corresponding growth to justify the increase. This situation is going to get worse, a lot worse.

For the record I have nothing against superintendent Wyllie. He runs a huge operation that has to be very stressful. He's tough and all things considered does an outstanding job. The thing is I'll never understand why he was so adamant about building these schools. I'm sure he was informed many times that the economy was about to go under but he totally ignored this information. Admittedly superintendent Wyllie is highly intelligent, this begs the question: Why did he not listen to reason and at the very least go with only one smaller school?

It makes me laugh when residents talk about too many schools and then bring up that West should close. Why would they close a brand new school like West and continue to use a rundown,outdated school that Central is? Maybe Central should close and split those kids up between West and East! Sounds like a good plan to me! :)

I vote a big fat NO!

I would like to see the people that are Poff at there assessments and bitch; go the the meeting and cry and bitch. But I guess thats not going to happen, just spend and spend!!!!

Seriously, enough with the talk about West closing, or any LW school closing. It's simply not going to happen. Period. Whether or not it was right in the first place is irrelevant now. 4 schools are open, 4 will continue to run.

This is what I can't figure out. LW has such a relatively low spending per pupil but our taxes (which is made of largely of the School systems) are so high. Is it because of the tax breaks given to the businesses in this area? How do you explain this?

Like said, "the chickens are coming home to roost". If you all want to blame someone blame the ignorant/stupid/unthinking/clueless/soft/weak/self important/ selfish yuppie scum who voted en mass 'YES'. How's your property value going now yuppie scum? When lose your mansion maybe you can move back in with mom and dad after you sell your Yukon's and Range Rover's. Won't be long now.