South Cook News

A nonpartisan taxpayer advocacy group is warning Lynwood residents that a vote for home rule on April 4 is tantamount to voting for a tax increase.

“On November 4, 2014, 60 percent of voters rejected the last attempt by government bureaucrats to impose home rule on the taxpayers of Lynwood,” Jim Tobin, president of Taxpayers United of America, said. “Taxpayers should overwhelming defeat home rule unlimited taxing authority in Lynwood again."

The flier tells Lynwood residents that home rule would allow the village to raise property taxes without approval from voters and with no limits, as well as increasing  taxes on the village’s businesses, services, parking and groceries.

“Home rule always means higher taxes because it removes the cap limiting the amount that bureaucrats can increase property taxes," the advocacy group argued. "It gives bureaucrats a blank check, and how many government bureaucrats would you trust with a blank check bearing your signature?”

The group is calling on five other entities to also reject home rule or tax increases: Coal City, Berwyn South School District 100, Evanston/Skokie Community Consolidated School District 65, Hinsdale Township High School District 86 and Oak Park Elementary School District 97.