References:

TheChampion.org
- D2 Salaries 2002-2003
- D2 Salaries 2001-2002

D2 NMS Report Cards

Blueprint for progress-Solutions at the State level

Download CRAFT Referendum Calculator
See how much you will have to pay.

NoReferendum.org

CAUSE 4 Kids - D2

Questions, Comments, please e-mail or call us!!
Bill Russin - 815.678.2053

Richmond & Spring Grove - Vote NO
March 16, 2004 - Nippersink D2 Referendum
Bill Russin Committee Chair - Citizens for Reasonable And Fair Taxes - 815.678.2053
5 Simple Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Vote Yes to Raise Your Taxes
(Information updated 02/10/04)

• George Zimmer's (D2 Superintendent) salary went up from $91,526 in 1998 to $159,742 in 2003. This is a 74.53% increase. That works out to a $437.65 each and every day, 365 days a year. Mr. Zimmer did freeze his salary for one year. Who pays? You do.
• Our kids were not thought about when all administrators received 60 extra paid sick days (instead of a raise). This is all at the tax payer and our kids' expense!
• Administrators salaries went up an average of 31.6% from 1998 to 2003.
• Teachers salaries went up an average of 38.3% from 1998 to 2003.
• 75% of your property taxes go to fund schools (the costs for the new high school will start to appear on your 2006 tax bill increasing this percentage).
• D2's revenue from property taxes rose by 78% between 1998 and 2003, while enrollment was only up by 18%. Educational spending per pupil rose by 135% during this period.
• Mr. Zimmer reported that the state ranks dead last when it comes to funding education, but he fails to report that Illinois is second in local funding from property taxes. In fact, of the 8 states with populations of 10 million or more, Illinois is ranked SECOND in per capita expenditures for K-12 schools.
• As long as our school board continues to give raises far above the cost of living, requests for referendums will NOT stop and over spending will continue year after year. Because of this overspending, our D2 school board (02/04 meeting) had to borrow money for 5 months, which will cost the taxpayers $30,000+ in interest.
• Our school board fails to take into account that taxpayers (those who have stayed employed) received on average 3% raise (if they got a raise at all), and people living on social security only received a 2.1% increase.
• Health care costs are rising for all job sectors, and private sector employees are required to pay a greater portion of their insurance premiums. Teachers and administrators are not taking their fair share of responsibility to ease education costs by paying any portion of their own insurance premiums. This past year the school board switched District 2 staff to a more expensive plan.
• Mr. Zimmer likes the gravy train this district has put him on so much so, that he wrote a personal check for $250.00 to the Pro Tax Committee to fund pushing this referendum on the tax payers of D2.
• Teachers collectively bargain for a raise, but they do not collectively bargain to save individual teacher jobs by collectively bargaining to take a pay reduction to a salary the tax payers can afford.
• Teachers receive a raise every year based on years of service, regardless of whether an education referendum passed that year and regardless of performance.
• Our D2 school board and superintendent blames the teachers and state government for our "financial mess". This is a spending problem, not a revenue problem.

Please take a minute to think about the 5 simple questions below before you vote to raise your taxes. If you have any questions or would like more information, PLEASE contact us - Bill Russin - Committee Chair - 815.678.2053.

5 Simple Questions to Ask Before You Vote Yes to Raise Your Taxes
(Back To Top)

1. Am I putting away enough money for my retirement so I can take care of myself and family?
2. Am I putting away enough (or any) money for my children's college education?
3. If I lose my job, do I have 6 months salary saved to get me and my family through until I find a job?
4. Do I have enough money saved if I have to pay for my own health insurance if I lose my job?
5. As a tax payer can I afford to keep supporting raises like the one George Zimmer received last year (16% increase or $22,000 in salary and benefits last year over prior year)? - see www.TheChampion.org for salary information!

*Mr. Eakright retired from Lake Zurich in 1999 making $146,117 for his last year of teaching.
- This chart only includes the top 5 Administrators in D2

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