West Cook News

A property tax protest in South Berwyn is the first step to citizens rejecting yet another levy raise, according to Taxpayers United of America (TUA) Founder and President Jim Tobin.

Berwyn School District 100 passed a property tax increase referendum last year with an estimated increase of $300 for an average homeowner, Tobin recently told West Cook News.

“Well, they lied, and homeowners are getting hammered with property tax increases much higher than $300, and most of it is coming from District 100,” Tobin said. “That is why we are having the meeting Monday night.”

Tobin said he is expecting a strong turnout July 23 in the Berwyn Police Station's Community Room. 

“There is a lot of interest on social media and we also have people handing out fliers to homeowners in South Berwyn,” he said.

The protest is not just about property taxes, residents will also be discussing the rise in income tax as well, Tobin said.

“The pensions are outrageous, and they are funded with income tax,” he said. “It is going to outrage people on Monday to find out people are getting extraordinary pensions at $50,000 to $100,000.”

Pensions are the singular cause of Illinois' financial crisis, according to Tobin. 

“We want everyone to know it is not just a problem in District 100,” he said. “Most people don’t have any idea government retirees are getting pensions of $100,000 or more.”

In the six-state pension fund, more than 19,000 retirees are receiving pensions over $100,000 annually, Tobin said.

“That is another point I will be making Monday,” he said. “We have to work into our 60s and 70s so these people can retire in their 50s or early 60s and live the life of Reilly.”

Though incumbent Springfield politicians' answer to state debt is further property and income-tax increases, TUA has actual solutions, Tobin said. He also said cutting pensions and allowing counties and cities to declare bankruptcy are two immediate answers.

“If they just sit back and do the same thing, more and more people will leave Illinois,” he said. “But there are things we can do.”

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Monday, July 23 at 6401 31 St., Berwyn.