While conceptually we are in complete agreement with the concept of government consolidation, we’ve been critical of the manner in which the attempts have been made to consolidate the Naperville Township Road District with Naperville and, more recently, the Lisle Township Road District. We also believe the communication surrounding the binding referendum on the ballot for April 4th has left much to be desired.
On February 18th, we made the point that despite statements from Kevin Coyne and Rachel Ossyra that real estate taxes would be lowered in both Naperville Township and Lisle Township, taxes would actually increase in Naperville Township and decrease in Lisle Township.
On February 23rd, after our post, Kevin Coyne made a lengthy post on his campaign Facebook page regarding the proposed consolidation, writing "This merger is a huge win for everyone in either township"and “Much more information and detail is coming. Unlike the critics, our information will be put forth with people’s names and their credentials clearly stated. “
On March 22nd, the Daily Herald endorsed the proposed consolidation, stating “Even supporters admit this is not a perfect plan, and there will be bumps along the way. Tax rates for road services in Naperville Township, for example, will go up, although officials say they will work to mitigate that increase by selling assets and drawing down reserves during the transition period.” The Herald summarized their endorsement with: “But in the end, this is an experiment in consolidation worth pursuing. We urge a yes vote”
So the Herald considers it an experiment worth pursuing, while stating that the tax rates in Naperville Township “will go up”, with officials saying they will work to “mitigate” that increase.
On March 29th, Kevin Coyne posted the above link to the March 22nd Daily Herald article urging a yes vote on his campaign Facebook page, noting that the Herald endorsed the merger.
So let’s summarize:
The proposed consolidation was going to save money for residents in both Lisle Township and Naperville Township, according to Kevin Coyne and Rachel Ossyra.
On February 18th, we presented a clear, numbers-driven reason why taxes would increase in Naperville Township and decrease in Lisle Township.
On February 23rd, Kevin Coyne posted on his campaign Facebook page that “false information” was being spread and that “this merger is a huge win for everyone in either township.” He also wrote “much more information and detail is coming".
On March 22nd, the Daily Herald wrote “We urge a yes vote” as “an experiment in consolidation worth pursuing,” while unequivocally stating that taxes in Naperville Township “will go up” and “officials say they will work to mitigate that increase.”(Mitigate, per Merriam-Webster: to make less severe, harmful or painful.)
On March 29th, Kevin Coyne posted a link to the March 22nd Herald article on his campaign Facebook page, highlighting the Herald’s “We urge a yes vote” while ignoring that the same Herald article directly states that “Tax rates for road services in Naperville Township, for example, will go up.” (Similar to pointing to a slight property tax reduction while ignoring much larger increases in water, electric, refuse and a new sales tax.)
The “much more information and detail is coming…with people’s names and their credentials clearly stated” from February 23rd is still coming over 5 weeks later, with a couple of days to go to the election.
So which is it? "This merger is a huge win for everyone in either township” with the tax increase in Naperville Township from the merger “false information”? Or is the Herald correct in its assertion that taxes in Naperville Township “will go up” with elected officials working “to mitigate,” or make less painful, the increase in Naperville Township?
We’ve been accused of personal attacks on Kevin Coyne and some others, and suspect we will be once again after this post. We fail to see how pointing out an elected official’s own words and actions qualifies as a personal attack. We believe elected officials should be held accountable, and if one of their campaign pillars reads like the above, people going to vote on Tuesday should be aware of it.
Election day on Tuesday is your day. Make it count.
