As reported today in the Kane County Chronicle, the Village Attorney keeps giving bad advice to all of the administrators in Campton. O - for ____________ goes the attorney. O as in "Oh" as in zero. VOTE YES TO DISSOLVE CAMTON HILLS ON NOVEMBER 4TH. MY COMMENTS ARE INTERSPERSED AND UNDERLINED THROUGHOUT. SAVE YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR PROPERTY VALUES...VOTE YES TO DISSOLVE CAMPTON.
How much would dissolving Campton Hills cost?
By BRENDA SCHORY - bschory@kcchronicle.com 
Comments (39 comment(s))<!--[component:schoolicons]<br />-->CAMPTON HILLS - Here's a shot of irony for Campton Hills: Many residents said they did not want a village because they feared a property tax.
Village President Patsy Smith warned that the village might have to impose a property tax to pay unsettled debt if voters on Tuesday decide they want the village dissolved.
Campton Hills was created by referendum 18 months ago. On Tuesday, voters get to decide whether they want to keep the village or dissolve it. The village has no property tax and pays its bills through state-shared revenue based on population.
"Because the village is new and has not had time to build up a cash reserve, the leaders will have to levy a tax to pay any outstanding debts that remain after all assets are liquidated," Smith said.
But the village's obligations would be more than $320,000, according to information provided by Smith.
These include about $160,000 for the remaining two years of the police chief's contract, a $140,000 loan taken out to pay for the special census, $2,700 a month rent and related costs on the village hall through June. WHAT AMAZES ME IS THAT, KNOWING THAT THERE'D BE PUSH BACK, IE, THE CITIZENS WANT TO DISSOLVE THE VILLAGE, PATSY SIGNS LONG CONTRACTS AND PAYS A BUCK FORTY VIA A LOAN TO TAKE A STUPID CENSUS.
What looms as unknown costs are legal bills from September and October, unemployment benefits and police pension obligations. Smith said no one has figured these out.
But village foes and state officials say Campton Hills cannot levy a property tax without voter approval by referendum - even if the voters choose to dissolve the new village.
"The Property Tax Extension Limitation Act says property owners have some say in how you're taxed," Illinois Department of Revenue spokesman Mike Klemens said. "And one of the sections says before you can extend or levy a new tax, you have to go to the voters. That's our advice. I don't know how a court might rule."
Make that a double shot of irony: If the village is dissolved, there won't be a village to ask voters for permission to impose a property tax. THIS IS ALL THE MORE REASON TO DISSOLVE THE VILLAGE!!!
Chris Baldwin, a leader in the anti-village movement, said he does not believe the property tax threat is real.
"The law says, ‘They may levy and collect taxes for the purpose of paying the debts.' " Baldwin said. "That's only if they have a tax rate - and the village does not have a tax rate. There is no special assessment; there is no tax they can levy."
Instead, Baldwin said, if the village dissolves, it would be nearly the same as a corporate bankruptcy where assets are distributed to debtors.
But village attorney William Braithwaite said both are wrong. HE ACTS AS IF THE REST OF THE WORLD IS IS WRONG AND KEEPS GIVING STUPID ADVICE TO PATSY AND HER KRONIES THAT INVARIABLY COST THE PEOPLE WHO WANT OUT OF CAMPTON MORE MONEY. SOOOOOOOOOOO STUPID!
"The department of revenue is not the one calling the shots here," Braithwaite said. "A court is not going to allow the village's obligations to go unpaid. The persons to whom the village is indebted ... have constitutional property rights, which would certainly override the tax cap statute. It just defies common sense that creditors would be left holding the bag."
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Foxmill wrote on Nov 2, 2008 5:40 AM: " Again Mr. Braithwaite says everyone one is wrong, who has lost every court case
Second lets say we have to pay off the bills of say $500,000 high side divide that by the 3500 homes = $142 per home
That is cheap to get rid of this wastefull incompitent governement, if we don't VCH will give Mr. Braithwaite another $700,000 next year to continue to lose
Maybe we should keep the Village so Patsy can continue to use our money to illegaly fight the Alpacas
DISSOLVE VCH ON TUESDAY "
Eagle wrote on Nov 2, 2008 6:24 AM: " Sound like scare tactics to me! How many times have we heard from the village, that they "can not tax residents" without their approval. Here we go again another flip-flop!
Vote YES on Tuesday! "
Grey Ghost wrote on Nov 2, 2008 6:37 AM: " The village is a municipal Incorporation, and would be treated similar to a business.
When a business goes out of business, the courts will decide who get paid, and at what level. People may only get 30 cents on the dollar they are owed. The building owners would loose the potential of the remaining 7 months of rent. Then they could rent the building out earlier, and at a higher cost.
The police contracts may be reduced by some amount, or could be cancelled all together. The courts will decide!
Remember, you can only get so much blood out a turnips "
CheapThrills wrote on Nov 2, 2008 6:49 AM: " Patsy Smith used scare tactics and an off year special election to push an agenda that the majority of unincorporated Campton Township residents didn't even vote on.
Well, here we are again. Patsy Smith is trying to scare us into thinking we will have a tax levied on us if we throw her out of a job. So what! I'll take the one time hit rather than pay the additional two thousand dollars a year that I am paying in increased property taxes just to be a part of the VOCH. I won't even mind paying Patsy's unemployment benefits! "
BS with PS wrote on Nov 2, 2008 6:56 AM: " But village attorney William Braithwaite said both are wrong.
Why cant we get a total of whats due from the village attorney? again to keep you in the dark!!
When the cheif of police was hired who heard about a contract?
Lets see it!!!
His two year contract should be done
sept of 2009.
more bs
and ps
Vote yes to dissolve "
It Time to Leave wrote on Nov 2, 2008 7:00 AM: " Where do I send the $142 to!
Vote YES on Tuesday "
BS with PS wrote on Nov 2, 2008 7:04 AM: " Vote yes to Dissolve
if you want to keep your
Horses
Real estate value
St Charles address
Tax dollars
Trick or treat hours
no village car stickers
Lower impact fees
zoning rules
and peace on earth
Vote yes to dissolve "
BS with PS wrote on Nov 2, 2008 7:17 AM: " But village foes and)( STATE OFFICIALS say Campton Hills cannot levy a property tax without voter approval by referendum - even if the voters choose to dissolve the new village.
State OFFICIALS!!!!!!!!
What looms as unknown costs are legal bills from September and October, unemployment benefits and police pension obligations. Smith said no one has figured these out.
WHY NOT PATSY!!!
Why were you still hiring police 5 weeks ago!!!! "
rico wrote on Nov 2, 2008 7:19 AM: " It just seems like it was yesterday that Baldwin was warning, everyone that would listen, that the village was going to tax us to death. He's changed his tune for some reason. Oh, it benefits his cause now. How convenient. "
Eagle wrote on Nov 2, 2008 7:27 AM: " I read smewhere he had a 3 yr contract. But I'm not sure! "
Want2BFree wrote on Nov 2, 2008 7:58 AM: " I was going to say it amazes me that a public official cannot tell us the costs. But after all the BS that has been flying about the past couple of weeks, I'm really not that surprised. Someone on another story blog said they live down the street from PS and have never heard the truth come out of her mouth. That she needs a hobby. I agree! I don't think the future of the citizens here should be her hobby! PS - take a class and bother someone else. "
wallsteet wrote on Nov 2, 2008 7:58 AM: " If the Village used the tax dollars for planning and debt. reduction we would owe nothing now. and i wonder if it would even be up for consideration to dissolve
I est. with what we have paid in legal fees and what the attorney will bill for the last 2 months. the legal fees will add 500k more to the debt (Estimate only)
Lets see how close I am
Funny thing is that without the legal!! we would owe NOTHING!!
Vote yes to Dissolve "
wallstreet wrote on Nov 2, 2008 8:09 AM: " We owe legal for
Dissconnect cases
motions
block voters rights
patsy press releases
village meetings
alpacas
zoning
horses
village clerk
more motions
more motions
more motions
Get It
Vote yes to dissolve "
Eagle wrote on Nov 2, 2008 8:13 AM: " Regarding the cost to dissolve. Acording to the IL Dept of Revenue says ZERO, since VCH is still under PTEL village can't levy any taxs without going to voters.
Of course Village Attorney thinks the IL department of Revenue is wrong, (sounds familiar) he thinks indebtors have a constitutional property right. He says it defies common sense. Since when has this Village and their legal staff used common sense? "
JustSayin wrote on Nov 2, 2008 8:55 AM: " If Mr. Braithwaite really knows what the courts are going to do why did he spend so much time and money on the losing side of arguments? "
Eagle wrote on Nov 2, 2008 8:58 AM: " JSI - That's very easy. It's $$$ in his law firms coffers. It's easy money for them. "
soontobefree wrote on Nov 2, 2008 9:01 AM: " More lies from the village!! If anyone read the flier about undeveloped land in 303 they list the anderson property. This property has sold its developement rights to campton township. How many more untruths are in the flier? "
Want2BFree wrote on Nov 2, 2008 9:05 AM: " The real question here is WHAT DOES NOT DISSOLVING VCH COST? Seems like a lot more that it would if it doesn't dissolve. The lawyer fees alone are ridiculous. Come on, is it fair to be spending tax payers money for a fight that most folks are on the other side? We're paying taxes towards a lawyer to fight to keep us in and then more $$ out of our pockets for a lawyer to get us out. Where is the justice here? I think VCH should reimburse us all!! VOTE YES!!!! DISSOLVE!!! "
Wasco1 wrote on Nov 2, 2008 9:19 AM: " Wow, what a load of bs from VOCH. A vote to dissolve does not turn off the light switch the next day.
The village should 'levy' a malpractice lawsuit against their own legal team for taking on expensive cases without basis (wsd), attempting to prevent elected officials from attending meetings or doing their job (clerk), and wasting so very much taxpayer money suing taxpayers unsuccessfully.
Good bye and good riddance voch. "
goldnpaw wrote on Nov 2, 2008 9:33 AM: " I received another "pro" mailing. Unfortunately the first thing I read was "cost to dissolve"...I was furious! I ran a 36 million dollar division of a large company. I have also run start up divisions with little revenues....you don't go on a "shopping spree" when you are starting out...especially if there is what appears to be a large contingent of people who may dissent! This really looks like poor management. Contract for employees? BS. Unemployment? BS, legal fees? Ms. Smith can handle those herself. This is very poor leadership. "
BS with PS wrote on Nov 2, 2008 11:50 AM: " How much Private $$$$$ was spent to win dissconnects from the village?
And that was spent to fight the Village .
And according to State law, The dissconnects have the right to leave ,how about a refund for the people???
NOOOOOOOOOOO
I said they should not leave lets fight them
Good job Patsy
vote yes "
want2BFree wrote on Nov 2, 2008 12:04 PM: " Boy do I hope this dissolves. You pro people are drunk on the KoolAid! Time to sober up and realize what's going on. This whole thing is bad for everyone EXCEPT Patsy! She's spending unwisely. She's hiring more people that will need to be paid for without commercial revenue. Here come the taxes!! Oh yes - there is a line for taxes on your bill - it's just not filled in yet. Wait til the next bill!
VOTE YES! VOTE YES! VOTE YES! DISSSOLVE THE VILLAGE!!!! "
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