Daily Archives: October 30, 2008

2008 Campaign

More endorsements for Schock

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From a press release:

Aaron Schock Earns Support from 9 Unions

(PEORIA) Representative Aaron Schock picked up the support of nine unions in his bid to succeed Ray LaHood as Congressman for the 18th District.

The unions include:

  • National Education Association, NEA, the largest union representing teachers in the 18th District
  • Illinois Education Association, IEA
  • The International Union of Operating Engineers
  • The National Association of Police Organizations, NAPO
  • The Illinois Police Benevolent and Protective Union
  • The Peoria Police Benevolent and Protective Union
  • The International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO, FIREPAC
  • United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners
  • Airline Pilots Association International Union

In issuing their endorsement, the NEA wrote to Schock saying, “The NEA and IEA are proud to support the election of federal candidates, like you, who measure up to the issues that most concern our members.

The NEA and IEA are the union representing the largest number of teachers in the 18th District.

Schock recently was the keynote speaker at the Illinois Police Benevolent and Protective Union’s annual convention in Springfield earlier this month. He received a warm welcome and rousing ovation for his remarks to the members and the leaders held a news conference with Schock announcing their endorsement.

NAPO represents more than 2,000 police unions and associations, 241,000 sworn law enforcement officers, 11,000 retired officers and more than 100,000 citizens who share a common dedication to fair and effective crime control and law enforcement.

The International Union of Operating Engineers; the Carpenters Legislative Improvement Committee of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners; the National Education Association’s NEA Fund, and the International Association of Fire Fighters AFL-CIO FIREPAC also sent the maximum allowable $5,000 contribution to Schock’s campaign fund.

“I am honored to have the support of working men and women and the support of these organized labor unions,” said Schock. “I had a productive relationship with union representatives as a State Representative and my door will always be open as I try my very best to represent all the people of the 18th District.”

City of Peoria, Taxes

Are downtown properties underassessed?

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While I was looking at some property information on Main Street, I noticed a disparity between the assessed value of the property and what actual sales have been. Here are the properties adjacent to the Pere Marquette on Main:

Property ID Address Assessed Value 2007 Taxes
1809206011 533 Main $14,280.00 $1,174.82
1809206012 531 Main $178,700.00 $14,701.58
1809206013 527-529 Main $87,580.00 $7,205.18
1809206014 519 Main $58,780.00 $4,835.82
TOTAL $339,340.00 $27,917.40

That gives those properties, according to the tax assessor, a fair market value of $1,018,020 (i.e., three times the assessed value). However, also according to the assessor, these four properties were sold for $1.05 million in 1997, and $1.5 million in 2004. So the current assessed value is lower than the properties were worth over 10 years ago, and a half-million dollars lower than they were worth four years ago. Underassessment means lost revenue to the city as well as the county.

Are we talking about a lot of money in lost tax receipts here? Maybe not one year from just these four properties (although every little bit helps when the city is looking at a $2.2 million deficit). But over time, it adds up.

And what if this isn’t an anomaly? What if other downtown properties are underassessed? I think it’s worth investigating, especially with the city in need of extra money and contemplating raising taxes and fees. Why shouldn’t downtown property holders pay their fair share?

General News, St. Louis Cardinals

Congrats to the Phillies

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Last night, the Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series for the second time in their 126-year franchise history by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3. The game actually started Monday night, but ended up getting suspended in the middle of the sixth inning due to rain. The Phillies beat the Rays four games to one in the best-of-seven series.

So ends the 2008 baseball season. Hopefully the Cardinals will make some key acquisitions in the off-season and return to the World Series next year.