News from Representative Randy Ramey District 55 - Republican
	Contact	1883 N. Neltnor Blvd. (Rt. 59)	213-N Stratton Building
		West Chicago, IL 60185	Springfield, IL 62706
	Phone:	630-876-0703	Phone : 217-558-1037
	Fax:	630-231-3742	Fax:  217-558-1037
		STATEREPRAMEY55@aol.com
For Immediate Release
Date:  Nov 16, 2005

Ramey supports bill to make
referendum process easier for taxpayers to understand

West Chicago, IL…State Rep. Randy Ramey (R-St. Charles) is co-sponsoring a bill that will make it easier for taxpayers to identify the increase they will pay in more taxes when school districts ask for additional funds through a voter referendum.

SB 1682 amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law of the Property Tax Code and serves as a platform for officials to calculate a new method for school districts to use when increasing property taxes after a referendum has passed.

“The current formula that is used by school districts to explain their tax hikes and what they will mean to taxpayers is very confusing and often times it does not actually represent the amount of money that taxpayers will pay,” Ramey said. “Many school districts that have passed successful referendums have cost taxpayers a lot more than what was originally explained in the initial selling process.”

The legislation illuminates exact costs so that a request for a 10-cent per $100 of equalized assessed valuation would mean exactly that, not 10 cents per year for up to five years. With this new clarity, referendum requests would be easier to comprehend, Ramey said.

In addition, the new legislation would also loosen restrictions on how school districts can use the money that they receive through referendum requests.

“This new legislation allows taxpayers to know the exact cost to them and the school district would have more freedom to use the money where they most need it as long as it is within legal limits, “Ramey said. “In the end, this measure helps everybody involved, and I will push for this legislation to be passed this Spring.”

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