Ides of March

POLITICAL MARCH MADNESS

The Ides of March came early this year.  Obama and the Republicans in Congress are unable to crossover and unlock the gridlock of sequestration in the Tidal Basin of Washington.  Therein lies the problem of re-electing a president for four more years who could not lead from within the beltway and could not take action because he's just sitting pretty in his executive office.  The American people, at least the 47 % of Republicans and Conservatives are holding their horses because they have been forewarned:

• Obama's tax hike will shrink the economy by 1.3%
• Obama's debt: $4,000 in higher taxes on middle-class families
• Obama's small business tax hike threatens 710,000 jobs
• Obamacare will raise taxes on nearly 5 million middle-class Americans by 2016

Death and Taxes - No way out but out!

As an Illinois homeowner I just paid the first installment of my very high property tax that was due March 1st.  If you don't have a secure job don't be enticed in buying a house you see in ads or applying because of low mortgage rate of 2%.  You will be in dire strait if you do.  Why so?  You have to pay for many things - house and family insurance, house maintenance, and other miscellaneous expenses, unexpected or expected.  It's really not worth it because you're paying double (mortgage + property tax).  Yes, I know who shares the property taxes I've paid the government - however this doesn't prevent me from whining:

COOK COUNTY TAXES

Cook County Forest Preserve District

Consolidated Elections

County of Cook

Cook County Public Safety

Cook County Health Facilities

SCHOOL TAXES

School District CC 65
Evanston Twp High School Dist 202
Oakton Community College Dist 535

MUNICIPALITY/TOWNSHIP TAXES
Skokie Library Fund
Village of Skokie
Road & Bridge Niles
General Assistance Niles
Town Niles

MISCELLANEOUS TAXES
Skokie Park District
Metro Water Reclamation District
North Shore Mosquito Abatement

My only consolation as a taxpayer in comparing with other Illinois counties,  the Niles Township and Village of Skokie are doing a pretty good job of managing and using the taxes I paid.