Local youth programs receive big boost

By LAKE COUNTY JOURNALS   
July 31st, 2008       

GRAYSLAKE – State Rep. Sandy Cole, R-Grayslake, has announced that $87,000 in state grants have been released in the 62nd District for community youth projects.

The Oasis, Grayslake’s new community youth center, received $75,000 to replace a leaky roof and help to pay the renovation expenses incurred from an unexpected asbestos abatement of the building that houses the center.

“Receiving this grant is the icing on the cake," said Joyce Campbell in a release. Campbell helped make the youth center a reality.

"Hundreds of people in Grayslake and surrounding communities have put time, money and effort into building The Oasis/The Grayslake Youth Center NFP, Inc, to provide our teens a safe and sane place to go after school and on weekends,” she said. “This money ensures our teens will have a sound and secure building for years to come. For all the students who have dreamed of this for years, this is proof that dreams really do come true. All of us at The Oasis are grateful for Representative Cole's determination to assist in making those dreams come true.”

In addition, the Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center received a $12,000 grant for the purchase of programming equipment for the center’s summer youth camps.

“Representative Cole recognized the need for equipment that will help empower our children, and she worked hard to get it for our community,” said Judy Armstrong, president of the Cultural and Civic Center Foundation.

The grants were part of $600,000 in funding, secured by Cole, for the Grayslake, Gurnee, Hainesville, Wildwood, Grandwood Park, Long Lake, Round Lake Beach and Round Lake Park areas. The designated funding for 12 local community projects was part of the 2008 budget agreement adopted by the Illinois General Assembly on Aug. 10, 2007.

“I am very happy to have obtained these funds on behalf of The Oasis and the Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center,” Cole said. “Youth programs are an important part of our community, and these grants will help to provide safe and fun places for our children when they are not in school.”

Town Hall Meeting, March 31, 2008

 

Taxes, State Budget, Recession, Unemployment, Ethics Reform

Two state representatives teamed up for a town hall meeting Monday at Lakes Community High School in Lake Villa, discussing a wide range of topics like taxes, road improvements and health care.

Sandy Cole, R-62nd of Grayslake, and JoAnn Osmond, R-61st of Antioch, gave a joint presentation and fielded questions from audience members.

» Click to enlarge image

State Rep. JoAnn Osmond (right) speaks to the audience as State Rep. Sandy Cole looks on during a town hall meeting Monday at Lakes Community High School.
(Joe Shuman/For Pioneer Press)

Both representatives criticized Gov. Rod Blagojevich and painted a bleak picture of state finances.

"The state government has a spending problem with not enough revenue to meet its needs," Cole said.

"The state budget is based on a revenue estimate of $30 billion. The weakened economy has resulted in fewer dollars than expected coming into the state. Now the state is facing a $750 million revenue shortfall for 2008," Cole continued.

According to Cole, structural deficit, caused by increased spending on failed revenue sources, borrowing and one-time gimmicks will worsen in 2009.

As unemployment has risen from 4 percent in 2006 to 5.2 percent in 2007, and Illinois has lost nearly 200,000 manufacturing jobs since 2000, the representatives blamed democratic programs.

Osmond said the democratic agenda adds up to more taxes on payroll, income, sales, services, gross receipts tax, more borrowing, unsustainable spending, unpaid bills and structural deficit.

Resident Diana Camp of Antioch, a democrat, said she had been to two other town hall meetings but found this one particularly negative towards democrats.

"I felt very abashed here," Camp said.

Cole and Osmond expect the state government news for 2009 not to be much better. Revenue is estimated to be $450 million while spending pressures for education, human services, insurance, labor contracts, pensions and Medicaid total $2.2 billion.

They said the republican agenda includes a "statewide program of at least $10 billion of capital investment in Illinois' infrastructure, including schools, roads, higher education, mass transit and public safety."

Tax relief measures were proposed but funding mechanisms were not explained.

Audience members asked various questions or gave comments for about an hour.

Bill Holland of Lake Villa asked if the representatives would favor the tax swap proposals designed to reduce the reliance on property taxes for schools.

He said he favored "a combination of property tax relief and income tax increase. Our system makes no sense. Our tax structure is crazy."

Osmond and Cole, however, both said they had problems with House Bill 750 and Senate Bill 2288, which are two names for the same plan which propose a tax swap.

"That would only benefit Cook County," Cole said. "It would take money away from Lake County."

Holland persisted about wanting some revision to the tax structure.

"What about going to a graduated income tax like they have in other states, instead of a flat income tax like we have in Illinois?" Holland asked.

Cole said that had been studied but the cutoff levels for the higher taxes were problematic and that the idea was not good for business.

Jay Sabatino, superintendent of Community High School District 117, said he strongly favored the capital spending bill to pay for infrastructure improvements at schools and throughout the state.

"The bigger picture is how to help the entire infrastructure, along with the schools," Sabatino said.

Cole agreed, but said the funding for the capital projects was currently tied to expansion of gambling.

"Do you support four more casinos in Illinois?" she asked.

"Gambling is a risk," Sabatino answered.

Osmond said she does not support more casinos.

"Do I support more casinos? No," she said. "I've been fighting the Kenosha casino proposal for three years. No one studied what problems that would cause in our towns. I don't feel gaming is the answer to our problems."

Osmond and Cole criticized the governor for using money appropriated for programs such as road improvements to fund other items such as health care.

Osmond said some positive bills have been blocked by democratic leaders. She told how she tried to get a bill passed for Iraq service men and women could receive a 50 percent reduction in property taxes if they settled in Illinois when they returned.

"The bill had bi-partisan support but it was never called," Osmond said . "It never saw the light of day. It's very frustrating when you try to do something positive and are blocked."

Some audience members asked about universal health care, which Osmond said there is no funding for.

"I don't believe in universal health care," said Sylvia Abercrombie of Round Lake Beach. "I think everybody should have it, but they should pay for it themselves."