Moylan Fails to Protect Our Schools and Taxpayers

Moylan Fails to Protect Our Schools
Property Taxes to Rise

GOP Candidate Mel Thillens is calling out State Representative Marty Moylan (D-55th) for his failure to show support for suburban taxpayers and school districts which could get slammed with a new tax burden for years to come.

“Why has Moylan failed to co-sponsor House Resolution 1267 introduced this week in Springfield when he claims to be a friend of suburban taxpayers?” Thillens asks. “He is clearly siding with Chicago Democrats and House Speaker Mike Madigan in not fighting the proposed educational pension cost shift from the State to local school districts that was worked out during secret meeting held by Madigan this summer.”

Thillens notes that this week it was leaked that Moylan’s main campaign sponsor, Michael Madigan, is holding secret meetings on school funding. He says, “Democrats are crafting a plan to pull millions of dollars from our kids’ schools and raise our property taxes.”

Thillens urges Moylan to sign onto the bill and commit to oppose the sway of this enormous tax burden. He can start by being a co-sponsor of HR1267 of the General Assembly to show his support.

“Moylan needs to stop playing politics and fight against the proposed cost shift which is financially wrong and would only serve to shift the pension burden from the State essentially as an unfunded mandate which our local schools cannot afford,” Thillens urges.

If a proposal circulating in Springfield were to become policy for employers in the Teacher’s Retirement System and the State Universities Retirement System, it would move over $10 billion to local school districts over the next decade. Opponents charge that such a move could negatively impact the quality of education by diverting funds for other purposes.

“The Illinois Board of Education statistics show 67% of school districts are already operating in the red,” Thillens says. “This additional burden would lead to property tax hikes, classroom cuts, teacher layoffs and other negative actions in our suburban districts. We cannot allow this and Moylan needs to fight this now. Standing on the sidelines is not an option which is exactly what he has done so far.”

Thillens adds that Moylan’s siding with Chicago and Speaker Madigan at the expense of suburban taxing districts will not go unnoticed. “Voters will remember come November 4,” he says.

For more information about the Thillens campaign, to make a donation or to volunteer, visit www.Vote4Mel.com, Facebook.com/MelThillens or Twitter @MPThillens.