Schaumburg Mayor Al Larson has hiked taxes 14 times in the last 10 years. That’s an average of 5.6 tax hikes per a 4-year term. In 2009 alone Mayor Larson hiked 369 fees on Schaumburg’s citizens and businesses. Schaumburg can’t afford to re-elect a Mayor who raises taxes & fees that punish families and small businesses.
In December 2009, the Mayor Larson sneakily passed the first-ever municipal property tax in the midst of the worst economic times since the Great Depression. Larson ignoring the citizens of Schaumburg who opposed the property tax by a 10-1 margin at public hearings. Larson and the Village Board didn’t care about the views of Schaumburg residents and even refused the opportunity for the public to vote on the historic tax hike proposal through referendum.
I am alarmed at the unrestrained growth of government in Schaumburg, which has almost quadrupled in size, even after adjusting for inflation and population growth, since Larson took office in 1987. The Village of Schaumburg has strayed far from the core services it should be concentrating on and has ventured into the business world by wastefully spending money on a professional baseball stadium, a non-commercial recreational airport, and a failing Convention Center & Hotel. All at the cost of hundreds of millions of dollars to the taxpayers of Schaumburg.
Mayor Larson has collected over $100,000 in donations from corporations who have been awarded over $300 million in Village of Schaumburg contracts, in many instances the competitive bidding process has been waived for Mayor Larson’s campaign donors.
It is time for a fresh perspective on government in Schaumburg. I will work to restore an ethical government for the people of Schaumburg. I will work to provide high quality core services of Fire, Police, Roads, and Public Works at the lowest possible cost. I will eliminate wasteful projects that cost the taxpayers tens of millions of dollars every year. I will cut taxes on the people and businesses of Schaumburg to grow our local economy and create jobs.
I am running for Mayor of Schaumburg and would like your support. Please join our campaign for lower taxes, ethics reform, and disciplined spending. Full bio here.
BRIAN COSTIN ON THE ISSUES
REPEAL THE NEW PROPERTY TAX HIKE
The Village of Schaumburg recently passed an “emergency” property tax increase in the midst of the holiday season to prevent public knowledge and outcry. Brian Costin would fight to reduce wasteful spending and eliminate the property tax through referendum.
REDUCE SALES TAXES
Schaumburg has the highest bar and restaurant tax in all of the U.S. and the 2nd highest retail sales tax. These high taxes are causing customers of local businesses to leave for greener pastures elsewhere and is destroying Schaumburg’s economic lifeblood. Brian Costin will cut sales taxes so our businesses can compete once again.
ETHICAL GOVERNMENT
Mayor Larson has collected hundreds of thousands of donations from corporations and individuals doing business with the Village of Schaumburg. This is banned on the state and federal level and it should be on the local level too. Brian Costin will not accept donations from these entities and will change the laws to prevent this in the future.
VOLUNTARY TERM LIMITS
Brian Costin is committing to a voluntary term limit of 8 years as Mayor.
ELIMINATE WASTEFUL SPENDING
The Village of Schaumburh has spent over $50 million on a Convention Center & Hotel, over $20 million for an airport, and over $15 million for a professional non-affiliated baseball team. The Village of Schaumburg has veered away from focusing on its core services of Police, Fire, and Public Works and is engaging in risky businesses that should be left to the free market. Schaumburg can save tens of millions of dollars per year for its taxpayers by selling the Convention Center & Hotel, airport, and the minor league baseball stadium.
PUBLIC SAFETY
This is the most important area of municipal government and Brian Costin is committed to the common-sense policies that will make our community safer through the highest quality service at the lowest possible cost to the taxpayers.
ROADS & TRAFFIC
Making sure taxpayers are getting the highest quality service at the best possible price, Brian Costin is committed to alleviating road congestion, paid entirely through existing gasoline taxes. Brian Costin has highlighted wasteful spending in the Village and saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in the snow and ice program.