Leech Alert! Part 2 - DuPage Township & Village Board Sucks more money from taxpayers
There are 11 elected officials in Bolingbrook, serving on 5 local non-profit boards. Within the past 4 years, those very same 5 non-profit organizations received over $900k in tax dollars.
Fundamentally, the Village should only be providing the basic services to the community. When did our elected leaders get into the business of financing local charities and non-profits? Donations should come from the individual taxpayers, not the Village?
Correct as usual. Let me decide which charities I want my hard earned money going to.
I would be interested in seeing how much of the "non-profit organizations" money is used for administrative ( to line pockets). Whatever happened to volunteering ones time?
All local non profits should receive zero taxpayer dollars. The non profits should survive on contributions from individuals/corporate donations. I am especially troubled by the conflict of interest represented by political and family connections with boards of the various non profits. If it isn't illegal it is definitely unethical.
Since IRS 990's are public information, a few minutes reading them would show that, at least in the case of the CSC, there are no board members receiving any compensation for their time. Some of those people have been volunteering many hours a year for well over 10 years. I find it interesting that you all think they should be replaced, but I don't see any of you stepping up to take their place. Nor do I see any great amount of dollars being donated to the agencies that supply services for free. Guess you think professionals with master's degrees should just give away their services. How many of you work for free?
I believe "charitable and certain non-profit" donations are not the business of our Village and Township officials to be donating our "taxpayer money." I think the legitimacy of these donations esp., since they are in the hundreds of thousands dollars needs to be questioned and accountability explained to our citizens. Why so many elected officials on these Boards, all associated with the Village or the Township Supervisor? Charities are just that, and should get their donations from people's charity, not fom our taxes.
Rhonda, how much of these donations are going into the pockets of the crony elected officials sitting on the "non-profit" boards? Of course they are not really "non-profit" as the elected officials are profiting a great deal personally at tax payers expense. Time to completely clean house and vote out the incumbent Trustees by voting in Rhonda Slaughter and Bob Bowen for Trustees April 5!
It is only a conflict of interest if the board members are receiving compensation from the non-profit. It would be interesting to see if that is the case. But until that is shown to be the case, you should give these people the benefit of doubt.
Rhonda has looked at the 990's for some of these non-profits and knows that the members of the Boards of Directors are all volunteers and receive no compensation what so ever. They do not receive any free meals, drinks, outings, etc. Shirley, how much have you volunteered or donated to any of these non-profits. Or is this a case of do as I say, not as I do?
Apparently all of you feel that people in need should not receive any help. Hope you're never in that position.
I have donated both my time and money to many charities;American Cancer Society, Humane societies, Salvation Army, etc, etc., but I still don't agree that taxpayer money should be donated to charities and non-profits, the needs of the Community must be met first.
And how much is it going to cost the communities to hire the staff to provide the services that are being supplied? Or are you saying the community should turn a blind eye to those services and the people that need them?
It is improper for the elected officials to "donate" tax dollars to local non profits. The officials or family/friends serving on boards do not have to be receiving compensation from the non profit for the conflict of interest to exist. I suggest you read the article about Chicago Public School Board Gifts to Charity. In this case the board member directed at least $220,000 to charities he or his wife ran or served on the board of directors. This was considered a violation of the board's own ethics policy. The Bolingbrook Village Board is doing very similar things. It is unethical!
Fundamentally, the Village should only be providing the basic services to the community. When did our elected leaders get into the business of financing local charities and non-profits? Donations should come from the individual taxpayers, not the Village?
ReplyDeleteCorrect as usual. Let me decide which charities I want my hard earned money going to.
I would be interested in seeing how much of the "non-profit organizations" money is used for administrative ( to line pockets). Whatever happened to volunteering ones time?
Anything greater than 10 - 20% is a scam.......
No surprise. Birds of a feather flock together. Any way to line their pockets. The so called "non-profit" status is a smoke screen.
ReplyDeleteAll local non profits should receive zero taxpayer dollars. The non profits should survive on contributions from individuals/corporate donations. I am especially troubled by the conflict of interest represented by political and family connections with boards of the various non profits. If it isn't illegal it is definitely unethical.
ReplyDeleteAll of these incumbents need to be voted out of office. I urge all of you, please get the message out to your friends and neighbors and vote.
ReplyDeleteSince IRS 990's are public information, a few minutes reading them would show that, at least in the case of the CSC, there are no board members receiving any compensation for their time. Some of those people have been volunteering many hours a year for well over 10 years. I find it interesting that you all think they should be replaced, but I don't see any of you stepping up to take their place. Nor do I see any great amount of dollars being donated to the agencies that supply services for free. Guess you think professionals with master's degrees should just give away their services. How many of you work for free?
ReplyDeleteI believe "charitable and certain non-profit" donations are not the business of our Village and Township officials to be donating our "taxpayer money." I think the legitimacy of these donations esp., since they are in the hundreds of thousands dollars needs to be questioned and accountability explained to our citizens. Why so many elected officials on these Boards, all associated with the Village or the Township Supervisor? Charities are just that, and should get their donations from people's charity, not fom our taxes.
ReplyDeleteShirley Valevicius
DuPage Township Collector
Rhonda, how much of these donations are going into the pockets of the crony elected officials sitting on the "non-profit" boards? Of course they are not really "non-profit" as the elected officials are profiting a great deal personally at tax payers expense. Time to completely clean house and vote out the incumbent Trustees by voting in Rhonda Slaughter and Bob Bowen for Trustees April 5!
ReplyDeleteIt is only a conflict of interest if the board members are receiving compensation from the non-profit. It would be interesting to see if that is the case. But until that is shown to be the case, you should give these people the benefit of doubt.
ReplyDeleteDefine compensation. free meals, drinks, outings......? Compensation doesn't have to be a paycheck.
ReplyDeleteAll one has to do is look to the Lions club to see how money should be properly handled and accounted for.
Don't spend donated money on anything other than the community, not on parties for the members.
Rhonda has looked at the 990's for some of these non-profits and knows that the members of the Boards of Directors are all volunteers and receive no compensation what so ever. They do not receive any free meals, drinks, outings, etc.
ReplyDeleteShirley, how much have you volunteered or donated to any of these non-profits. Or is this a case of do as I say, not as I do?
Apparently all of you feel that people in need should not receive any help. Hope you're never in that position.
Shirley Valevicius
ReplyDeleteI have donated both my time and money to many charities;American Cancer Society, Humane societies, Salvation Army, etc, etc., but I still don't agree that taxpayer money should be donated to charities and non-profits, the needs of the Community must be met first.
No taxpayers money should be donated to charities and non-profits. Period!!! No ifs or buts whatsoever. Smell of corruption is in the air otherwise.
ReplyDeleteAnd how much is it going to cost the communities to hire the staff to provide the services that are being supplied? Or are you saying the community should turn a blind eye to those services and the people that need them?
ReplyDeleteIt is improper for the elected officials to "donate" tax dollars to local non profits. The officials or family/friends serving on boards do not have to be receiving compensation from the non profit for the conflict of interest to exist. I suggest you read the article about Chicago Public School Board Gifts to Charity. In this case the board member directed at least $220,000 to charities he or his wife ran or served on the board of directors. This was considered a violation of the board's own ethics policy. The Bolingbrook Village Board is doing very similar things. It is unethical!
ReplyDeletePublic safety cuts due to lack of revenue but excess of revenue available for donations? Doesn't add up.
ReplyDelete