Linda Abernathy is working very hard to win allies in advance of her referendum effort in November, and a potential re-election battle in 2009:
City of Champaign Township Supervisor Linda Abernathy accused the town board of racism and partisan politics Tuesday night, after the board voted to freeze the township supervisor's salary for the next two years.
Abernathy said she saw ulterior motives behind the vote because, at the same time as the salary for her office was being frozen, the board voted to grant annual 2 percent salary increases to the township assessor position, currently held by Republican Brian Christie. Both officials currently make $58,994 annually.
Abernathy is black and a Democrat.
"There's always been a racist undertone," Abernathy said about the town board. "They've never really had any real desire to work with the poor."
Wow.
This is not surprising, it's ultimately the argument that liberals make when they can no longer justify their failed and costly programs. They care more than you do - therefore, their arguments are right and yours are wrong by virtue of motive.
Poor does not always equal black. At least not in the township. The less priveledged section of the township with which I am most familiar is fairly evenly balanced to white, Hispanic and black. Racial undertones have nothing to do with it- this issue is mainly a result of personality conflicts and bitterness over the assistance voucher issue.
This pay raise issue was for the next term for Supervisor. Isn't it a little presumptious for Abernathy to think she will be the Supervisor after the next election? She might be, but she might not be. The next Supervisor might even be an old white guy in a tie.
Yet another reason not to give this supervisor another penny. She hasn't adequately explained how she spent the money in the past, her budget explanations are laughable, we have no information on the theft from the safe in the township offices, and yet we're racist if we don't want to give this utterly incompetent politician more money? Ms. Abernathy and the rest of our politicians are going to have to understand that in this economy THE WELL IS DRY--THERE IS NO MORE MONEY. For her to suggest that opposition to her request for more money is racist is insulting--Ms. Abernathy does nothing for the poor she wants to represent when she makes statements like this. Is she just asking all of us evil racists to hand over more money and shut up?
Have the "Justice Brothers" Jackson & Sharpton been notified ?
I went back and read the entire article--marci Dodds is quoted as saying that she voted for the freeze in order to win support for a tax increase. Apparently she and anyone else who voted that way are missing the point, the point being that the public isn't convinced that the current township supervisor is a good steward of the public funds that she now has--why would we give her any more? Instead of addressing the perceived shortfalls of her office, Supervisor Abernathy just plays the tired old race card--but as it turns out, since the race card has been overplayed this year, it isn't having the desired effect. Won't either party run a credible candidate against her the next time that she is up for re-election?
isn't "justice brothers" a little racist?
what's the argument for giving the assessor an annual increase but not the supervisor? doing one but not the other doesn't support the lack of funds argument. it's not like the supervisor has been doing a great job.
Curious you are right on,,actually they should have cut Christies pay if possible.
Marci says that it's because they need the raise for the assessor to attract people who have the qualifications that they need for that position. I don't think it could be based on the current assessor's performance, because that hasn't been stellar either. In fact, this is just for raises in the future for whoever takes office the next time, as I understand it. I don't think they can legally raise someone's salary while they're still in office --only Congress and our State legislators seem to be able to do that.
Such a bunch of non sense. The township assessors just play in to the hands of the city and create fantastical valuations for properties even when values are actually falling. They are phantom tax raisers and qualified only as yes-men.
Neither position should get a raise, the existing salary is a great one for positions which exist to do nothing but screw the tax payer. But I must admit Abernathy is especially incompetent
Apparently homeowners in Cook County are reeling from their recent property tax bills. Capitalfax has an interesting comment on the blog regarding increaseing assessments, falling sales tax receipts, and layoffs in Cook county.
After voting in this state for over 45 years, I still a having trouble with the 'oximoranical' idea of even having "city" townships let alone a budget or paid employees.
township assessors in champaign and urbana are both clearly not qualified or capable of doing their job, these people raising assessments in a down market
they are either corrupt and colluding with the city to raise our taxes through raised assessments or they are totally incompetent
these people do not deserve any kind of a raise
they deserve to be removed from their position
To the "anonymous" person that said "tosnwhip assessors in champaign and urbana are both clearly not qualified or capable of doing their job," needs to do a little more research. The Assessor for the Cunningham Township, which does inside Urbana city limits, has been doing her job for over 20 years. There are certain cridentials that they must have AND maintain in order to be "qualified" to do their jobs. Also, I do know that she attends school every year and has to take tests in order to remain "qualified" to do her job. Being a resident of Urbana, I feel that Joanne Chester has done her job and done it very well for the last 20+years. She is not corrupt and the City of Urbana has nothing to do with whether or not she raises or lowers the assessed value of a home. It is all about the economy. Home values went crazy for a few years with builders throwing up new subdivisions all over town. The one good investment that you can make is the purchase of a home. Being a homeowner, I know the value of a home does not usually depreciate, so therefore is a good investment!
Also, to Anonymous 3:38pm - if you look at your property tax bill, you'll notice that the City gets very little of your property taxes. In Champaign, only 17% of its budget comes from "your" property taxes. And if you don't like the assessors or the jobs they are doing, then go ahead and run for their position.
Looks like I hit a nerve.
"Being a homeowner, I know the value of a home does not usually depreciate, so therefore is a good investment!"
This is the most ludicrous thing yet said in the thread and a clear indication you have no idea what you are talking about. It is also this same mindset that has gotten this country into the situation we are in now.
If these people have all these credentials and training then they must not be paying attention in class because there is no other explanation for assessments going up YOY this time. incompetence or corruption, those are your choices.
Anonymous 5:52PM
Please get your facts straight.
MLS sales for residential properties in Champaign County
2006 2,729 sales Average Sale Price $157,070
2007 2,560 sales Average Sale Price $159,970
2008 1,718 sales Average Sale Price $163,074
Countywide, the number of sales are down, but the prices are still up.
Also, please understand that Township Assessors in Illinois are, for lack of a better word, “graded” on the accuracy of their assessments by the Department of Revenue. Joanne Chester and Brian Christie are two of the best in the state.
So when you hurl insults regarding “incompetence or corruption” and that there is “no other explanation for assessments going up…”
You are, simply put…WRONG!!
Ms. Abernathy is paid $58,994 According to the N-G article, 50 people are getting $150 per month. Let's ask those 50 people, would they rather eliminate Ms. Abernathy's job and split that money (which would increase their monthly checks to $248) or would those same 50 people want to give her a raise? Ummmm??
Anon 8:33:
Those statistics you post are utterly useless in this arguement unless you are also going to post a complete distribution of the type of properties that were sold in each year. Just because 2560 were sold in 2007 and 1718 sold in 2008, does not mean at all that these stats cover the same type distribution of homes. They could infact be totally different types of homes sold each year 100% across the board for all I know, until you show the distribution, we have no idea. I personally think you have posted a totally misleading statistic and are drawing potentially very false conclusions from incomplete information.
And if you still think that home prices in Champaign county are up, I have to say you are totally deluded. If you think that they have even maintained their levels from 2007 then you are crazy.
Pull your head out of the stupid MLS. If you are actually leave your MLS computer and get out in the neighborhoods you would know that nothing is moving and that tons of people have infact pulled their homes back in off the market.
This is a significant asset deflation. Do you even pay attention to the news at all? Home prices are falling. In some places more precipitously than others. But they are definitely falling.
And these assessors either have no clue about what they are doing, or they are intentionally propping up the assessments to continue to fatten budgets. Its very likely the latter. Come on, there is plenty of precedent for corruption given the Champaign Country Club neighborhood incident. You need to get a clue and stop talking your book.
And to add, Anon 8:33, it is an insult to the intelligence of so many people when you say our assessors are some of the best in the state. Christie under-assessed the rich and powerful around the country club. Who gives this rating that they are the best??? The rich and powerful of Illinois???
They are looking out for the rich and powerful and well-connected and then otherwise taking it to the honest tax payer so that the powerful politicians can continue to spend spend spend.
If you have better data, let's see it.
Perhaps those 50 people are not so stupid, and realize that without someone fighting on their behalf already they wouldn't even have the $150, so they want that person to continue making their case known, rather than splitting the salary one time they rather have a voice in government.
You know, rather like how getting revenue periodically from the state lottery and toll roads is better than selling it off for a one time payment, or how paying for power service is maybe better than burning your furniture for fuel in wintertime.
Investment, y'know?
To Anon 552
No, you don't know what you are talking about. The link below is to an article dated August 26, 2008. Check the bottom of the page which has home values by metro area as of June 30th. Champaign Illinois is 66th and showed moderate increases for the previous quarter and the past year. Prices are NOT tanking here. There may be individual examples of homes selling at a lower price when someone is desperate to sell, but overall the market is considered to be stable.
By the way, someone suggested you run for the office. You can't. You have to have the certification in order to run.
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/HomebuyingGuide/HomePricesByCity.aspx
Statistics have a way of concealing the facts behind the numbers. Experience may tell yet another story. My sister-in-law has had her home on the market for ten months now. Her company want's to transfer her to Atlanta. She can't accept the offer until the house sells. She can't cut the price below the mortgage lien on the house. Desparate to sell? No, but selling the house would open up an opportunity for her. So the sign is still up and opportunity may soon get tired of knocking on her door.
3 Score + 10
Keith Hays
Typically if a company really wants to transfer an employee the company purchases their house! I live on a street with only 25-30 homes and three were sold this year. All were on the market for less than two weeks. Another house around the corner has been on and off the market for over a year. Difference? One is overpriced. If one cannot list below the mortgage that means they probably put very little money down to purchase it, not that prices have fallen. When you get a low or no downpayment loan you must plan to stay in the house for a while since it takes a few years to appreciate enough to cover closing costs if you want to sell. I sold a house a few years ago and had to write a check at closing. Value had not increased enough to cover the costs of selling it even the it was 8% higher than I had paid. But had a 95% loan.
From today's News Gazette:
Dukeman contrasted the situation in central Illinois with that in California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan and Ohio, where home values have plummeted. Some parts of the country have seen home prices fall 40 percent to 50 percent from highs in late 2006 and early 2007.
Nationally, home prices are down about 16 percent, but in many parts of central Illinois, prices have hardly changed, he said.
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2008/10/09/buseys_chairman_confident_about_banks_overall_health
What Dukeman didn't talk about is the bath Busey might be taking in Florida, where it is doing business.
O.K.So if prices have hardly changed in central Illinois, why then are the assessments continuing to rise? One would think that they would stay the same or drop, but so far mine continues to go up, unlike those who live around the Country Club or in Clark Park. Did Assessor Christie ever go back out and reassess the houses that he hasn't seen in 20 years, or will that simply be ignored?
As for Linda Abernathy, until she can demonstrate that she handles money in a thrifty way, and takes the chip off her shoulder, we, the taxpayers, shouldn't give her one more penny. And the advocates for the poor can blame her ineptness and her playing the race card and victim card. Sometimes it's not about race--sometimes it's about the poor job that is done.
The news gazette report on busey bank is biased and not credible. The n-g gets a bunch of ad revenue from busey.
Assessments should not be rising. It is just ludicrous
"The news gazette report on busey bank is biased and not credible. The n-g gets a bunch of ad revenue from busey."
OK - so far we've been given two pieces of data on Central Illinois home prices being relatively stable, and a testimonial from one of the area's largest banks saying the same thing. You've rejected all three, but supplied no alternative data. Do you have any that indicate local home prices are substantially decreasing?
News Gazette: is it, or is it not a part of the MSM? If not, why not, and what makes it not 1. mainstream or not 2. media.
So why believe anything the NG prints?
"News Gazette: is it, or is it not a part of the MSM? If not, why not, and what makes it not 1. mainstream or not 2. media.
So why believe anything the NG prints?"
I don't. But at least one of the other data points cited (the MLS data) indicates that area home prices are not seriously declining. Do you have any data that suggests otherwise?
And the source for all the "prices are tanking" is coming from the MSM. Problem is, they are mostly talking about California, Florida, Michigan, Ohio and some large cities in other states on the east and west coast. Also has been some decline in the ring counties around Chicago. Guess you can believe them when their stories fit your theory.
Why do you guys keep feeding this troll?
I do have an idea of what I am talking about. I have owned 4 homes in my 39 years of life so for me to say that purchasing a home is a good investment, I believe it is. As do many others or they would not be homeowners. The reason for the decline in home sales is not the assessors fault. Look at the bigger picture. Why aren't you talking trash about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Loans were given out to people who could not afford them. Home sales drastically increased due to everyone being able to obtain a loan no matter what their debt to income ratio was. These homes are now for sale or being repossessed because the homeowner could not afford the monthly payment. They knew this was going to happen. There have been 4 homes on my street for sale in the last year. I bought one of them and the other 3 sold within 4-6 weeks. It sounds like you have been burned recently or you are just one irritated person. Also, how can someone receive the credentials for the schooling that they attend if they were not paying attention in class. There are tests that are given that must be passed. So not only are they staying awake in class, they are doing the job that they are trained to do. If you would like to run for office, maybe you should call and check into the credentials that you will need to be in that position, study hard and get your name on the ballot.
"Why do you guys keep feeding this troll?"
Because I'm genuinely curious if there is some other actual data out there about our area's home prices. I'm happy to trust Van Dukeman and the MLS, though.
I'd be interested to know more details about home sales in Champaign County to get an idea of what's selling and what's not. When people relocate from a more expensive area of the country (e.g., a UI professor coming from California), they'll get stuck paying capital gains taxes if their new house is much cheaper than their old one. So I'd assume that would help the market for more upscale homes. I've noticed that in my working/middle class neighborhood, it seems to take a while for houses to sell.
By the way, assessors are not allowed to just "chase sales" as a way of assessing properties. They are required to use sales statistics for entire neighborhoods and then apply the increase (or decrease if there was one - this was recently done in at least one part of Urbana) to the current assessments. You can have your assessment lowered based on a recent sale price that is lower but a higher price paid for your house or one next door will not immediately or necessarily result in a higher assessment. They use mass appraisals to assess properties. If you don't like the system, do something constructive to try to change it. Don't complain about the local assessors who are doing their jobs the way they are required to by statute when you don't understand the process.
I saw some foreclosure statistics for Champaign County somewhere recently. I will try to find them again and post a link. They are only up nominally from historic rates.
This thread has gotten way off track from the original post!!!
What an interesting situation. Township "Supervisor" Abernathy wants to bleed the middle-class to benefit the supposedly poorest of the poor. This isn't Kolkata, Ms. Abernathy. There are already a whole slew of services (i.e. the government dole) available if someone is as desperate as you claim. Or, even if they are not really that desperate at all.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administration_of_federal_assistance_in_the_United_States
Assessor Christie is in denial about there even being a Champaign Country Club area to assess. Again, bleeding the middle-class; only this time to help the wealthiest in the area.
I wish there was someone who would fight for the middle-class. It would definitely have to be someone 'tough and independent'. Someone who had 'deep roots' in the area. Someone who is heads and shoulders above the political fray. Someone who will fight for the middle-class and not opportunistically try to further their political career at the expense of their constituency. Is it only a dream? Does such a person exist?
Ms. Abernathy is paid $58,994 According to the N-G article, 50 people are getting $150 per month.
Do we really have someone getting paid almost $60k per year to pass out $90k worth of aid? Does she do anything else? Is there more staff, or just her?
she has a staff, and i'd like to know if someone else was elected would they have to keep the current employees?
I'd like to see the newspaper ask Linda Abernathy if she intends to run for office for another term at the painfully low wage of $58,994, or is the lack of an increase enough to make her decide not to run.
If someone new is elected as Township Supervisor, they do not have to keep any of the current employees. It is not a civil service position.
The Township Supervisor does a lot more than hand out checks to the clients in need. There is more staff within that office. There are usually caseworkers, an accounting person and a receptionist. I am sure you can find more out in the Illinois State Statutes.
The township is handing out General Assistance, which is specifically targeted at those people who DO NOT qualify for other forms of assistance, often they are single men and the elderly.
Quoting from Illinois Pro Bono Senior Citizens' Handbook (happened to be an easy hit on Google, but it matches what I've read in various print resources):
What is General Assistance?
The General Assistance program (GA) provides aid to very poor people who are not receiving, or do not qualify for, other public benefits.
"General Assistance" helps meet basic needs such as housing, utilities, food, clothing and medical care. The aid can be in cash, vouchers or medical assistance.
Every GA program must have specific rules that say who is eligible for the program and the amount of assistance that can be provided. The specific rules for your GA program depend on where you live. In Chicago, the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) administers GA using DHS rules.
In the rest of the state, the various townships administer GA. Most of these townships have adopted a standard set of rules, which are written in a book called the "General Assistance Handbook." The Township Supervisors of Illinois (TSI) compiled this handbook. A select few townships use the DHS rules, primarily because they receive funds from the State to run their GA program (called “receiving” townships).
There are a few townships that have created their own set of rules. Finally, some counties have a county-wide Veteran's Assistance Commission, which administers GA for veterans and their families.
Who is Eligible for General Assistance?
GA is known as the program of last resort. This means that you can get GA only if you do not receive other forms of income assistance. To qualify, you can have very little income from other sources and very few assets. The specific income and asset limits depend on your township's rules.
The township may require that you apply for other government benefits for which you might be eligible, but you should be able to get emergency GA while you are waiting to see if those other applications are approved.
At the risk of further irritating The Troll, I will opine. The MLS numbers above are accurate. Of course not ALL homes are going to increase in value; not ALL areas in the county are going to increase in value; not ALL price ranges are going to increase in value. However, on a countywide basis, in most sectors, values are holding steady or increasing slightly.
The number of days on the market for those homes that have sold, has increased slightly from 2006 (62 days) to 2008 (82 days). Anon 5:52, take off your shoes and count. Twenty days. That's less than three weeks additional time.
Anon 5:52 has been challenged several times. If you have better data, please let us see it. Better yet, get that data, get some petitions, get them signed and run for Township Assessor. Then the rest of us can accuse you of incompetence or corruption.
One can not look at the world (or this market) "through a straw" and expect to see the big picture.
Never mind, its easier to be an "armchair expert."
The thing to keep in mind is how LInda Abernathy has changed how the money is handed out--she hands out cash, or used to, rather than vouchers; she no longer requires people to appeal denial of their SSI cases (in her own words, she said that was too demeaning); and has generally done everything she can to create a constiutency for herself.
Recently I watched some kind of video on the City's cable access channel. I think it was produced in an effort to persuade voters to support the increase. My question is what the source of the funds was for this video. Did any of it come from Township funds? Apparently she thinks that it's rude or racist or something to ask her for accountability, not that she would recognize accountability if it bit her on some portion of her anatomy.
I think she also sits on the public health board by virtue of her office, as does the County Board Chairman and the Cunningham supervisor. We know what a good job they did with their last director.
The Township Supervisor does a lot more than hand out checks to the clients in need.
I figured so - what else?
GA is often given out to people who are WAITING for their cases for other public assistance to make it through the system (either via appeal or for the first time) so that's in no way unusual.
Applications for assistance are designed to be full of hoops to jump through to dissuade people, so they often do take some time. In the meantime, GA is one way to fill (well, partly - it's $150) the gap.
If cash is objectionable then move to some sort of card system (such as the Illinois Link cards did) I guess but in 2008 people need to be able to use their money in regular stores. Surely it feels more "just" to see people lining up for government cheese but it's just not practical.
Say what you want about Linda Abernathy, she truely has a heart for the poor and is doing her best to fix a broken system from long ago. I wish she would explain better what she meant by "racist" when she didn't get her raise. Her salary is such a minor issue compared to the goal of getting emergency assistance to those in need. 71% of the citizens of Champaign support providing such assistance. The Pundit is right that another dispute between the town board and the township supervisor is a distraction we didn't need at this time. This referendum needs to pass to provide some sort of safety net in these perilous economic times.
Unfortunately, the referendum is worded so poorly on the ballot, that disgruntled property owners may believe the referendum is merely asking if they want a tax increase. The tax increase is $10 a year on a $150,000 home, and the increase goes to help those making $3000 or less.
The system wasn't broken until she became the steward. I won't vote for any increase until there is a return to vouchers and Abernathy is no longer the supervisor.
Calling the Township Board racist is just about the stupidest thing she could have said, both because it's a reckless accusation and because it's a transparent attempt at manipulation... playing the race card..
I can no longer have any other opinion of her than to be thoroughly disgusted... Of course by her definition, I suppose that makes me racist.
Anonymous 5:36, I disagree that Linda Abernathy has a heart for the poor and is trying to fix a broken system--she's responsible for at least some of the breakage. No one who is truly interested in helping the poor attacks their board as racist for freezing the salary of a FUTURE supervisor--she acts as if they took money away from her, and not some future candidate. If Linda Abernathy truly cared about the poor, she wouldn't grandstand the way that she does; she would operate a transparent system; and she would make an effort to get along with people--instead, it seems to be all about her. I'm with Property Rights--I won't vote to give the Township a plug nickel as long as she's the township supervisor, and I'll do everything I can think of to defeat this referendum until she's gone. Even if the increase is modest, as long as she continues to hand out cash, and carry on the way that she has, and refuse to answer questions about the operation of her office (where's the report on the safe break-in, and where's the explanation for why she bought her employees T-shirts, and has the EEOC found no probable cause in the complaint against her for firing a sick employee, etc etc etc), giving her any additional money, even $10 is a waste of resources.
"Being a homeowner, I know the value of a home does not usually depreciate, so therefore is a good investment!"
If only this was true.