One of my main goals in establishing new volunteer programs for parks and recreation agencies is the development, expansion and funding of after-school programs for young people to keep them off the street. I have observed successful after-school program in Champaign that give kids supervised activities, a library, a quiet room to do their homework, computers, art classes, athletics and conversation with responsible role models. We need to expand these types of programs across the state. I want to discuss this issue at length with park districts and other agencies affected by property tax caps. I believe property tax caps have been successful in holding down the explosive growth of property taxes in areas that used to see double-digit increase in property tax rates every year.
Tax caps have an appropriate place in controlling the growth of government.
However, the impact of tax caps is not uniform throughout the state. I am an avid golfer. I also hunt and fish. Continued from page 14 authorizing all non-tax cap county boards to hold referenda to allow citizens to establish tax caps. Numerous examptions to these tax caps have been introduced by the General Assembly over the ensuing years.