THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2008
Kotowski: Sweeney Was Late With Tax Levy
By CRAIG ADAMS
Journal & Topics Reporter
State Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-33d) accused Republican challenger Mike Sweeney of "bungling" his township job with Kotowski's former opponent, Cheryl Axley, crossing party lines to also criticize Sweeney.
At issue is Elk Grove Township tax levy documentation for 2006. Sweeney, as clerk for the township, was required to file the report with the Cook County Clerk's office by the last Tuesday in December, which in 2006 was Dec. 26. The clerk's office stamped the documentation as arriving on Friday, Dec. 29, three days late.
"It's a pretty big deal," Kotowski said. "I think it should cause voters to question his qualifications as a candidate." Kotowski explained the late filing exposes the township to challenges to the local tax levy.
Former 33d Dist. State Sen. Cheryl Axley, a Republican who Kotowski defeated in 2006, agreed with Kotowski on this manner. Axley served as township clerk for 12 years before Sweeney.
"It's a huge blunder," she said. She confirmed the late filing opens the township up to financial risk. She also said she does not know of any other time the township was late. "While it was on my watch, I certainly never heard about late filings," she said.
When asked if this action was a reason for someone to vote for Kotowski instead of Sweeney, Axley replied, "I would say a cautious voter might consider someone's past history as an indicator as how they would perform in the future."
"This is a non-story," Sweeney said in response. "The tax levy was filed, it was collected, and the township has received all money from the levy." He added that with new construction, the township received more than was levied.
Sweeney would not state if he turned the documentation in on the Tuesday or the Friday. "I do have a receipt that I filed. I did not get a date stamp on it," he admitted. "I should have gotten a date stamp." He believes Kotowski is using the issue to deflect attention away from his voting record. "People in this district are not happy with what's going on in Springfield," Sweeney said. "Kotowski knows that my campaign is gaining momentum."
Courtney Greve, a spokesperson for the Cook County Clerk's office, confirmed the time stamp on the documents. "It appears that it was hand delivered on the 29th," she said, "three days past the deadline." She agreed with the letter of the law saying, "The issue is, the failure to file on time can open our office up to objections that can lead to lawsuits."
However, she did not put as much concern on the tardiness as Kotowski. "Our procedure is to extend the tax regardless," she explained, "as long as the legislative body passed their levy by their deadline." The Elk Grove Township board did pass the levy before that deadline in 2006, she said. "It's up to our discretion, by state statute, to extend the deadline."
In addition, Greve said that on average, five to 10 taxing bodies do not submit the paperwork before January each year.
The 33d Senate district includes parts of Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Mt. Prospect, Elk Grove Village, Niles, Rosemont, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, Norridge, Rolling Meadows, and parts of Chicago.