Brian Costin
Director of Government Reform

Dixon: Years in the making, city woes won’t end in months

Taxpayers in the city of Dixon fell victim to former Comptroller Rita Crundwell’s theft of $53 million since 1990. But until last year no one noticed the money was missing.

With Crundwell pleading guilty to the federal embezzlement charges, the city of Dixon stands to receive receive a windfall of $7 to $10 million sometime in 2013. It also has already seen its revenue streams increase by $3 million.
A Sauk Valley Media editorial said, “Dixon city leaders should follow the advice of consultants and use millions of dollars in restitution to pay down the city’s debt and help restore its finances.”

The editorial rightly presses for prudence from Dixon’s elected officials. Citizens of Dixon have suffered under a “corruption tax” for years. But does that mean that citizens should continue to suffer from unduly high taxes? Why have there been no calls from the media or elected officials to reduce taxes in the wake of the scandal.

Why should the “corruption tax” be locked in on residents and businesses of Dixon? We urge elected officials from Dixon to nix the “corruption tax” by enacting reforms necessary to significantly cut taxes.

There’s no shortage of solutions to cut municipal taxes while maintaining or improving delivery of core government services. As a reference guide for any municipal employee or elected official, the Illinois Policy Institute has published three studies on the topic of streamlining municipal operations:

Commitment to Taxpayers: How Grayslake Reduces Costs and Serves Its Community

Improving Government Operations and Saving Taxpayers: A Case Study (Lindenhurst)

Beyond “Business As Usual”: A Case Study (Glenview)




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