Latest poll shows NIU has shot at BCS bowl game
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2012
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C-G’s tough loss can’t spoil experience Sports, B3
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Mark Hume
Smaller ’13 budget wins OK
BEARS 28, VIKINGS 10
Back at it
County’s $250M plan rejects inflation increase By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – The McHenry County Board approved a smaller 2013 budget and froze its property tax levy. County Board members voted, 22-1, to approve a $250 million budget for the fiscal year starting Dec. 1. The county’s spending plan holds next year’s property-tax levy flat, rejecting a 3 percent increase for inflation that governments are entitled to under the tax cap. The county will collect $2.3 million less than last year in tax revenue by holding its levy flat. The levy freeze applies only to the portion of property-tax bills that
funds county government, not schools, municipalities, townships or other taxing bodies. County government, on average, accounts for 10 percent of a McHenry County homeowner’s propertytax bill, according to county staff. The county government budget is $6 million smaller than the current $256.7 million budget. McHenry County government, one of three Illinois counties with a Aaa bond rating from Moody’s Investors Service, has been trimming its budget in recent years to adjust for the weak economy. It has trimmed 64 staff positions over the past three years.
See BUDGET, page A7
Ill. lawmakers face gambling, prisons By JOHN O’CONNOR Josh Peckler – jpeckler@shawmedia.com
Bears running back Michael Bush tries to break away from Minnesota defenders during the second quarter Sunday at Soldier Field. The Bears defeated the Vikings, 28-10.
Bears remain 1st in NFC North
Now, San Francisco is just a bad memory. The Bears helped erase the pain of a two-game losing streak Sunday afternoon by beating the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings 28-10. Michael Bush ran for two touchdowns and the Bears forced Adrian Peterson into a pair of fumbles as they took a 22-point lead into half-
time and cruised from there. “[We had] a rough team coming in here playing well, but we took care of business,” linebacker Brian Urlacher said. The win kept the Bears (8-3) in first place in the NFC North heading into Sunday’s home game against the Seattle Seahawks (6-5).
LOOKING FORWARD
Read more n Analysis: Jay Cutler restores sense of calm to Bears’ offense. PAGE B1 n Victory comes at cost; 5 starters injured. PAGE B1 n D-line sets tone, sports editor Jon Styf writes. PAGE B6-7 n Bears notes: Brandon Marshall reaches milestone. PAGE B6-7
Vote online Who’s going to win the NFC North? Vote at NWHerald.com.
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The week’s happenings in news, sports and more. Page A2
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Vol. 27, Issue 331
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SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers will be staring down some of the higher-profile issues in Illinois when they begin their fall session Tuesday. But resolution of gambling, state facility closures, immigration and medical marijuana proposals could come in the form of dramatic confrontation, negotiatingtable settlements, anticlimactic if symbolic votes, or no decisions at all. Expanded gambling, shaping up a few weeks ago as a veto-override clash, could be sidestepped during the six-day session in favor of a hoped-for agreement with Gov. Pat Quinn in January. Lawmakers meeting during the next two weeks might vote against Quinn’s
efforts to close state facilities, likely with little practical effect. And the Democratic governor’s splashy call for an assault-weapons ban could disappear without fanfare. Although scheduled annually for lawmakers to decide the fate of gubernatorial vetoes, the fall session is not limited to that. An emerging bipartisan proposal to equip illegal immigrants with driver’s licenses will be considered, along with a plan to allow the medical use of marijuana, narrowly defeated in recent years. And the state comptroller warned last week that there isn’t enough money to cover operations for several agencies through the June 30 end of the fiscal year.
SATURDAY The village of Algonquin will host Holiday Rock on the Fox from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Riverfront Park, 201 N. Harrison St., Algonquin. The event will feature the annual tree-lighting, a visit from Santa, a candy-cane hunt and more. For information, call 847-658-2700 or visit www.algonquin.org/recreation.
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