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BIG CLEATS TO FILL FOR LATEST ACE PREP BASEBALL, B1
LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT, A9-10, 12
TELEGRAPH
Thursday, March 27, 2014
SERVING DIXON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1851
OGLE COUNTY | SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT TOW FUND
Exelon among other contributors Revenue sources could be limited next month The tow fund, which was established by a county ordinance in 2011, allowed the Sheriff’s Department to collect $350 for specific tows to offset administrative fees. The ordinance’s original intent, County Board Chairman Kim Gouker said, was to bring in revenue without increasing a tax levy. When the ordinance was written, the focus was on the increased revenue, he added, not restricting its revenue sources or expenses. “It’s kind of how ordinances
BY MATT MENCARINI mmencarini@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5529
OREGON – The Sheriff’s Department’s administrative tow fund could get further restrictions next month, limiting its sources of revenue, the Ogle County Board chairman said this week. The board already has limited how the tow fund can be spent. Last month, Sauk Valley Media reported that nearly a third of the revenue in the fund came from sources other than towing fees.
are written,” Gouker said. “We try to look at scenarios and unintended consequences. At the time, it looked like it was sufficient, and it probably was. But our board felt that we needed to change it.” The tow fund, along with several other funds, doesn’t appear on the county budget. Documents obtained by Sauk Valley Media through Freedom of Information Act requests showed that between October 2011 and November 2013 the Sheriff’s Department collected $210,400 for its administra-
More on A4 Twenty-seven days later, SVM is still waiting for the sheriff to fulfill a FOIA request.
Ogle Co. Sheriff Michael Harn
Board Chairman Kim Gouker
tive tow fund and withdrew $158,132. However, a review of the 401 pages of tow fee receipts showed that only $140,000 had been collected from towing vehicles. The other $70,000 came from other sources, including reim-
bursements from the state for prisoner transports and reimbursements and donations from Exelon Corp. In an email on Feb. 28, Sheriff Michael Harn said that before those other sources of revenue were diverted into the tow fund, they were “deposited with the Treasurer’s Office as a line item credit for the Sheriff’s Office fees.” CONTRIBUTORS CONTINUED ON A4
ILLINOIS | BUDGET ADDRESS
FINDING ALL THE ANGLE(R)S IN DIXON
Taking a permanent tax hike? Quinn paints dark future for schools, proposes solution
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Framed by the Peoria Avenue bridge, a pair of fishermen try their luck Wednesday afternoon along the south bank of the Rock River in Dixon. Look for a thunderstorm today and warmer temperatures as the weekend approaches.
4-DAY FORECAST
MORE PHOTOS
TOPICS ON TOP OF TOPICS
SPRINGFIELD (AP) – Gov. Pat Quinn outlined his case Wednesday for making Illinois’ temporary income tax increase permanent, predicting “extreme and radical” budget cuts to schools and services without additional revenue. The Chicago Democrat – embarking on what’s expected to be a tough re-election bid against Republican businessman Bruce Rauner – tied the idea to relief for homeowners, saying he’d like to guarantee every Illinoisan who pays property tax a $500 annual refund. He also called for increasing the earned income tax credit for low-income families. “If action is not taken to stabilize our revenue code, extreme and radical cuts will be imposed on education and critical public services,” he said in the roughly 30-minute address before lawmakers. “Cuts that will starve our schools and result in mass teacher layoffs, larger class sizes and higher property taxes.”
Today
HIKE CONTINUED ON A4
Drizzle in the morning will turn to a thunderstorm by the afternoon. If you’re going fishing, set your hooks early. High of 51, Low of 31.
Local reaction Four local lawmakers weigh in on Quinn’s budget address, A2.
Friday
With little wind, a high of 49 will have a RealFeel of 51, according to accuweather.com.
Like the photo above?
Saturday
See the Sauk Valley through the viewfinder of SVM’s photo staff.
Sunday
New photos every day www.saukvalley.com
Similarly, the high of 50 will feel like 55. The wind will pick up. High of 65. Jackpot, right? Not quite. With wind gusting up to 22 mph ... the good news is there will be little cloud cover to thwart the sunshine.
$1.00
TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 163 ISSUE 231
And check out the staff’s handiwork on Page C12 in every SV Weekend section.
INDEX
BUSINESS ......... A14 COMICS ............. A11 CROSSWORD....B13
While you’re navigating saukvalley.com, check out the wide range of lists SVM staffers have compiled. Exhibits A and B: Managing Editor Jeff Rogers posted a(nother) NCAA tournament list Wednesday, the day after he gave his biggest takeaways from SVM’s “Directions 2014” 52-page special section found inside Tuesday’s editions. Rather read it in print? Turn to A3.
DEAR ABBY ......... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2 OBITUARIES ........ A4
OPINION .............. A6 PLAN!T ................. A9 SPORTS ...............B1
AP
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn delivers his annual budget address Wednesday to a joint session of the General Assembly at the state Capitol in Springfield.
Today’s weather High 51. Low 32. More on A3.
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B6.
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