Mayor, my opinion is that Lake Forest should be tax-exempt.  However, they should also be held accountable to use a percentage of the "profits" annually to the benefit of the residents.  If they have so much extra money, I'm sure they could provide more personalized taxi services for residents, more activities, provide more meals, and more physical therapy, medical supplies that aren't covered by medicare, etc.  I'm sure if they asked their employees, they would find out ways the money could be spent in order to be of benefit to and appreciated by the residents.

Taxing Lake Forest will only increase the costs which residents pay to live thered.  I understand you are looking hard for ways to straighten out the city's financial issues, but to the detriment of the citizens?

To Scott, Matt or Brian:  I meant to post this topic to "City Govt." Could you move it there?  Thanks!

Why should Lake Forest be tax exepmpt? I will probably be one of the only ones who agrees with what the Mayor said, but come on. I would love to hear from Stephens Mundy and other high ranking CVPH people on this issue..

Also, the rates there do NOT have to go up for the residents. Was I the only one who understood the article? Lake Forest made a 2.1 MILLION profit since 2001. That is what a "build up" of funds is.. I would also be curious to hear from some residents and it would be interesting to hear from them if their thoughts have changed. I wonder if some of the protesters have changed their minds knowing now what figues have gone public!

My question is this: If this had not gone public, how MANY more millions would have been built up! Why, all of a sudden, is Lake Forest saying that this money will finally go to projects and improvements. Also, ask the CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT not the Mayor as to why this became an issue. If seniors want to protest, go to school board meetings and voice their thoughts. The Mayor is the one that looks like the bad guy on this one, but, if you have a problem with the issue, blame the City school district!

Common sense people.. everyone should pay taxes! Ask the 182 other seniors who don't live at Lake Forest and pay taxes AND live on fixed incomes.

I agree 100% Lake Forest should pay taxes.  The residents there pay over $2,000 a month for rent.  They get someone to clean, one meal a day and someone to check in on them once a day and I believe utilities.  I can not afford a $2,000 rent (even if all the other items were included), how many of you out there can? The seniors say they can not afford the additional $400 if they were to be taxed yet Lake Forest has only had to assist with rent on two occasions?  I do not think the seniors there are quite as poor as they wanted everyone to believe at the protest.  But that aside, if they can not afford it, with a $2,100,000 surplus, Lake Forest is averaging $300,000 surplus a year.  Not counting the surplus they will have at the end of this fiscal year, or future fiscal years, Lake Forest could pay for the taxes (assuming they were $350,000 as the paper reported) for 7 years before the seniors had to have a cost of living increase.  How many landlords out there will leave rent alone for 7 years???  If you want to know how long Lake Forest could absorb the property tax before passing the cost along to the Seniors then feel free to do the math.  I am running out of time, but I want to finish with, think of the seniors who can NOT AFFORD to live in Lake Forest... their taxes have gone up and up... this could help them out.

Tim

That's why I suggested that Lake Forest, who claims tax exemption, and who claims they have a charitable emergency fund, should be held accountable for the use of the millions of "profit" which they say is not. (again, sarcasm is lost in the typed word)