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* I completely understand why somebody would stand on principle and refuse to pay a tax that wasn’t owed throughout numerous appeals. I don’t understand why a guy running statewide wouldn’t have just written the stupid little check months ago to get this off the books and then and only then continue with his appeal.
At issue are taxes on two suites of offices [Democratic state treasurer nominee Sen. Michael Frerichs] rents in Champaign from the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District. One suite, 600 square feet of offices, has been used since 2007 for Mr. Frerichs’ Senate staff. The other, next door, has housed his political operation since 2010.
Since the transit district is a public agency, it does not owe taxes on property it uses. But a leasehold tax that effectively is the same as a property tax is owed by those who rent space from the district, at least some of them.
Ergo, the Champaign County Treasurer has sent bills to Mr. Frerichs.
And he hasn’t paid those bills, which total a mere $1,814.17 going all the way back to 2008. The Senate President’s office agrees with Frerichs, but the Department of Revenue has ruled against him, just as they earlier ruled against Rep. Monique Davis, who was in an almost identical situation.
* And then there’s this…
Mr. Frerichs also had owed $170.78 for his political office. But that amount was paid earlier this week after a local blogger and Mr. Cross’ campaign began making inquiries.
According to Frerichs Campaign Manager Zach Koutsky, the campaign office bills weren’t paid because they were “incorrectly” mailed to the legislative office, where they perhaps were inadvertently lumped into the larger dispute over whether legislative office is or is not exempt.
Look, I like Mike Frerichs. I think he’d make a good treasurer (as would Tom Cross). But if you’re gonna run for office you gotta clean up this little stuff first.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:24 pm
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@FakeMikeFrerichs - I will pay nothing that I feel will make me look more Dopey than I usually am #PennyWisePoliticallyFoolish
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:27 pm
It’s generally a good idea to avoid direct comparisons to Monique Davis whenever possible.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:27 pm
@FakeMikeFrerichs - if I don’t make Dopey blunders once a week, what kind of press would I generate anyway? #TallTalesForShrinkingViolet
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:29 pm
@FakeMikeFrerichs - at least this part of my record I’m not making up or confusing. Baby steps #SteppingInTheMessAgain
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:30 pm
He has to stop this otherwise I am going hurt myself laughing so hard at him.
Comment by the Frisco kid Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:32 pm
@FakeMikeFrerichs - check my Twitter later to see what other agencies or gov’t entities I’m not paying. #BrightLightsNotGoodSometimes
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:32 pm
Any press is good press, I guess.
Comment by Southwest Cook Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:33 pm
@FakeMikeFrerichs - if I wasn’t the most annoying statewide candidate this cycle, what would be my schtick? #JustBeingTallLacksHighlights
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:34 pm
Stupidity or arrogance?? Neither is acceptable.
Comment by Secretariat Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:34 pm
@FakeMikeFrerichs - please understand, money and managing money confuse me at times #FrerichsForTreasurer
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:36 pm
Frerichs was just standing tall on this critical tax issue…..
Comment by Ghost Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:41 pm
@FakeMikeFrerichs - actually I just ran out of checks abscess waiting for another book of them #MickeyMouseOrGoofyWatermark
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:41 pm
Maybe all his money is tied up in I-bonds.
Comment by jocko Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:42 pm
Monique I believe owed over $100,000. Did she pay it or how did it get resolved? Or is it still at the court of claims?
Comment by Following up Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:43 pm
Isn’t using a dodge to avoid your taxes un-American?
Comment by OneMan Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:43 pm
@FakeMikeFrerichs - I haven’t paid @FakePatQuinn’s lawn service either. Wonder if anyone noticed. #MowingDownProblems
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:44 pm
If he can’t manage his own accounts (or his clearly faltering campaign), how can we trust him to manage the entire state’s? Unbelievable, even by Illinois standards.
Comment by Tubing Enthusiast Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:44 pm
–47th Ward - Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:27 pm: It’s generally a good idea to avoid direct comparisons to Monique Davis whenever possible.–
money shot right there
Comment by anon Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:45 pm
How about this for a rule: Do not rent political space off a public entity. Ever. I am not saying there is anything is wrong with it, but it only has a downside. Nobody will ever congratulate you for renting empty space off public agency, but people will write about it if you have a dispute.
Comment by Lil Squeezy Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:46 pm
@FakeMikeFrerichs - remember all the tweets about how much money I was raising and had on hand? Well, you don’t pay bills, you have even more money on hand! #LeaveTheBillTakeTheServices
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:48 pm
@FakeMikeFrerichs - if you owe money to public entities, pay them. That way I won’t have to worry about paying them. #GoodForTheLittlePeopleToPayForTallMan
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:52 pm
@FakeMikeFrerichs - you can rent me for $1,300. this weekend to change all your light bulbs, and dust all your high cabinets. Call the campaign office #HeightOfDopiness
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:55 pm
I wonder if Oberweis will ride in to rescue Frerichs from the evil tax collectors?
Comment by Imjustabill Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:56 pm
He is running for State Treasurer and the County Treasurer is sending him bills? oh my what a goofball…
Comment by PoolGuy Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 1:59 pm
No comment really. Just thanks for the chuckle. Truth is absolutely stranger than fiction.
Comment by A guy... Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 2:12 pm
@FakeMikeFrerichs - in other news, the ATM just ate my Debit Card. #BeingTallEffectsBalanceOfAccountsToo
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 2:25 pm
He doesnt pay his BILLS sounds about right for an Illinois office holder.
Comment by fed up Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 2:30 pm
Maybe they should have sent the notices in Mandarin.
Geez, how can you leave that stuff hanging out there fo years when you know you’re going to run statewide one day?
Did he not see the the giant, blinking warning sign?
That Yale isn’t doing him a whole lot of good these days.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 2:43 pm
I’ve seen better run campaigns…
Comment by Puddles Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 3:17 pm
I have never seen a candidate Frerichs himself so many times before Labor Day.
Comment by Happy Hank Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 3:24 pm
Look, even if he wins, he’ll resign and run for governor in four years anyway. not enough time to do any real damage.
Comment by Filmmaker Professor Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 3:58 pm
===Look, even if he wins, he’ll resign and run for governor in four years anyway. not enough time to do any real damage.===
Why would he have to resign? What am I missing? You can’t be seated and run for something else?
Professor, educate me in this resigning thing.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 4:01 pm
==- Filmmaker Professor - Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 3:58 pm:==
Why would he resign the treasurer’s office to run for governor?
Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 4:02 pm
On the other hand, wouldn’t being cheap be a good quality as treasurer?
$1,000? C’mon, Mike.
Comment by Da Bulls Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 4:28 pm
==Why would he resign the treasurer’s office to run for governor?==
Based on the blunders of his current campaign, would it surprise anyone if he resigned the treasurer’s office to run for Governor?
Comment by Puddles Friday, Aug 8, 14 @ 4:32 pm
omg, these @iltruthteam guys are hilarious http://www.hasmikefrerichspaidhistaxesyet.com/
Comment by Lance Monday, Aug 11, 14 @ 1:39 pm