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This is a unique election in that you have two incumbents. You can directly compare our records. After years of neglect, we agree that $500 million in capital improvements are needed. However, we have very different approaches: Cunningham's approach is to increase taxes and borrow the money needed. $500 million in improvements would cost taxpayers $750 million with interest and take 22 years to pay off. Further, no one is going to loan the City $500 million. This is a short-term Band-Aid. My approach is to carve out a budget of $25 million/year through cost reductions and paying down debt, then paying cash for capital projects. Below, you find $10 million more from grants, $9 from investments, $6 million for fixing an error in the water billing systems. I n 20 years, $500 million will be paid in cash. This is a long-term solution. Ann Taylor Sam Cunningham Debt Reduced our debt by $37 million, freeing up money for capital improvements No new loans A record level of debt - $146 million A record increase in debt - $69 million $123 million in loans Reserves Increased from $18 million to $41 million. I took in $23 million more than I spent. $9 million from Investments for Capital Projects Decreased from $26 million to $18 million. He spent $8 million more than he took in Credit Rating Lowered to Negative Outlook Tax Increases Decreased Housing/ Property Tax 0.2% No Change in City Sales Tax Increased Housing/Property Tax by 13.5% Increased City Sales Tax by 20% Budgets Four Balanced Budgets without Loans Two Deficit Budgets. Two Budgets Balanced by Loans Grants Hired grant writer Increased to $16 million $6 million annually Water System Fixed programming errors in some water meters increasing revenues by $6 million/year For10 years, we have only billed for 90% of the water pumped. Capital Projects $90 million in capital improvements paid in cash $80 million in capital improvements paid by bonds. Police and Fire 14% Increase in Officers on the Street 6 new firefighters 12 new vehicles Extra funding of pensions 1.5 fewer police officers 1 fewer firefighters 8 new vehicles Shorted both police and fire pensions by nearly $1 million Ethics I have not taken any money from a city contractor or vendor nor from any Waukegan business. All new employees applied to posted job openings, some were interviewed and one selected as most qualified by staff.  No relatives have been hired. Many of Cunningham’s donations were from companies doing business with the City or seeking project approvals .  Some during the approval process. He hired multiple family members and many more political allies. He has promised dozens of people jobs in return for supporting him. I have carefully documented my facts in blog articles with links to city documents and articles in the Chicago Tribune. Saying these things about Cunningham is simply holding him accountable. I am appalled by all the false information and lies being told. There are dozens of trolls, including Eva Ronnell (Margaret Carrasco troll) and Keven Darco Lopez (one of many Keith Turner’s trolls). There is Cunningham’s fake news site, Lake County New Dispatch. Four years ago, it was the Illinois Citizen Force. While I quote the Tribune, Cunningham quotes himself. Character matters. Candidates who spread false information through trolls and fake newspapers are not who we want to represent and run our city. There is Keith Turner's poor judgment about posting a picture of a bone on the beach for political gain, which resulted in his censoring by the council. NEWS SUN OPINION COLUMN: Waukegan alderman should have apologized for the graphic post - Charles Selle   NEWS SUN: Waukegan Council censures alderman - Steve Sadin There is Sam Cunningham's temper, attacking a veteran on Veteran's Day in the middle of Genesee Street for putting a flying on Cunningham's car. Hitting him and threatening to break his neck is inexcusable. Point of View Podcast Facebook Page There is the video of him yelling at a volunteer dressed as an elf at the 2020 tree-lighting ceremony. I myself have been a victim of Cunningham's bullying multiple times at council meetings, including the Six-Minute rant. NEWS SUN: Despite earning approval for debt plan, Waukegan mayor goes on ‘rant,’ says city must invest in itself - Emily Coleman Video - Six-Minute Rant I have strived to represent the city in a professional manner, with dignity. In this election, voters have a clear choice. We can continue to make progress or return to the old ways of Waukegan, which put our hometown on the decline.

During my term as mayor, I ended nepotism and professionalized the hiring process at Human Resources.  All new positions go through a multi-department interview process where a consensus decision is made.  All candidates hired by the city went through this process and were selected as the most qualified candidates by the department heads.  No one received special treatment.  No relative of mine works for the city.   Sam Cunningham hired many relatives and political insiders.  A few examples are:   Proof:  From the meeting minutes of the January 3, 2020, city council meeting, go to Item E on the Consent Agenda showing the payroll.  There is the following link to the file 01.03.20 Regular Payroll.pdf :            https://go.boarddocs.com/il/cowil/Board.nsf/files/BK8Q3K6758F1/$file/01.03.20%20Regular%20Payroll.pdf   Another example is Cunningham giving a contract to his campaign manager for work on the city website for just below his spending authority of $25,000 without council approval. Proof:  From the meeting minutes of the December 18, 2018, city council meeting, go to Item A on New Business showing vendor payments.  There is the following link to the file AP.12.17.18.Port Angeles Report.pdf :        https://go.boarddocs.com/il/cowil/Board.nsf/files/B7DUGZ7C0C2E/$file/AP.12.17.18.Port%20Angeles%20Report.pdf Check 477705 is to Cunningham's campaign manager. When I became mayor, the city did not have employee reviews.  I implemented annual employee reviews.  When jobs are based on who you know, not what you know, this helps to identify those unqualified for their positions.  This has resulted in reassignments, employee terminations and promotions for those qualified.  For further information, go to AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/Nepotism .

In an election full of trolls, fake news sites and a ghost candidate, who knows what to believe. I have carefully documented the statements I made in my blog. I running a series of Facebook posts with the ten biggest lies with links to the documentation posted here. Stay tune for updates. Lie 5 : City Treasurer Repeats Cunningham Lies. John Schwab, City Treasurer, mailed a campaign flyer supporting Sam Cunningham, his running mate, that claims: Sam Cunningham did not raise your property tax bill by 13% ( See Lie 1 ). My latest budget has a $7 million short fall. ( See Lie 2 ). If budgets are unbalanced, how come reserves are up? In saying this, he is calling the Director of Finance a liar, as all four budgets state the budgets are balanced by accepted accounting standards. Schwab is a foot doctor and not a CPA. In cities where the Treasurer is hired rather than elected, they are required to be a CPA. He is also contradicting the Chicago Tribune. Schwab's campaign flyer does not have a paid-by statement as required by Illinois State law and looks like other Cunningham flyers, distinctly different than Schwab's flyers for Treasurer. We trust the City Treasurer with millions of our dollars. How can you trust someone who blatantly lies and violates state law? Schwab has some explaining to do. Lie 4: Murders are up 43% under my administration. One of Cunningham’s flyers claims murders are up 43% under my administration.  He compares 2020, 7 murders, with 2023, 10 murders.  Why these two years?  I am sure you can guess.  If he compared his last year (2020) to my most recent year (2024) with 5 murders, murders are down 29%. This is a classic example of how to lie with statistics – picking and choosing the data.  Figures don’t lie, but liars figure.     Cunningham Campaign Flyer While crime is and continues to be a key concern in our community, things are moving in the right direction.  Total crimes (murder, rape, robbery, agg. assault and battery, burglary, theft, stolen motor vehicle and arson) were down 28% during my term as mayor .  For further information, go to AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/Safety . Lie 3: My balanced budget is $7 million dollars in the red. Cunningham states, “Ann Taylor calls her budget balanced but in reality, it is $7 million dollars in the red.”  Cunningham’s fake news site, the Lake County News Dispatch, is cited as the source. The Lake County News Dispatch is run by Quentin Galvin who claimed he was Cunningham's campaign manager last election and received regular payments from Cunningham. In 2021, he ran another fake news site, the Illinois Citizen Force, that ran attack ads against me. He was sued for setting up a fake website pretending to be the website of candidate Fritz Kaegi . A far better source of information is the Chicago Tribune . Each of my four budgets clearly state that the budgets are balanced and certified by the Director of Finance.   AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/Finance     In contrast Cunningham's 2017-2018 and 2019-2020 budget's were deficit budgets. Cunningham 2017-2018 Budget - Page 5 Cunningham 2019-2020 Budget - Page 8 Lie 2: I am guilty of Pay-to-Play  During my term as mayor, I have not taken any money from a city contractor or vendor nor from any Waukegan business.  I do not take private meetings with businesses, including developers.  When a meeting is requested, the purpose must be stated, and I include the appropriate City staff to address the issues at hand.  There are no backroom deals. The Lake County Dispatch, described by a reviewer as “a paid political hit site,” ran an article accusing me of Pay-to-Play. It cites two donations from a donor totaling $1,500 and that I appointed him to the Waukegan Library Board.  All true, but it failed to mention that being a member of the Waukegan Library Board is an unpaid volunteer position that involves donating many hours of hard work.  Further, the individual has made numerous donations to the Library. Waukeganites are fortunate to have a CEO of one of our local credit unions volunteer his time to help the library.  Kudos to him, and shame on those disparaging our outstanding citizens for political gain.   Sam Cunningham collected $376,659 during his four years as mayor.  Many of Cunningham’s donations were from companies doing business with the City or seeking approval for projects. Some are during the bidding and approval process. Textbook pay-to-play. For more on Pay-to-Play go to: AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/PayToPlay     Lie 1: Sam Cunningham claims he did not raise your property taxes.  Cunningham stated this on a 2025 campaign flyer, but it wasn't the only time he had told this lie. When he ran for mayor in 2017, he promised not to raise taxes. In 2021, after raising the housing/property tax by 13.5%, he lied about raising taxes. In 2025, he is repeating the lie again. Numerous newspaper articles and city documents prove that he raised property taxes by 13.5%. I kept my promise and did not increase your taxes. 2022 City of Waukegan Annual Comprehensive Financial Report - Page 167 ( https://www.waukeganil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/212 ) Being willing to tell such a bold lie to the voters, what else is Sam lying about? Believe me, plenty. For further proof go to: AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/Taxes Proof of Sam Cunningham's Property Tax Increases AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/TaxLies

During my term as mayor, I increased the number of police officers on the street and the number of Firefighters.    I have a new dispatch center for police and fire, and the new animal control has expanded space and new state-of-the-art equipment.  I brought back community policing and restructured the Police Department to meet our community’s needs better, and we have increased the number of minority and women hiring.  I invested heavily in cameras and other key technologies.  I invested in vehicles, including buying 12 new vehicles for the Fire Department.  I have updated facilities, including replacing outdated HVAC systems.  I purchased additional land to build a replacement for Station 3.   I provided increased pension funding to make up for the nearly $1 million Cunningham shorted each of the police and fire pensions ( AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/pensions ).   While crime is and continues to be a key concern in our community, things are moving in the right direction.  Total crimes (murder, rape, robbery, agg. assault and battery, burglary, theft, stolen motor vehicle and arson) were down 28% during my term as mayor . For Waukegan crime statistics, see AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/SafetyProof.pdf .   One of Cunningham’s flyers claims murders are up 43% under my administration.  He compares 2020 with 2023.  Why these two years?  I am sure you can guess.  If he compared his last year (2020) to my most recent year (2024) with 5 murders, murders are down 29%.   Cunningham Campaign Flyer This is a classic example of how to lie with statistics – picking and choosing the data.  Figures don’t lie, but liars figure.  For further information, go to AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/Safety .

MY WAY When I became Mayor, I had a plan for addressing Waukegan’s needed capital improvements. The permanent solution is to carve out $25 million annually from the operating budget and dedicate it to capital improvements. In 20 years, the City would complete a half billion dollars in improvements. I knew this would not be easy, but I made more rapid progress than I thought possible. In just four years as Mayor, I was able to make over $90 million in capital improvements: Paid for in cash No new loans (bonds), resulting in paying down $37 million of existing loans No tax increases ( AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/taxes )  Some of the money was obtained by improving efficiencies. We stopped the more expensive practice of leasing cars and instead purchased them. I found 10 leased cars sitting idle in the parking garage. We terminated the leases, saving the city $500,000.   I reduced our debt by $37 million ( AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/debt ), reducing interest payments and saving money for capital improvements. I also improved our credit rating, reducing our borrowing costs.   We aggressively sought out grants. The Lake County Council of Mayors’ $1.2 million grant for Engineering was never applied for during Sam Cunningham’s term as Mayor. I hired a grant writer to pursue grants aggressively. We increased grants to our City from $6 million annually under Cunningham to $16 million this year. Congressman Brad Schnieder has been instrumental in getting funding for the water plant, and  State Senator Adrianne Johnson and State Representative Rita Mayfield have also provided much-needed grants.   The Treasurer reported $9 million in investment income. This is primarily due to the increased unassigned reserves ( AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/finances ), which provide us with money that can be invested.   Following the pandemic, the City’s fee collection was at a historic low. The City did not mail renewal notices to business owners. I have been diligent about collecting fees owed to the City.   Adding all these together has resulted in $90 in capital improvements paid for in cash. THE CUNNINGHAM WAY   Sam Cunningham also saw the need to invest in Waukegan. But his approach was to borrow large sums of money ( AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/debt ). Paying for $80 million in capital improvements with loans ended up costing the taxpayers $120 million due to the added interest. Paying cash instead would allow us to make another $40 million in capital improvements. It also lowered Moody’s credit rating to a negative outlook, increasing the cost of loans and making it more challenging to get additional loans. This was a short-term plan, making long-term solutions more difficult.   Even now, when he has been shown a better way, he hasn’t changed his ways. At the Waukegan Cares Town Hall, Cunningham reaffirmed his approach: “This is what we call bonding. It is like a mortgage; we pay for it over 30 years.”  Your property taxes pay for Sam’s Cunningham’s bonds.   WHAT HAS BEEN DONE   Completed Projects   14 miles of streets repaved ( arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/2bdb797109c34650abcb65f4dc93040a ) Sidewalk repairs New Animal Control Center New Dispatch Center – relocated to the airport with all new modern equipment Lead Pipe Replacement - the city will cover the costs of replacing lead pipe service lines rather than passing the charges onto the residents. Culvert repairs Bridge repairs Water main and sanitary sewer repairs Water plant, including pumping station Broadband internet enhancement Improved beach accessibility Improvement of Waukegan Metra Station and PACE facility at Fountain Square HVAC-Clean Air improvements for the City’s public buildings.   There is still much to be done. But by making steady progress each year, we will see consistent improvement in our City.   One of the worst roads in the city is IL-120. I have worked with our state legislators to get this on the list of roads to be done by the state.   Washington Street also badly needs repairs. We have begun engineering studies. There are many underground utilities that must be dealt with. It is a four-year process. When I took office, we did not have any engineers on staff. Now, we have a whole department making these types of projects possible.   For further information, go to AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/Capital .

Under my leadership, the City of Waukegan has achieved unprecedented financial stability. Unlike Sam Cunningham, I had four balanced budgets without: Any tax increases. Taking out loans. All while: Paying down the record debt inherited from Cunningham’s failed administration. Increasing the City’s cash reserves. Funding $90 million in capital projects. As a result, Moody’s removed the negative outlook from our credit rating, which they had assigned under Sam Cunningham’s failed leadership. BALANCED BUDGETS WITHOUT TAX INCREASES AND LOANS When I came into office, I inherited an unmitigated mess. The Finance Director had resigned and left, and the budget year had already started without an approved budget. The draft budget had a $8 million deficit. I offered early retirement and cut budgets. In two months, my administration put together our first balanced budget, which was approved on June 28, 2021. Since then, I have put together three more balanced budgets. During Cunningham’s term as Mayor, he helped supplement his annual budgets by increasing property and sales taxes and taking out loans. Property taxes alone increased by $4.4 million, a 13.5% increase ( AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/Taxes ) . He also took out $123.47 million in loans (bonds) ( AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/Debt ). His 2019-2020 budget had a deficit of $19 million offset by loans. My balanced budgets never include tax increases or loans. FINANCIAL HEALTH – BUILDING RESERVES AND PAYING DOWN DEBT The budget serves as a plan, and its successful execution is crucial. A key indicator of financial health is the unassigned reserve, which reflects the amount of money available, similar to having savings in the bank. During my administration, the unassigned reserves increased from $18 million to $41 million. I took in $23 million more than I spent. In contrast, under Cunningham’s leadership, unassigned reserves fell from $26 million to $18 million. Cunningham spent $8 million more than he took in, plus $123.47 million in loans. Another key measure is debt levels. I reduced our debt by $37 million after Cunningham’s record increases: A record level of debt - $146 million A record increase in debt - $69 million ON THE RIGHT TRACK Despite all the reckless spending and taxing we inherited from Sam Cunningham, we are trending in the right direction. I was still able to do $90 million in capital improvements paid for in cash. Imagine what might have been done without paying down debt and building reserves. My staff has been fully consumed with creating an Engineering Department, expanding the emergency Dispatch Center, moving departments around so all our customer interfacing operations are on the first floor, and much more. We are on the right track, but there is still much to do. The initial steps have been taken, but it takes more than four years to right Waukegan. For further information, go to AnnTaylorForWaukegan/Finances .

I reduced our debt by $37 million after Cunningham’s record increases, reducing interest payments and freeing up money for capital improvements.  I also improved our credit rating, reducing our borrowing costs.   Under Sam Cunningham, we saw: A record level of debt - $146 million A record increase in debt - $69 million   I paid back more than half of Cunningham’s increase.  I could have made an additional $37 million in capital improvements if I wasn’t fixing Cunningham’s messes.   The city’s debt is nearly all due to bonds.  Bonds are secured loans, much like a mortgage.  They are secured by the city’s right to levy property tax on the properties in Waukegan.  Bonds are the main reason the property tax levy increased by 13.5% during Cunningham’s term.  During my term as mayor, I did not take out any bonds and did not increase the property taxes.  However, I still had to make bond payments on the existing bonds. Sam Cunningham took out the seven bonds below. Cunningham’s massive increase in debt caused Moody’s to lower our credit rating.  On February 19, 2021, during Cunningham’s fourth year as mayor, they lowered the credit rating by assigning a negative outlook. I improved the credit rating by paying down the debt, increasing our reserves and putting our finances in order.  On March 20, 2023, towards the end of my third year as mayor, Moody’s improved the credit rating by removing the negative outlook, citing the city's improving fiscal position but expressing concern about elevated outstanding debt and post-retirement benefit liabilities .   Investopedia.com says: “ Having its credit rating downgraded, or being under a negative watch, is a big blow for a company.  It means it will have to pay a higher rate of interest to borrow money from a bank or issue bonds on the market for the foreseeable future.”   For further information, go to AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/Debt .

“Pay to play” refers to the link between political contributions and political favors.  Demanding a donation or favor to award a project or approval is illegal.  However, requesting a donation while discussing a project or action is not illegal but certainly unethical.  It may be perceived as expected, and the business may be afraid not to donate.   Sam Cunningham collected $376,659 during his four years as mayor.  Many of Cunningham’s donations were from companies doing business with the City or seeking approval for projects.  Some are during the bidding and approval process. $22,000 was donated by towing companies competing for business with the City. $4,000 was donated by Peter Baker & Sons. $1,500 donated 7/2/2018.  Sealed bids were opened 7/9/2018.  Awarded $3,475,203.05 contract. $2,500 donated 7/12/2019.  Sealed bids were opened 7/26/2019.  Awarded $6,079,860.00 contract. $5,000 from Lake Behavioral Hospital $2,500 was donated on 7/31/2018 by Richard Kresch, CEO of US HealthVest LLC, owner of Lake Behavioral.  A conditional use permit was submitted before the donation on 7/18/2018 and approved after the  donation on 10/1/2018. $2,500 donated 7/12/2019. $1,000 from Taqueria Guadalajara $1,000 was donated on 7/7/2018.  Their application for a gaming license was approved on 8/30/2018 with a variance to our ordinance that they must be 1,500 feet from any other enterprise with a City gaming license. A list of other donors doing business with the City includes: Daniels, Long & Pinsel Del Gado Law Group LLC Campanella & Son, Inc. Advanced Disposal Infrastructure Engineering Baxter & Woodman The Owens Group Advanced Disposal Ciorba Group   Cunningham also solicited donations from many of our struggling small businesses. Proof of Sam Cunningham's Donations   During my term as mayor, I have not taken any money from a city contractor or vendor nor from any Waukegan business.  Further, none of these businesses offered a donation, and I have not solicited any.  That means that Cunningham actively solicited their donations, including those above.   I do not take private meetings with businesses, including developers.  When a meeting is requested, the purpose must be stated, and I include the appropriate City staff to address the issues at hand.  There are no backroom deals. One of Cunningham’s strategies is to make me look as bad as him.  The Lake County Dispatch, described by a reviewer as “a paid political hit site,” ran an article accusing me of Pay to Play.  It cites two donations from a donor totaling $1,500 and that I appointed him to the Waukegan Library Board.  All true, but it failed to mention that being a member of the Waukegan Library Board is an unpaid volunteer position that involves donating many hours of hard work.  Donate money, then donate time.  Where is the play?  We have unfilled board positions for qualified individuals willing to volunteer their time to the City of Waukegan.   Before Cunningham’s term as mayor, we had a national award-winning library.  During Cunningham’s term, it deteriorated into chaos with a video of one board member calling a Cunningham appointee a “political whore.”  I replaced much of the board and am fixing another of Cunningham’s messes.  Waukeganites are fortunate to have a CEO of one of our local financial institutions volunteer his time to help fix the library.  Kudos to him, and shame on those disparaging our outstanding citizens for political gain.   For further information, go to AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/PayToPlay .

I held housing/property taxes flat during my four years as Waukegan Mayor. In contrast, Sam Cunningham increased housing/property taxes by 13.5%. Property tax is levied on all houses, apartment buildings, and other properties. Homeowners pay this tax directly. The landlord pays this tax for renters and passes it on as part of the rent payments, driving up rents. It also impacts business owners. Each year, the City Council approves the tax levy. The tax levy tells the county how much money to collect from Waukeganites. Even though I did not raise your property taxes, your property tax bill increased these last four years due to tax increases by your schools, county, townships, park districts, and other taxing bodies on your tax bill. Sam Cunningham also increased the city’s sales tax by 20%. Higher sales taxes cost our residents extra money and hurt our businesses by encouraging shopping elsewhere. Proof of Sam Cunningham's Property Tax Increases Proof of Sam Cunningham's Sales Tax Increase When he ran for mayor, Sam Cunningham promised he would not raise your property taxes.  He immediately broke his promise by raising property taxes by 3.8% in just his first year. Even more alarming is that Sam Cunningham then lies about raising the property tax.  In the 2021 election, he claimed I was lying about the 13.5% property tax increase and even claimed property taxes went down 11% during his term.  All this despite all the evidence, including newspaper articles and government documents. Ann Taylor 2021 Caption Sam Cunningham 2021 Caption Here is proof that Sam Cunningham raised Waukegan’s property taxes by $4.4 million, a 13.5% increase. 2022 City of Waukegan Annual Comprehensive Financial Report - Page 167 ( https://www.waukeganil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/212 ) This election, Sam Cunningham is sticking with the lie. His first campaign flyer states: “4 years ago, Ann Taylor told you Sam Cunningham raised your property taxes by 13%. That was a lie.” It is appalling that Sam Cunningham could so blatantly lie. He must think the voters are stupid. The choice in the April 1 election is for someone who keeps their promises versus someone who breaks their promises and lies about it. Sam Cunningham's Lies About Property Taxes

As Waukegan Mayor, Sam Cunningham underfunded the Police and Fire retirement funds (pensions) by nearly a million dollars each. Residents depend on our first responders to be there when we need them, and they should be able to rely on us to be there for them. As Mayor, I provided extra funding to make up for some of the loss—another example of cleaning up Cunningham’s financial mismanagement of City resources. The black line represents the state-mandated funding levels for the police pension. The red is the property tax levy allocated to fund the pensions. Tax levies fully funded the pensions for many years. In 2019 and 2020, Cunningham underfunded the police pension by nearly a million dollars. In contrast, I provided excess funding of $442,692, making up 47% of Cunningham’s deficit. At the April 21, 2014, Council meeting, Resolution 12-R-60 passed, allocating all the Gaming Revenue Funds from the Video Gaming Act (230 ILCS 40 ET SEQ.) to the Waukegan Police and Fire Pensions. The gaming money has always been added to pensions above and beyond the statuary contribution from the tax levy. This extra funding is helping us catch up. Cunningham played a shell game of using the gaming money to take away tax money. It sounds similar to how the state lottery was supposed to increase school funding here in Waukegan. The fire pension is no different. In 2019 and 2020, Cunningham underfunded the fire pension by nearly a million dollars. In contrast, I provided excess funding of $240,714, making up 26% of Cunningham’s deficit. Rather than playing shell games, I want the Waukegan Police and Fire departments to know that Waukeganites support them by providing them with the necessary equipment and staffing levels and taking care of them and their families. Proof of the above numbers.

I held housing/property taxes ( AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/Taxes ) flat during my four years as Waukegan Mayor. My opponent, Sam Cunningham, increased the property tax levy  by 13.5% and lied about it.  The council approves the property tax levy , telling the county the dollar amount to collect from Waukegan residents Proof of Sam Cunningham's Property Tax Increases 2017 MAYORAL RACE When Sam Cunningham ran against Lisa May in 2017, he promised to oppose property tax increases while Lisa May would raise your taxes.   Sam then proceeded to raise your taxes while Lisa May voted against them.  The December 18, 2017, Council Meeting minutes show both Lisa and I voted against his 3.95% Increase.   Fool me once, shame on Sam.   2021 MAYORAL RACE In the 2021 race, I ran against Sam Cunningham. I put out this flyer exposing his tax increases. Proof of these increases is at AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/PropertyTax.pdf .    Below is part of a flyer Sam put out lying about his tax increases.  He calls me a liar and claims he did not raise your taxes. Instead of the tax levy , his chart shows something completely different called the tax rate . The tax rate depends on housing prices. As prices go up, the tax rate goes down.  The council does not approve the tax rate and does not have control over housing prices. They approve the tax levy . The tax rate adjusts for changes in housing prices, ensuring the approved tax levy is collected. This is a disgraceful attempt to mislead the taxpayers. The tax rate is 2.873% and not $2,873.  Fool me twice, shame on me.   Being willing to tell such a bold lie to the voters, what else is Sam lying about?  Believe me, plenty.

Come join Team Taylor for an evening of fun and friendship as we kickoff Ann's 2025 re-election campaign! Date: August 29, 2024 Time: 5:30-730pm Where: Genesee Theatre, 203 N Genesee Street Food and Drinks Provided