A Chicago-based anti-tax group has thrown its hat into the Oak Park Elementary District 97 tax increase debate, much to the happiness of referendum opponents and the chagrin of its supporters.

National Taxpayers United of Illinois has been sending out fliers to Oak Park residents to assist local opposition to the 3.8 percent tax increase proposal. The group has been working closely with Citizen’s Alliance of Oak Park, a loosely organized group working against the tax hike.

The letters specifically target the top 100 paid individuals at the district, listing their names, salaries, subject areas and schools. The letter slams teachers as overpaid and privileged employees.

“Public schools exist of the teachers, by the teachers and for the teachers,” the letter reads. “While taxpayers struggle to make ends meet, teachers work in a privileged environment of high-paying, guaranteed jobs, three months a year off, short workdays and early retirement — all at an extremely high cost to the hardworking taxpayers of Oak Park and River Forest.”

Jim Tobin, President of National Taxpayers United of Illinois, called the teachers “grossly overpaid” in a phone interview and said they sent about 400 letters to members and former members, who are expected to do more legwork spreading their letter and flier. The group also opposes a referendum for Riverside-Brookfield High School, but said they are doing it in a more supportive role for local groups.

“I don’t have the kind of money the school district steals from the public,” he said.

Sue Tresselt, president of the Oak Park teacher’s union, said the accusation that teachers were only in it for themselves was “one of the most dishonest sentences I have ever read.”

“None of us go to work for ourselves,” said the fifth-grade teacher at Irving Elementary School. “We go for our students. We go to help our students better themselves and for the community. It’s incredibly hurtful that teachers are being attacked at the local, state and, now, the national level.”

The letter lists teachers salaries, and the group has specifically called out those making in the six-figures. Tresselt defended their salaries.

“The teachers who have put in decades of work to improve the classrooms, the district, the schools and the community deserve what they earn,” she said.

Noel Kuriakos of the Citizens Alliance of Oak Park has called attention to their involvement and the National Taxpayers United of Illinois literature is listed on their website.

Jassen Strokosch, co-chair of the pro-tax increase group Committee to Support our Schools, was not pleased with the letter, which he said does nothing more than “blast teachers.” He said National Taxpayers United of Illinois has no interest giving Oak Park residents balanced information because they are a group that opposes all tax increases and referendum questions.

“They are clearly not making an objective decision,” Strokosch said. “They do not look at individual merit, they just oppose referendums no matter what.”

He called the group out-of-touch with the local debate. For example, the highest paid employee of the district is listed as former Superintendent Constance Collins at $236,030. Strokosch said Collins’ appearance on the list shows National Taxpayers United of Illinois doesn’t know Oak Park.

“It shows the trouble that happens when a statewide or national group sticks its nose in local issues,” he said. “They still list Dr. Collins, who we all know has been gone since June. They claim to be informing voters, but what they are doing is confusing people.”

The letter also erroneously refers to the “hardworking taxpayers of Oak Park and River Forest.” District 97 does not cover River Forest.

Jim Tobin said the group has successfully opposed 190 referendum questions since 1974. His daughter, Christina Tobin, has taken the lead for Oak Park because she said she will be moving to the village in May. She said she is hopeful an anti-tax message will resonate with Oak Park voters.

“It’s Oak Park and I understand how liberal it can be,” she said. “But everyone is hurting right now, including the private sector. We just have the wrong people in office.”