Franks Aims Legislative Arrows at Property Taxpayers

On the first day of his third set of three-year terms, Democratic Party State Rep. Jack Franks introduced four bill that could be merchandised to homeowners in a General Election four years from now. Seems to me it is in … Continue reading

Conservation District Tax & Spending Facts

Commenter Susan has compiled some facts about McHenry County Conservation District over the last ten years. She originally posted them under State Senator Pam Althoff’s defense of her and State Rep. Mike Tryon’s Senate Bill 3341 to allow MCCD to … Continue reading

Real Estate Tax Burden Shift for Seniors

Senior citizens who are eligible for the senior citizen assessment freeze got a surprise last year. Their tax bills went up. That’s because other people’s assessments went down. It’s called “burden shift.” The tax burden was shifted from non-seniors to … Continue reading

Will Lower Assessments Lead to Lower Taxes?

The Illinois real estate assessment system bases one’s share of the total bill on the value of one’s property (unless one has farm land). A short history of how we got where we are. The 1870 Constitution required that real … Continue reading

Incoming Grafton Township Assessor Al Zielinski Outlines Taxpayer Bill of Rights

Take a look and give your reaction to Al Zielinski’s ideas for a Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Zielinski takes office as Grafton Township Assessor the first of the new year. Initial, Conceptual Property Owners’ Taxpayer Bill of Rights Discussion Points … Continue reading

Cook County Assessment Crooks Go Down

A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office: TWO FORMER COOK COUNTY BOARD OF REVIEW ANALYSTS CONVICTED OF ACCEPTING $1,500 BRIBE TO FACILITATE $10,000 PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION CHICAGO ― Two former analysts for the Cook County Board of Review were … Continue reading

Wheeler Introduces Bill to Cut Taxes for Families who Modify their Homes to Care for Relatives

A press release from State Rep. Barb Wheeler: Wheeler Aims to Alleviate Home Healthcare Springfield, IL…Working with local property tax assessors and home healthcare providers, State Rep. Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) has introduced House Bill 3715, a measure aimed at … Continue reading

County Government Aims to Capture New Growth

The inadequate language of the Property Tax Cap encourages tax districts to “balloon” levy. The Tax Cap, know as PTELL to the technocrats, has two parts. In the first, which is most widely known, tax districts like schools and county … Continue reading

Huntley Tea Party Holding Property Tax Meeting Wednesday in Algonquin

A press release from the Huntley Area Tea Party: Property Tax Action Group Addresses Huntley Area Tea Party over Lunch At Huntley Area Tea Party, May is “Action” month. We begin with a lunch gathering at 12:30 pm* on Wednesday, … Continue reading

Grafton Township Assessor Candidate Al Zielinski Making Mailing

And, here’s what it looks like: Alan Zielinski for Grafton Township Assessor Dear fellow Grafton Township neighbor,I’m running for Grafton Township Assessor and ask for your vote on February 26th. You deserve accurate property assessments. For too long Grafton Township … Continue reading

McHenry Township Assessor Lays Out Her Qualifications

McHenry Township Assessor Carol Perschke outlines her qualifications: Information, Innovation, Leadership I’m Carol Perschke, McHenry Township Assessor since 1995, running for re-election in 2013. I have a Democratic opponent. My office has served property owners with information, innovation and leadership. … Continue reading

State Says McHenry County Assessments Must Go Down 9%

That’s what Supervisor of Assessments Robert Ross emailed me in September: “The Department of Revenue has indicated McHenry County assessments must go down approximately 9 percent in 2012.” Now comes my Algonquin Township assessment notice and guess what it says? … Continue reading

Assessment Appeal Deadlines Thus Far

There are thirty days to appeal one’s assessment after publication of real estate assessments. Here is the schedule for those whose publication has occurred or who publication is set: 2012 ASSESSMENT PUBLICATIONS The 2012 assessments for McHenry Township will publish … Continue reading

Anonymous Supporter of Grafton Township Assessor Bill Ottley Takes on Challenger Al Zielinski, Al Replies

Bill Ottley’s secret admirer provides this criticism on Al Zielinski’s opposition to Ottley for Grafton Township Assessor in the First Electric Newspaper: September 1, 2012 4:00 PM Anonymous said… The current Assessor, Mr. Ottley, has been doing a great job … Continue reading

Alan Zielinski Running for Grafton Township Assessor

Incumbent Grafton Township Assessor Bill Ottley told me he was running for re-election a couple of months ago. Now, he has an opponent named Alan Zielinski. His press release is below: Alan Zielinski Announces Candidacy for Grafton Township Assessor Lakewood … Continue reading