This is the third installment about township government that was written by McHenry County Board member-elect Mike Walkup:

SHOULD WE GET RID OF TOWNSHIPS AND HOW?

What then is the actual cost of having townships versus not having them?

We couldn’t say back when Bob Anderson was making his pitches to abolish townships but there has since been a study.

Linda Moore’s opposition to replacing the old Grafton Township Hall with one that would cost $5 million (including interest) led to her victory over Supervisor John Rossi.

In 2004, Cook County townships were studied in terms of efficiency and cost and it was concluded that if those townships were abolished and their essential functions were taken over by other units of local government, the net savings would be FIFTY PER CENT.

Granted these were more urbanized townships than most of those in McHenry County, but Algonquin Township is almost identical to those Cook County suburban townships.

Why then do we still have townships?

We have townships because they are there.

Once something is there, people are there who have a vested interest in staying there.

If we were to turn local government over to Bain Capital, the first thing they would do is dissolve township government.

Ironically, it is the Republican Party which is most invested in the continuation of township government, as more counties, and hence more townships, throughout the state are in Republican areas.

Townships are a good place for local politicians to get their start.

We have several current and former County Board members who started out on township boards.

Dick Klemm, who eventually became State Senator, started at the township.

His ex wife, who shares his surname, was previously County Board Chair and is now a township Supervisor.

They are also a great place to retire.

he way the government retirement system works is you multiply the total number of years you were in government employment times the salary you received during your last years to come up with your pension amount.

The fact that you didn’t make much during most of those earlier years does not reduce your pension.

It is not based on what you paid in, in contrast to most private pension plans.

For example, we currently have three township Supervisors in McHenry County who served for many years on the County Board, and another who is expected to be running for Supervisor.

Mike Walkup

While on the Board, they didn’t earn much as some of them worked on a per diem basis in past years.

When they retire today, however, they will become entitled to generous pensions based on their Supervisor salaries.

It is a great way to boost your pension.

What has been the track record of attempts to abolish township government?

Bob Anderson was the only one in the state as far as I know to be able to surmount the legal hurdles to even get the question on the ballot.

When he did so, the county was swarmed by township people from all over the state and money poured in from the state township lobbying organization.

Literally thousands of signs appeared saying: “Township Government/The Government Closest To The People.”

That will happen again if anyone is so bold as to try to abolish an individual township anywhere in the state. If one township falls, the county will have to scramble to figure out how to replace its functions, which will show that it can be done without the world ending. This will be the death knell of townships everywhere.

The County Executive referendum supporter yard sign.

There will likely only be one of these contests going on at any one time so the entire weight of the extremely powerful Township Officials of Illinois (TOI) will be able to descend on the plucky locals.

Whoever wants to do this will need a lot of money and a lot of volunteers.

They are also going to need a good slogan that can fit on a sign or bumper sticker.

Jack Franks may have given it to them in his recent attempt to create a County Executive.

How about

“NO TOWNSHIPS=LESS TAXES”

It could be a winner.

Next installment, Politics

What would happen if a candidate ran for township office pledging to abolish the government for which he or she seeks office?

Mike Walkup

Attorney and future McHenry County Board member Mike Walkup considered the question and came up with the following:

Can this be done?

Many people are under the impression that townships can no longer be abolished one at a time.

This is due to legislation that was passed amending the Township Code when former McHenry County State Representative Ann Hughes chaired a special committee that had been formed following the unsuccessful attempt by Bob Anderson to abolish all of the townships in McHenry County in 1994. I will refer to this as the “Hughes Act.”

The issue at the time was that in a county like McHenry, where some townships have much larger populations than others and are also mostly incorporated into municipalities, a referendum to abolish all townships in the county could be carried by those more populous townships where the residents didn’t feel that they needed township services, notwithstanding the desires of the more rural township residents to retain that form of government.

I represented Bob Anderson at the time and helped him get the question on the ballot. It scared the heck out of the townships at the time.

The Hughes Act is as follows:

ARTICLE 25. DISCONTINUANCE OF TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION

(60 ILCS 1/25-5)

“Sec. 25-5 Petition and referendum to discontinue township organization. Upon the petition of at least 10% of the registered voters of each township of a county, as determined by the date registration closed before the regular election next preceding the last day on which the petition may be filed, that has adopted township organization, the county board shall certify and cause to be submitted to the voters of the county, at the next general election, the question of continuance of township organization. ” {a lot of stuff next about how the signatures all have to be collected 90 days before the last day for filing the petition and how to establish that on each petition sheet}.

“Sec. 25-10. Cessation of township organization. If it appears by the returns of the election that a majority of the votes in at least three-fourths of the townships, containing at least of majority of the population in the county, cast on the question of the continuance of township organization are against the continuance of township organization, then township organization shall cease in the county as soon as a county board is elected and qualified.”

This referendum can only be presented at a general election at which members of the General Assembly are elected, so it cannot be done in connection with a Consolidated Election, which is the one next year.

The entire County Board is then replaced by 3 County Commissioners!!

Many legal experts have been advising township boards that this is now the only way to abolish townships.

This is incorrect.

The power to abolish townships by referendum created by citizen petition is derived from the 1970 Illinois Constitution. Section 5 of Article VII thereof states as follows:

” SECTION 5. TOWNSHIPS

The General Assembly shall provide by law for the formation of townships in any county when approved by county-wide referendum. Townships may be consolidated or merged, and one or more townships may be dissolved or divided, when approved by a referendum in each township affected. All townships in a county may be dissolved when approved by a referendum in the total area in which township officers are elected.” (emphasis supplied).

The State Constitution supersedes any legislative enactments which are inconsistent with it.

Bob Anderson formed a group known as “S.T.O.P.”, (Send Township Officials Packing), which I also represented, and which challenged the Hughes Act in DuPage County on the grounds that the second paragraph, which required a super majority, violated the “one person one vote” rule.

We lost at the county level and decided not to appeal.

Bob subsequently filed to abolish McHenry Township separately.

He did not have enough valid signatures and tried a second time.

This time McHenry Township Supervisor Donna Schaefer decided not to file an objection and it made it to the ballot, where it lost.

No further attempts have been made.

Therefore, I am of the opinion that you can get a binding referendum on the ballot to abolish an individual township, notwithstanding the Hughes Act provisions, which I believe apply only where someone is attempting to abolish all of the townships in a county at one time.

How many signatures would then be required and at what elections could it be presented?

The Hughes Act requires ten percent of the registered voters. However, it does not address the requirements for single township abolition.

I believe these would therefore be determined by the Election Code.

This would fall under Section 28, Submitting Public Questions.

It provides as follows:

“The method of initiating the submission of a public question shall be as provided by the statute authorizing such public question, or as provided by the Constitution. …..

If such statute does not specify any of the foregoing petition requirements, the corresponding petition requirements of Section 28-6 shall govern such petition.

“Sec. 28-6. Petitions; filing.

“(a) On a written petition signed by a number of voters equal to at least 8% of the total votes cast for candidates for Governor in the preceding gubernatorial election by the registered voters of the municipality, township, county or school district, it shall be the duty of the proper election officers to submit any question of public policy so petitioned for, to the electors of such political subdivision at any regular election named in the petition at which an election is scheduled to be held throughout such political subdivision under Article 2A.”

Therefore, I believe that only 8% of those who voted in the 2010 gubernatorial election (combining vote totals for all Governor candidates) within the township is needed and that it can be placed on the ballot at any upcoming election, including either the Consolidated Election in April or any primary election prior thereto.

There you have it.

The rest, if anything, is up to you.

The deadline for filing for the general consolidated election is December 24th. I believe for a primary there is an earlier date.

= = = = =
Those wishing to file for township office must do so from November 19-26.

Happy Thanksging.

Bob Anderson made his pitch to put an anti-double dipping question on the fall ballot for a second time Thursday. He won the fight 11-9.

Wonder Lake activist-barber Bob Anderson got a referendum on the November without having to go door-to-door.

The question was on an issue upon which Governor Pat Quinn built his political career.

Until he had to depend upon double-dippers to advance his public career, every year Coalition for Political Honesty’s Quinn published a list of those with two public jobs.

Anderson’s question is more narrow.

The question that approved by the County Board on an 11-9 vote reads like this:

Should Illinois Law permit an individual to hold two or more public elected offices simultaneously?

It doesn’t address, for instance, County Board members who have a pay check coming from another unit of government which is appointed, rather than elected.

In his comments to the County Board, Anderson cited seven public officials, most present or former state legislators.

The debate was interesting.

One, State Senator Bill Peterson, used to represent part of McHenry County.  He earned $83,804 as a State Senator and $90,000 as Vernon Township Supervisor.

Currently, I am only aware of Algonquin’s Marc Munaretto’s being personally affected.  Besides being on the County Board, he is Algonquin Township Clerk.  Because of McHenry County’s population he is prohibited by law from holding both posts after the next election.  Munaretto did not run for re-election to the County Board and has not announced his intentions with regard to a Township Clerk candidacy.

Jim Heisler introduced the question, outlining the options–putting the question on the ballot, putting it on the County’s legislative wish list (my term) next year, plus a third option I didn’t catch.

Sandra Salgado

“I will be voting for it,” Sandy Salgado said.  “I’m in favor of asking voters whenever we can.”

Reflecting on the votes of those whose re-election chances might be affected if an opponent charged they had not been willing to trust the people, I think her comment might have had more effect than might have been apparent at the beginning of the debate.

Virginia Peschke agreed with Salgado.

She related how she had been a Bull Valley Village Trustee when first elected and, although she didn’t see then and hasn’t seen a conflict since, state law prohibited her from holding both elected offices simultaneously.

“In general, I think it’s a good idea.  There’s much too much opportunity for conflict.”

Democrat Kathy Bergan Schmidt disagreed.

“I will be voting against this.  The Legislative Committee (on which she serves) gave it a good thorough discussion.  We decided to include it as part of next year’s legislative program.”

Her basic pitch seemed to be that the Board should not contradict the Committee’s recommendation.

Nick Provenzano spoke in opposition, too.

He argued that Anderson should have gathered enough signatures, the same way Jack Franks did for his County Executive referendum, that County Board-initiated referendums should deal with questions on which Board members seek advice.

Donna Kurtz said that the democratic process benefits from involvement of more people.  Anderson’s reading of the double-dipping salaries “must have made your stomach crawl.”

Having people hold two offices at the same time “shut(s) down the opportunity for involvement of other people in the process to prevent the concentration of power.”

Diane Evertsen pointed out that people don’t step up to the plate as far as running for office goes…”except in District 6.”

Mary Donner rose to the defense of former Senator Peterson.

“To think that someone would run for State Senator and Township Supervisor to line their pockets, I find offensive.”

[Hold that thought because Kurtz found Donner's characterization of her remarks offensive and said so later.]

The second Democrat on the County Board, Paula Yensen, whose husband Mike Bissett is Chairman of the McHenry County Democratic Party, disagreed with Schmidt.

She related how she had resigned as a Trustee in the Village of Lake in the Hills when she was elected to the County Board.

Ersel Schuster, who was Seneca Township Supervisor while serving on the County Board, also opposed the ballot question.

“Transparency is out there.  In so many cases, the individual served the people well.”

[It should be noted that until a U.S. Supreme Court case in the early 1970's Township Supervisors were automatically on the County Board--all 17 of them.  In addition, the larger townships, Algonquin, McHenry, Nunda and Dorr elected misnamed "Assistant Supervisors," whose sole duties were to serve on the County Board.]

Randy Donley

“Much of what I see I just can’t stand,” Randy Donley said.

“So many things are wrong…just not illegal.”

Salgado rebutted Munaretto argument that resolutions put on the ballot should reflect issues for which the County Board sought guidance.

“I also represent the people. Let them choose, not us.”

“What impact will it have on McHenry County. It’s purely advisory. It expresses a public opinion,” Munaretto opined.

“I was not aware that Senator Peterson had another job,” Peshke added.

“I just think a man can’t serve two masters.”

Then it was Kurtz’ turn again.

“I don’t think there’s anything more distasteful than taking comments {out of context] and then turning them around and personalizing them.”

She said she did not use the term “lining pockets.”

Provenzano pointed out that being on a Township Board and the County Board is already prohibited by law.

Regarding prohibiting people from holding two elected offices, “It should be up to the voters. Senator Peterson got voted in over and over.”

Next, Donner apologized to Kurtz. “That’s what I heard.”

Absent from the 11-9 vote to put Anderson’s question on the ballot were Bob Bless, Pete Merkel, Bob Nowak and Barb Wheeler.

There was a long debate over whether the County Board should put a referendum on the fall ballot asking voters is they wanted to elect the County Board Chairman in an at-large election.

Before that several citizens provided input.

District 5 Republican candidate Michale Rein was asking, “Where’s the money going to be coming from?” as I arrived a bit late.

“Outside interests” was his answer to the rhetorical question.

“We’re going to end up with a career political [running McHenry County],” he added.

Earlier I posted the comments that Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore offered.

By putting such a powerful official over McHenry County government, she sees the possibility of conflict similar to that in Grafton Township.

And that’s what Jack Franks’ County Executive form of government seems to be all about.

The alternative of having a competing referendum asking,

“Shall the Chairman of the McHenry County Board be elected at-large by the voters?”

on the ballot was rejected by a 16-3 vote. Only Randy Donley, Virginia Peschke and Paula Yensen voted to place it on the ballot.

Members attending the meeting to consider a resolution to put a referendum on the ballot to allow voters to elect the McHenry County Board Chairman. Only three voted in favor.

The majority seemed to think that they stood a better chance to defeat the Franks’ proposal to shift from a Parliamentary form of government to a very strong Executive form of government if a somewhat similar sounding question were not on the ballot to muddy the waters.

And the majority clearly did not want to lose the power they now have.

Even Bob Anderson, in the room to promote his own anti-double-dipping advisory referendum, took a shot at Franks:

“If Jack Franks were doing his job, he would be addressing like this.”

Jack Franks wasn’t invited to the meeting, but his ears must have been burning.

Democrat Kathy Bergan Schmidt opposed Franks’ proposal,  calling it “a Trojan Horse.”

“We can deal with this question on our own.”

A former candidate for County Board Chairman, Virginia Peschke said, “I don’t support Mr. Franks form of government,” while expressing her support for electing the Chairman in an at-large election.

It was suggested that if both referendum passed, the County Executive one would have precedence.

Later, Assistant State’s Attorney Donna Kelly stated that the Statute “does not address the situation when you have dueling referendums.”

Marc Munaretto wanted to know if the Franks’ question could be withdrawn if the at-large election of the County Board question were put on the ballot.

“This is not Jack Franks’ petition.  He has not control over it after he handed it in…Why are we taking any time discussing it?”Kathy Bergan Schmidt asked.

[There is some disagreement with regard to Schmidt's opinion.]

“I do not support the County Executive form of government,” the man who twice ran unsuccessfully against Ken Koehler for County Board Chairman, said.

Sandy Salgado told of taking to some folks in her precinct.

“I have a feeling it’s going to pass.”

Later Virginia Peschke agree.

“We’re going to have a hard time defeating it. ”

She told of talking over a twelve-month period with Winnebago’s at-large County Board Chairman Chris Cohen.

“I didn’t find many objections.  I think many of these things are bogeymen.”

“I’m in concurrence with Kathy Bergan Schmidt’s opposition to the County Executive form of government…It gives unlimited power to that position…I do not support Mr. Franks’ referendum.”

Yensen indicated what was needed was term limits for the McHenry County Board Chairman, as did the head of the Management Services Committee, Ersel Schuster.

She also pointed out that a “countywide race for that position would be very expensive.”

She estimated candidates spent $100,000 on the campaign to become the at-large elected Chairman of the Kane County Board.

Mary Donner was suspicious about Rep. Franks’ timing, she indicated while expressing agreement with Schmidt view that putting a second referendum on the ballot would be confusing.

“I certainly do not support the Executive form of government,” Randy Donley said when he gained the floor.  He made it clear, however, he supported electing the County Board Chairman at-large.

Donley expressed the opinion that Franks would be willing to take his question off the ballot, if the County Board put the at-large referendum on the ballot.

Except for the comment to the left and recognizing people to speak, County Board Chairman Ken Koehler was silent during the meeting.

Donley asked how many had called him.

Jim Heisler, Paula Yensen, and Mary Donner said they had, although Yensen later said she had talked to him in person with others being present.

“I do not know at this time the motivation of Mr. Franks.”

“We’ve sent numerous letters to him saying we’ll set a Special Meeting when he wants to come,” County Board Chairman Ken Koehler interjected.

Announcing her intent to push for Term Limits again, Schuster said, “I find it mind boggling that a State Representative would act in this manner.”

Scott Breeden said his opposition to at-large elections was based on how the expense of the campaign wold limit “the number of qualified people.”

He pointed out that currently the Chairman “owes responsibility to the County Board members.”

Donna Kurtz said she supported Term Limits, as well as an at-large elected Chairman.

“A County Executive is so onerous,” she continued, “such a huge threat to the democratic process [because it puts] such an unprecedented amount of power and control down to the [lowest] employee.”

She pointed out a County Executive would have the power to hire its own attorney and “that will wreck havoc with legal fees.”

Kurtz said she thought having two referendums on the ballot would “confuse the issue.”

“If anyone doesn’t think there isn’t political influence in the way we now select the County Board Chairman, [he's wrong],” Peschke said.

“I’d like to know why this discussion didn’t occur prior to his getting the signatures,” Yensen said, pointing out that those petitions had set “a fire under us.”

John Hammerand probed as to whether the County Executive form of government, once approved, could be changed by putting another referendum on the ballot.

The answer seemed to be that a repeal referendum could be put on the ballot in 2014, but that would be the first election for a County Executive, so he or she would have at least one term in office.

There’s a tax protest meeting in Wonder Lake Sunday afternoon at 1 PM at Christ the King Church, located at 5006 E. Wonder Lake Road.

I’ve written about it before, but since Jim Tobin is coming to McHenry County tomorrow and the auditorium of McHenry’s West High School was packed for the last school board meeting as a result of the tax hike referendum on the ballot in April, plus the intention of the outgoing school board to high a new superintendent and ratify a teachers’ contract before newly-elected school board members are seated, I think you might like a reminder.

I’m wondering if any high school board candidates will attend and pass out information on where they stand on the issues of the day in High School District 156.

McHenry Citizens Tax Watch web site.

A group called McHenry Citizens Tax Watch has been organized by Wonder Lake’s Bob Anderson and David Yang.

It’s immediate goal is to the beat the upcoming tax hike referendum.

To support the effort, Jim Tobin, founder of National Taxpayers United of Illinois, is coming to Wonder Lake for a town hall meeting next month.

Tobin, who recently appeared at a McHenry County College press conference on public pensions, is well known throughout Illinois as the state’s “number one tax fighter,” according to an announcement on the Tax Watch web site.

Jim Tobin

It continues:

“NTUI’s mission is to roll back taxes in Illinois, and fight new taxes and tax increases.

“Jim will be speaking on March 13, 2011 at 1:00 pm at Christ the King Church, located at 5006 E. Wonder Lake Road, Wonder Lake, IL.  Please mark your calendars.

“If you have tax concerns, you will not want to miss this event!  Jim’s topics will include opposing the next state income tax increase, and the state’s million dollar pensions.

“For more information, contact Bob Anderson at 815-653-9865 or 815-653-7699.”

I was listening to some background music while writing and found this appropriately titled song:

“Let’s Get Together”

The alternative might be, as the Northwest Herald editorial title said Wednesday,

“Dissolving Grafton may be best for all”

March 17, 2010, editorial supporting abolition of Grafton Township.

So far, the NW Herald hasn’t picked up on the likely attempt to get township electors to approve purchase of an empty building for conversion into a new township hall at the annual town meeting on April 13th at 7 PM at Huntley High School.  (See Grafton Township Edifice Complex Alive and Well.)

While the NW Herald has editorialized against approval of the judicially-set November referendum about whether Grafton Township voters, no recommendation has been made about buying and remodeling an empty building.  A tie vote at last year’s annual meeting played a key role in Judge Michael Caldwell’s decision.

The township trustees plan to

• put a big ad in the NW Herald (a half-page add cost one candidate $1,500 the Sunday before the primary election),
• send out post cards,
• hold an open house in the current township offices the day of the meeting, presumably to show their inadequacy and
• goodness knows what else.

The NW Herald was speaking in philosophical terms when writing about dissolving Grafton Township. After Wonder Lake’s Bob Anderson’s unsuccessful attempt to abolish township government throughout McHenry County (with township officials coming from other counties to help in the campaign to kill the effort), laws may have been changed.

Then, it was my understanding that individual township could be abolished by referendum vote. I don’t know if that option still exists. If it doesn’t, a countywide vote might be required on an all or nothing basis. Just getting sufficient signatures on petitions to call such a vote would be daunting.

And, it is worth remembering that probably the third largest Political Action committee in McHenry County is Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Bob Miller’s. He had $58,668.39 before spending for his wife’s re-nomination campaign to the McHenry County Board.

Gerry McMahon

So, those in favor of keeping township government would have money for a campaign, while those on Anderson’s side would be starting from scratch in fund raising, with no individual taxpayer having much to gain from dissolution.

As Grafton Township Trustee Gerry McMahon continues to wonder (out loud in meetings), why would the Coyne Station Road farmers care so much whether Grafton Township spends $5 million (principal, plus interest) for a new township hall when the cost to them individually would be so relatively little.

Accepting that argument, why would ordinary homeowners contribute more than the few dollars they might save, if they had the chance to combine township services with those provided by the county.

There are only three essential services offered by township government:

• assessing property
• maintaining roads and
• providing local welfare

Everything else is optional.

It may be good, but it is optional.

Grafton Township's senior citizen bus after the 2009 Annual Town Meeting.

Food pantries, for example, are stand along, not-for-profit enterprises most places.

RTA’s PACE provides dial-a-ride bus service. Townships supplement service, providing subsidies for senior citizens, including, at least in Grafton Township’s case, subsidies to non-township residents.

And, as Woodstock Advocate’s Gus Philpott points out, it might be cheaper just to pay taxis to provide the service.

But, then, the name of the township would not be seen as the bus drives around town.

What follows is what Wonder Lake’s Bob Anderson and friends are passing out in McHenry County. He stopped over last week to show me and then went to hand some out door-to-door in Crystal Lake.

Bob owns a barber shop in Wonder Lake with an empty lot next door. He contends its an unbuildable lot, assuming one has to have a well and septic tank separated by 75 feet. The lot dimensions are 50 feet by 120 feet. There are other requirements. You loose 20 of the 50 feet because of required setbacks. The front of the building also has to be as far back from the street as neighboring buildings.

The result of his having had his assessment raised more than he though reasonable can be seen below.

ARE YOUR REAL ESTATE TAXES

TOO

HIGH ? $$$$

PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON PROPERTY TAX BILLS!!!

WITH THE SOFT HOUSING MARKET YOU MAY BE OVER – ASSESSED

SEE THE INFORMATION GUIDE, ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS NOTICE, FOR PROTESTING PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS.

HOMES +++ VACANT +++ BUSINESS

AS A TAXPAYER IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO APPEAL YOUR PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS. SO READ ON!!

THIS GUIDE IS MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU BY “Citizens for Fair Assessments”.

• APPEAL YEAR: You will be appealing assessments for the year 2008.You may not appeal prior tax years.

• COMPLAINT FORMS: Forms are available from McHenry County Board of Review Administration Building Suite 106 McHenry County Government Center, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. You can pick them up, hour’s 8:00AM to 4:30PM or call 815-334-4276 or 815-334-4282 to have forms mailed to you. . Forms are also available from the County web site www.co.mchenry.il.us. go to departments, then assessments, then forms. You will need forms for each property protested.

• SUBMISSION OF EVIDENCE: You must have evidence to support complaints. An opinion of fair cash market value must be submitted at the time of complaint filing. You will need four (4) copies of evidence documents.

• EVIDENCE EXAMPLES:

1. Recent bank or other appraisal.

2. Market value analysis by a real estate agent.

3. Comparable neighborhood properties (three are needed).

• INTERNET USE FOR COMPARABLE ASSESSMENTS: The Treasurer’s Office has a web site www.mchenrytreasurer.org. It can be used by you to look up any Real Estate Tax, which is public record. There are three ways to do this, by someone’s name, address, or PIN number. County Treasurer Bill Lefew is willing to help. Just call him at: 815-334-4260.

• HEARINGS/MEETING: Hearings will be held at McHenry County Board of Review Administration Building Suite 106 McHenry County Government Center, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. You will be notified. Hearings last about 15 minutes.

• FILING DEADLINE: Fully completed complaint forms must be filed with the clerk of Appeal Board 30 days after publication in the newspaper or mailing of assessment cards.

• WHERE TO FILE COMPLAINT FORMS: Forms are filed at the McHenry County Administrative building with the Office of Assessments either in person or by mail. If you need further information call the Office of Assessments at 815-334-4290

• ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION: You can hire an attorney to represent you. In most cases, this is not necessary.

• HELP US OUT: Please pass this information on to your neighbors and others!!!

• MAILING LIST: We are gathering a postal and E-Mail list.

Please E-Mail to Ed2mar68@yahoo.com

IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO APPPEAL YOUR PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS

JUST DO IT !!

PROVIDED BY CITIZENS FOR FAIR ASSESSMENT

What follows is what Wonder Lake’s Bob Anderson and friends are passing out in McHenry County. He stopped over last week to show me and then went to hand some out door-to-door in Crystal Lake.

Bob owns a barber shop in Wonder Lake with an empty lot next door. He contends its an unbuildable lot, assuming one has to have a well and septic tank separated by 75 feet. The lot dimensions are 50 feet by 120 feet. There are other requirements. You loose 20 of the 50 feet because of required setbacks. The front of the building also has to be as far back from the street as neighboring buildings.

The result of his having had his assessment raised more than he though reasonable can be seen below.

ARE YOUR REAL ESTATE TAXES

TOO

HIGH ? $$$$

PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON PROPERTY TAX BILLS!!!

WITH THE SOFT HOUSING MARKET YOU MAY BE OVER – ASSESSED

SEE THE INFORMATION GUIDE, ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS NOTICE, FOR PROTESTING PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS.

HOMES +++ VACANT +++ BUSINESS

AS A TAXPAYER IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO APPEAL YOUR PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS. SO READ ON!!

THIS GUIDE IS MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU BY “Citizens for Fair Assessments”.

• APPEAL YEAR: You will be appealing assessments for the year 2008.You may not appeal prior tax years.

• COMPLAINT FORMS: Forms are available from McHenry County Board of Review Administration Building Suite 106 McHenry County Government Center, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. You can pick them up, hour’s 8:00AM to 4:30PM or call 815-334-4276 or 815-334-4282 to have forms mailed to you. . Forms are also available from the County web site www.co.mchenry.il.us. go to departments, then assessments, then forms. You will need forms for each property protested.

• SUBMISSION OF EVIDENCE: You must have evidence to support complaints. An opinion of fair cash market value must be submitted at the time of complaint filing. You will need four (4) copies of evidence documents.

• EVIDENCE EXAMPLES:

1. Recent bank or other appraisal.

2. Market value analysis by a real estate agent.

3. Comparable neighborhood properties (three are needed).

• INTERNET USE FOR COMPARABLE ASSESSMENTS: The Treasurer’s Office has a web site www.mchenrytreasurer.org. It can be used by you to look up any Real Estate Tax, which is public record. There are three ways to do this, by someone’s name, address, or PIN number. County Treasurer Bill Lefew is willing to help. Just call him at: 815-334-4260.

• HEARINGS/MEETING: Hearings will be held at McHenry County Board of Review Administration Building Suite 106 McHenry County Government Center, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. You will be notified. Hearings last about 15 minutes.

• FILING DEADLINE: Fully completed complaint forms must be filed with the clerk of Appeal Board 30 days after publication in the newspaper or mailing of assessment cards.

• WHERE TO FILE COMPLAINT FORMS: Forms are filed at the McHenry County Administrative building with the Office of Assessments either in person or by mail. If you need further information call the Office of Assessments at 815-334-4290

• ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION: You can hire an attorney to represent you. In most cases, this is not necessary.

• HELP US OUT: Please pass this information on to your neighbors and others!!!

• MAILING LIST: We are gathering a postal and E-Mail list.

Please E-Mail to Ed2mar68@yahoo.com

IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO APPPEAL YOUR PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS

JUST DO IT !!

PROVIDED BY CITIZENS FOR FAIR ASSESSMENT