McHenry County Blog

That’s “firework.” Singular.

In order to give cover to House Democrats who voted to hike state income taxes by 67%, House Speaker Mike Madigan is going to allow Jack Franks to have the spotlight one day this week.

One bill.

A big one, if it becomes law.

Franks will be allowed to call House Bill 3793.

That’s his Property Tax Cap modification bill that will prevent tax districts from increasing the amount billed taxpayers last year, if assessed valuation is decreasing. The technical term for this number, which is set by County Clerks, is the “extension.”

The bill will fly out of the House like a rocket off the launching raft on Crystal Lake on the 4th of July.

And then it will die away like the phosphorus and other chemicals exploded during an Independence Day celebration.

There will be no vote in the Illinois State Senate.

Nothing will be left but smoke.

Local tax districts will continue to ask for as much money as they are allowed to request by law and our taxes will continue to increase, even though the value of our property is declining.

If there are elected officials on boards that levy taxes brave enough to go to taxpayers’ side, here’s my suggestion:

Move to amend your tax district’s levy to replace the suggestion from the employees or lawyers

(which undoubtedly will be crafted to bring in as many tax dollars as possible) with

the “amount the McHenry County Clerk extended last year.”

The specific number can be put in later.

You don’t really have to worry about not having the number.

Odds are good you won’t even get a second to your motion.

Once elected, almost all board members forget that they represent taxpayers.

And once again Springfield politicians will have done what they do best:

Raise expectations for constituents,
who will see them go up in smoke as local governmental tax districts prepare to burn through more recession-dimiinsished taxpayer dollars.

Yesterday I saw Jack Franks and his father Herb in their Marengo law office, where I was waiting for a friend to complete an appointment.

Jack didn’t pause to shake hands, but his father, whom I met while I was County Treasurer during tax sale time, was his usual genial self.

Maybe it was the John O’Neill for State Rep. bumper sticker I had on my windshield in front of the rear view mirror that was off-putting.  (It blocks the sun and is the best place to put a bumper sticker because more people can see it there than when you put in on the back of your car.)

In any event, although Jack is not happy with my reporting that he flipped on the Com Ed rate increase bill and other stories, he is on the side of the angels in his sponsorship of House Bill 3793.

You figure that out for yourselves by reading the following frantic email to township officials from the Township Officials of Illinois. That’s the organization that your tax dollars finance, by the way.

To: Township Officials
From: Bryan E. Smith, Executive Director
Date: November 2, 2011
Re: House Bill 3793
Urgent Legislative Matter – Contact Your Legislators

House Bill 3793 is currently on second reading in the Illinois House. This bill would affect Townships and Road Districts in PTELL (Tax Cap) Counties. This bill amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) to prevent a taxing district (Townships and Road Districts included) from capturing the CPI increase for its extension limitation if the district’s total EAV is less than the previous levy year. TOI OPPOSES this bill because it would reduce available property tax revenues for Townships and Road Districts. PTELL (Tax Caps) already limits (in those counties that have tax caps) the ability of Townships/Road Districts to capture all available growth during good economic times. It would be very unfair to also prevent a Township/Road District from capturing minimal cost-of-living increases that are available.

We have heard that the sponsor might try a legislative parliamentary procedure to get this passed during the final days of the VETO Session next week. The House could vote any time on this bill during VETO Session next week, November 8-10.

Please call your State Representative now in their Springfield office by calling 217.782.2000 (State Operator) and ask them to OPPOSE and vote NO on House Bill 3793.

Thank you for your assistance with this urgent legislative matter.

Pam Butler
Office Manager, TOI
Drug and Alcohol Program

Taxpayers can, of course, call their legislator, too. The switchboard number is 217-782-2000.

Secretaries in Springfield usually keep tallies and you can bet the calls from taxeaters will exceed those from taxpayers.