Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore Reports Township Board’s Taxing to the Max
Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore’s weekly newsletter:
Weekly Newsletter from Supervisor Moore
SUBJECT LINE: Tax Rate Increase, Property Tax Quiz, Christmas Giveaway Successful, Christmas Crafts at
Bingo Tuesday
Linda Moore
Dear Resident,
Merry Christmas! I am enjoying all of the Christmas lights as I meet with residents during the campaign
season. The township office is welcoming less visitors now that the deadline to file appeals has passed.
Try a quiz to see how much you know about your property taxes. The board met last week and returned to court again. The Christmas spirit is alive at the supervisor’s office.
TAX RATE INCREASE AT BOARD MEETING
Thursday night the board held its regular meeting. They passed an increase (4 to 1, Supervisor Moore voted no) in the tax levy for both the town (4%) and road district (4.99%). [Under the Tax Cap, tax districts are allowed to increase the amount they take from taxpayers by 3%--the increase in the Consumer Price Index last year--plus new growth. Both levies mentioned guarantee the Grafton Township tax districts will maximize their tax takes.]
Although I pointed out that residents cannot afford to pay more taxes and that the road district has a surplus equivalent to almost one year’s revenue, the motion carried.
Last week the trustees filed a new motion with the courts asking Judge Caldwell to approve a down payment of $10,000 for the services of a forensic auditor. The trustees have not cited any fraud, nor does a forensic audit guarantee fraud investigation. They have not approved payment on an independent audit completed two years ago.
ASSESSOR REQUESTS
Assessor Ottley is asking for 12 new windows in his office, he would also like to purchase a new copier, to contract with a new phone company and to pay $300 per month to join an MLS Service for commercial property. He does not know yet how many appeals have been filed, but he is sure that it was less than the 2000, approximately, that were filed last year. He will post the figures on his website soon.
QUIZ YOURSELF REGARDING TAX LEVIES
The levies passed by local government, which include townships, are used in the calculation of your tax rate. Here’s the formula:
LEVY(*1) / Total Equalized Assessed Value(*2) = Tax Rate
*1 – A Levy is determined by Bonded Indebtedness, Local School Boards, and Local Governments.
*2 – The Total Equalized Assessed Value is determined by the Assessor.
QUIZ
1. The largest share of property tax goes to _______________.
2. Give two examples of “special property valuations” or “preferential assessments.”
3. The _________ property owner pays the largest share of the property tax.
4. List two strengths of the property tax.
5. List two weaknesses of the property tax.
Look at the end of this letter for the answers. (Source – Illinois Property Institute)
CHRISTMAS DINNER GIVE-AWAY
Yesterday, the Huntley Lions Club and Grafton Township General Assistance Supervisor Linda Moore worked together to give away Christmas Dinners and presents donated by the Sun City Woodchucks and other private donors. The gifts were greatly appreciated. One of the recipients, with a large family of young children, asked for help with fuel to return home. The generosity of the Lions Club members was immediate, without hesitation and heart-warming. Everyone worked in rainy weather without complaint.
Highway Commissioner Jack Freund and Huntley Village Trustee Nick Hanson were on hand to pitch in. Thank you for giving families a Christmas Dinner and presents that they may not have been able to afford to celebrate otherwise. If you know of someone who is in a financial emergency, direct them to their local township office for possible help or for referral to help. We always welcome donations at the township office food pantry. Remember, if you know of someone who needs a coat, but can’t afford to buy one, we have plenty of warm coats available at the township for all ages.
TOWNSHIP BINGO THIS WEEK
On Tuesday, December 18th, at 11am join us for Christmas Crafts, a free lunch sponsored by Congressman Randy Hultgren, and bingo games. All ages are welcome. We will meet at the Huntley American Legion. This is the last event of 2012. January 15th is the next bingo. Please join us for some fun and have lunch on Congressman Randy Hultgren.
FLAG LOWERED
We have lowered the township flag to half-staff in memory of the recent victims of the Connecticut school shooting of 26 people ages 6 to 56. I extend my sincerest sympathies to their families.
Sincerely,
Linda Moore, Grafton Township Supervisor
QUIZ ANSWERS
1. Education
2. Farmland, Model homes, Coal, Solar Energy System, Historic residences, subdivisions, open space, subdivision commons, and oil.
3. Residential
4. Difficult to evade, Stable Revenue, value can be estimated, locally administered, historically a rising value.
5. Taxes unrealized gains, inequitable assessments, lump sum payments are inconvenient, regressive, high burden on certain taxpayers relative to income, viewed as unfair.
