Lakemoor Police Officer’s Shooting of Murder Suspect Ruled Justifiable Self-Defense

Lake Count Sate’s Attorney Michael G. Nerheim released the following statement today: Officer-Involved Shooting – July 26, 2018 Four Seasons Boulevard & Sullivan Lake Boulevard Lakemoor Police Department On July 26, 2018 shortly after 5:00 a.m., an officer with the Lakemoor … Continue reading

Why Did District 4 Count Board Candidate Steve Bellmore Give an Incomplete Answer to the NWH about Previous Elected Offices Held?

When Steve Bellmore, the candidate selected to knock Jack Franks critique Chuck Wheeler off the County Board, filled out his questionnaire for the Northwest Herald, he gave an incomplete answer to the following question: Elected office held: Bellmore’s reply was … Continue reading

Wauconda Tax Districts Go After Lakemoor TIF Districts

Three local tax districts have taken on Tax Increment Financing Districts in Lakemoor. Since McHenry County Blog was started in 2005 when I got angry about the Vulcan Lakes TIF District, it seems appropriate to focus attention on local tax … Continue reading

McHenry County Taxpayers Owe Over $130 Million for Underfunded Police and Fire Pensions…as of Two Years Ago

Commenter Mark has laid out all of the municipal police and fire pension fund money owed by McHenry County taxpayers. Let’s review police and fire pension funding status in McHenry County. Remember, Jack Franks says he has a plan to … Continue reading

Tax Takes for Cities and Villages

Below is what cities and villages in McHenry County did to property taxpayers last year and what can be expected this year: City or village INCR / DECR INCR / DECR 2015 – 2014 2014 – 2013 IN TOTAL TAX … Continue reading

Effective Tax Rates in McHenry County

The only way to compare property tax burdens is to divide one’s property tax bill by the value of one’s home. That’s what the Chicago Tribune did in November of 2015. The effective tax rates found for McHenry County towns … Continue reading

Lakemoor Heroin Arrest

A press release from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department: Lakemoor Pair Arrested for Heroin Possession and Delivery The McHenry County Sheriff’s Police announced today the arrest of two Lakemoor residents for multiple heroin-related drug charges. The McHenry County Sheriff’s Police Narcotics … Continue reading

Comparing City & Village Tax Takes

Yesterday, we took a look at what school districts requested to be collected last year and this year. Today we’ll look at municipalities. A number of McHenry County municipalities overlap into adjacent counties. If you see “McH only,” that is … Continue reading

Income Tax Revenue Sharing Loss Would Cost McHenry County Governments $16.9 Million

The McHenry County Council of Governments (McCOG) has calculated how much money each village and city in the county would lose in state subsides should Governor Bruce Rauner’s budget recommendations be enacted. The Govenror suggests cutting the subsidy in half. … Continue reading

Candidates for McHenry County Cities and Villages

I’ve finally pinned down all who are running for municipal office in cities and villages having all or part of their boundaries within McHenry County. The names have been listed in ballot order.  That makes little difference unless there are … Continue reading

Filings for Municipal Office

Here’s my best effort to find out who filed for village and city offices in McHenry County’s thirty municipalities. Most who didn’t file last week probably waited until late Monday afternoon. Why? Best place on the ballot is first.  With … Continue reading

Two Tax Cap Busting Referendums on the Ballot

Should have caught this sooner. The Village of Bull Valley and the River East Public Library District are asking voter permission to bump their tax rates way up. Look at the ballot question in Bull Valley first: Bull Valley is … Continue reading

McHenry County Slot Machine Gambling Loses

With the Crystal Lake City Council again being courted by local liquor serving establishments for permission to install slot machines, the Illinois Church Action on Alcohol & Addiction Problems organization sent me gambling losses from December, 2014, though May, 2014. … Continue reading

Lakemoor Teacher Arrested on Federal Child Sexual Exploitation Charges

A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office: LAKEMOOR MAN WHO TEACHES IN BUFFALO GROVE MIDDLE SCHOOL ARRESTED ON FEDERAL CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION CHARGES CHICAGO ― A middle school teacher in northwest suburban Buffalo Grove was arrested this morning on federal … Continue reading

Crystal Lake’s Hikes Taxes Almost 10%–More Than Any Other City or Village

Municipal elections were last spring.  The next ones are not until next spring. Perhaps that explains why the City of Crystal Lake decided to hike taxes so much this year–a non-election year. There will go up 9.8%. McHenry, on the … Continue reading

Concealed Carry Instructors in McHenry County

The Illinois State Police has the following McHenry County residents listed as approved concealed carry instructors: Name City Phone Email Trost, Paul Huntley (847)287-8411 paultrost@gmail.com Jones, Michael Hebron (815)759-1900 mjones@mc.net Jonak, Johann Cary (512)644-7023 Johann@Windycitytactical.com Danielowski, Ronald Island Lake (847)452-0951 … Continue reading