Local Governments Spent $1 Million Fighting Flooding, Illinois Total Too Low for Federal Reimbursement

Local governmental expenditures submitted to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency from McHenry County totaled $1,080,640.62. According to the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency, “In the four counties proclaimed a disaster area by Governor Rauner, uninsured damages to public property and … 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

Sheriff-Port Barrington Renegotiate

The McHenry-Lake County Village of Port Barrington and the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department have apparently renegotiated their deal for the Sheriff’s providing police protection. It must be cheaper for the 1,500 person village to buy police protection than to operate … 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

Port Barrington Drug Overdose Death Arrest

A press release from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department: Drug-Induced Homicide Arrest On February 26, 2015, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force arrested Rolando Ramirez Aguilar of Wauconda, Illinois, for Drug-Induced Homicide. Members of the US Marshals Great Lakes … 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

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

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

Lakewood’s Tax Rate Up Most, Richmond’s Only One Down

Because Lakewood Village Board members decided to require residents to pay off the last year of the golf course purchased the year before the Property Tax Cap went into effect, Lakewood has the highest percentage tax rate increase of any … Continue reading

Some of What Judge Michael Caldwell Read Before Turning Thumbs Down on Emergency County Health Department Power Grab

Yesterday McHenry County Blog reported on the effort by the McHenry County Department of Public Health to obtain emergency control over the abandonment of septic tanks in Port Barrington as homes were being connected to the Northern Moraine Sanitary District. … Continue reading

“Why Is There an Injunction on a Two-Year Old Project?”

That’s the question Judge Michael Caldwell asked rhetorically while explaining to Grafton Township litigants Thomas DiCianni why he had not been able to start the separation of powers suit until 1:30, when it had been scheduled for 10 AM. “It … Continue reading