McHenry County Blog

A press release from the Huntley Area Tea Party:

Property Tax Action Group Addresses Huntley Area Tea Party over Lunch

At Huntley Area Tea Party, May is “Action” month.

We begin with a lunch gathering at 12:30 pm* on Wednesday, May 8 at Golden Corral – 1591 S Randall Rd, Algonquin, IL.

The “Action” comes from PTAG – Property Tax Action Group – and Alan Scott who will tell us about PTAG, their activities and major goals to

1. keep our property taxes down and
2. seek equity and fairness in our assessments. 

Alan will also talk about the importance of local taxing district meetings and our participation there.

We’ll learn what can be done to help achieve each of those two important goals here.

Mark your calendar and  join us for a relaxing and important lunch, with information and some informal conversation about our property taxes – today and tomorrow.

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*The afternoon start brings us a free lunch drink, compliments of Golden Corral. Arrivals before 12:30 will miss this freebie.  Mention “tea party meeting” to the cashier, then bring your chosen meal (and free drink) to the meeting room. Eat, relax and listen to Alan help us all with information we can rely on and apply.

Lakewood’s new signs are not over a year old.

Here’s what it looks like for my Algonquin Township part of Lakewood:

• MCHENRY COUNTY – $1.00 per $100 of assessed valuation (up from 79 cents per $100 – this must include the 708 Board Mental Health tax)
• MCHENRY CO CONSV – 25 cents (up from 20 cents per hundred)
• [McHenry County] COLLEGE DISTRICT 528 MCC – 39 cents (up from 30 cents per hundred)
• [Crystal Lake Grade] SCHOOL DIST 47 – $3.95 (up from $3.20 per hundred)
• [Crystal Lake High] SCHOOL DIST 155 – $2.64 (up from $2.03 per hundred)
• CRYSTAL LAKE PARK – 46 cents (up from 38 cents per hundred)
• ALGONQUIN TOWNSHIP – 7.4 cents (up from 5.8 cents per hundred)
• ALGONQUIN TWP RD & BR – 16 cents ((up from 12.7 cents per hundred)
• LAKEWOOD VILLAGE – $1.04 (down from $1.15 cents per hundred)

The tax rate totals $9.966939 per $100 of assessed valuation (up from $8.696871 per hundred or over 15%)

I was able to make tax rate comparisons by looking at our last year’s tax bill.

My guess is that tax rates soared because assessments tanked.

Most probably cling to the hope that a lower assessment means lower taxes, but under the effects of the Property Tax Cap, it doesn’t work that way.

That because almost all tax districts in McHenry County are well below the maximum rate set by state law or referendum.

As property values climbed well above those of previous years, tax districts were limited to increasing their tax take by the rate of inflation as defined by the Consumer Price Index or CPI.

That forced the County Clerk’s Office to cut tax rates.

So, now if a district asks for as much as is allowed by the Real Estate Tax Cap (PRELL to the professionals) and getting it requires raising the tax rate in order to make up for lower assessments, that’s what happens.

The CPI increased by 3% for the tax bills that will be sent out in May. (For the next year, the figure is 1/7%.)

While a comparison with last year’s rates is too laborious a task for tonight, let me list some of the tax rates that will appear on this coming year’s tax bills. Pull yours out, make your own comparison and tell others what it is in the comment section. the rates are rounded to the nearest cent per $100 of assessed valuation, except for the lowest taxing district rates.

Community College Tax Rates

COLLEGE DISTRICT 509 ELGIN – 53 cents per $100 of assessed value
COLLEGE DISTRICT 511 – ROCK VALLEY – 45 cents per $100
COLLEGE DISTRICT 512 HARPER – 41 cents per $100
COLLEGE DISTRICT 528 MCC – 39 cents per $100

School District Tax Rates

[Alden-Hebron Unit] SCHOOL DIST 19 – $5.37 per $100
[Barrington Unit] SCHOOL DIST 220 – $3.99 per $100
[Cary]Grade] SCHOOL DIST 26 – $3.93 per $100
[Crystal Lake Grade] SCHOOL DIST 47 – $3.95 per $100
[Crystal Lake High] SCHOOL DIST 155 – $2.64 per $100
[Carpentersville Unit] SCHOOL DIST 300 – $5.61 per $100
[Fox River Grove Grade] SCHOOL DIST 3 – $5.34 per $100
[Harvard Unit] SCHOOL DIST 50 – $6.21 per $100
[Huntley Unit] SCHOOL DIST 158 – $5.48 per $100
[Johnsburg Unit] SCHOOL DIST 12 – $5.57 per $100
[Marengo Grade] SCHOOL DIST 165 – $2.96 per $100
[Marengo High] SCHOOL DIST 154 – $2.87 per $100
[McHenry Grade] SCHOOL DIST 15 – $4.67 per $100
[McHenry High] SCHOOL DIST 156 – $2.41 per $100
[Prairie Grove Grade] SCHOOL DIST 46 – $4.09 per $100
[Riley] SCHOOL DIST 18 – $3.36 per $100
[Richmond-Burton Grade] SCHOOL DIST 2 – $3.24 per $100
[Richmond-Burton High] SCHOOL DIST 157 – $3.12 per $100
[Wauconda Unit] SCHOOL DIST 118 – $6.28 per $100
[Wonder Lake Grade] SCHOOL DIST 36 – $5.92 per $100
[Woodstock Unit] SCHOOL DIST 200 – $6.90 per $100

Municipal Tax Rates

ALGONQUIN VILLAGE – 62 cents per $100
BARRINGTON HILLS VILLAGE – $1.35 per $100
BULL VALLEY VILLAGE – 59 cents per $100
CARY VILLAGE – 54 cents per $100
CRYSTAL LAKE CITY – 30 cents per $100
FOX LAKE VILLAGE – 78 cents per $100
FOX RIVER GROVE VILLAGE – 74 cents per $100
GREENWOOD VILLAGE – 0
HARVARD CITY – %2.21 per $100
HEBRON VILLAGE – 69 cents per $100
HOLIDAY HILLS VILLAGE – 24 cents per $100
HUNTLEY VILLAGE – 54 cents per $100
ISLAND LAKE VILLAGE – 72 cents per $100
LAKE IN THE HILLS VILLAGE – 88 cents per $100
LAKEMOOR VILLAGE – 42 cents per $100
LAKEWOOD VILLAGE – $1.04 per $100
MARENGO CITY – $1.14 per $100
MCCULLOM LAKE VILLAGE – $1.26 per $100
MCHENRY CITY – 74 cents per $100
OAKWOOD HILLS VILLAGE – 49 cents per $100
PORT BARRINGTON VILLAGE – 32 cents per $100
PRAIRIE GROVE VILLAGE – 41 cents per $100
RICHMOND VILLAGE – 96 cents per $100
RINGWOOD VILLAGE – 23 cents per $100
SPRING GROVE VILLAGE – 37 cents per $100
TROUT VALLEY VILLAGE – 0
UNION VILLAGE – 45 cents per $100
WONDER LAKE VILLAGE – 46 cents per $100
WOODSTOCK CITY – $1.87 per $100

Fire Protection District Tax Rates

ALG LITH FIRE DIST – 83 cents per $100
BARRINGTON CTRY FIRE – 37 cents per $100
CARY FIRE DIST – 54 cents per $100
CRYSTAL LAKE FIRE CITY – 68 cents per $100
CRYSTAL LAKE RURAL FIRE – 40 cents per $100
FOX LAKE FIRE VILLAGE – 43 cents per $100
FOX RIVER GRV FIRE – 72 cents per $100
HARVARD FIRE DIST – 36 cents per $100
HEB ALD GRW FIRE – 47 cents per $100
HUNTLEY FIRE DIST – 84 cents per $100
MARENGO FIRE DIST – 28 cents per $100
MARENGO RESC SQUAD – 20 cents per $100
MCHENRY FIRE DIST – 50 cents per $100
NUNDA RURAL FIRE – 66 cents per $100
RICHMOND FIRE DIST – 70 cents per $100
SPRING GROVE FIRE – 61 cents per $100
UNION FIRE DIST – 37 cents per $100
WAUCONDA FIRE DIST – 61 cents per $100
WONDER LAKE FIRE – 46 cents per $100
WOODSTOCK FIRE RESCUE – 76 cents per $100

Library District Tax Rates

ALGONQUIN LIBRARY – 52 cents per $100
BARRINGTON LIBRARY – 20 cents per $100
CARY AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY – 24 cents per $100
CITY CRYSTAL LAKE LIBRARY – 39 cents per $100
FOX LAKE LIBRARY – 38 cents per $100
FOX RIVER GR LIBRARY – 53 cents per $100
HUNTLEY AREA LIBRARY – 24 cents per $100
OHNSBURG LIBRARY – 16 cents per $100
MARENGO-UNION LIBRARY – 18 cents per $100
MCHENRY LIBRARY – 32 cents per $100
[Lakemoor] RIVER EAST PUBLIC LIBRARY – 19 cents per $100
[Richmond] NIPPERSINK LIBRARY – 19 cents per $100
RURAL WOODSTOCK LIBRARY – 10 cents per $100
WAUCONDA AREA LIBRARY – 47 cents per $100

Park District Tax Rates

BARRINGTON HILLS PARK – 3.8 cents per $100
CARY PARK DISTRICT – 76 cents per $100
CRYSTAL LAKE PARK – 46 cents per $100
HUNTLEY PARK DIST – 43 cents per $100
MARENGO PARK DIST – 40 cents per $100

Township Tax Rates

ALDEN TOWNSHIP – 27 cents per $100
ALGONQUIN TOWNSHIP – 7.4 cents per $100
BURTON TOWNSHIP – 9.8 cents per $100
CHEMUNG TOWNSHIP – 17 cents per $100
CORAL TOWNSHIP – 8.7 cents per $100
DORR TOWNSHIP – 13.2 cents per $100
DUNHAM TOWNSHIP – 26 cents per $100
GRAFTON TOWNSHIP – 8.3 cents per $100
GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP – 17 cents per $100
HARTLAND TOWNSHIP – 24 cents per $100
HEBRON TOWNSHIP – 25 cents per $100
MCHENRY TOWNSHIP – 17 cents per $100
NUNDA TOWNSHIP – 100 cents per $100
RICHMOND TOWNSHIP – 13 cents per $100
RILEY TOWNSHIP – 26 cents per $100
SENECA TOWNSHIP – 18 cents per $100

Township Road District Tax Rates

ALDEN TWP RD & BR – 34 cents per $100
ALGONQUIN TWP RD & BR – 16 cents per $100
BURTON TWP RD & BR – 12 cents per $100
CHEMUNG TWP RD & BR – 37 cents per $100
CORAL TWP RD & BR – 22 cents per $100
DORR TWP RD & BR – 24 cents per $100
DUNHAM TWP RD & BR – 56 cents per $100
GRAFTON TWP RD & BR – 5.9 cents per $100
GREENWOOD TWP RD & BR – 41 cents per $100
HARTLAND TWP RD & BR – 35 cents per $100
HEBRON TWP RD & BR – 38 cents per $100
MARENGO TWP RD & BR – 38 cents per $100
MCHENRY TWP RD & BR – 31 cents per $100
NUNDA TWP RD & BR – 30 cents per $100
RICHMOND TWP RD &BR – 24
RILEY TWP RD & BR – 30 per $100
SENECA TWP RD & BR – 28 cents per $100

Sanitary District Tax Rates

LITH SANITARY DIST – 8.3 cents per $100
NORTHERN MORAINE [Sanitary District] – 7.1 cents per $100

Cemetery District Tax Rates

NUNDA TWP CEMETERY – 0.2 cents per $100
RICHMOND CEMETERY – 1 cent per $100

Tax rates for Special Service Areas and Tax Increment Financing Districts are in addition to those shown above.

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Other articles about property tax bills being paid in McHenry County in 2013:

• Most Tax Rates for McHenry County’s Upcoming Tax Bills – Up 15% in Algonquin Township Part of Lakewood
• McHenry County Multiplier Increases Assessments 1.0243 for This Year’s Tax Bills, $1 Billion Assessment Loss Sends Tax Rates Soaring
• Property Tax Rates – Comparing This Coming Year’s to Last Year’s
• McHenry County Tax District Honor Role
• The McHenry County Taxman Cometh – Tax Bills on the Internet

That’s what Supervisor of Assessments Robert Ross emailed me in September:

“The Department of Revenue has indicated McHenry County assessments must go down approximately 9 percent in 2012.”

Now comes my Algonquin Township assessment notice and guess what it says?

The assessment is being cut by 9.06%, as you can see.

Such an assessment cut does not mean my or your bill will decrease 9%.

In fact, as long as tax districts (think mainly schools, which take most of our property tax dollars) are beneath their statutory tax limit, the County Clerk will raise our tax rates to tax us what the tax districts request.

So, don’t be surprised if your next tax bill is higher than it was this year.

There are thirty days to appeal one’s assessment after publication of real estate assessments.

Here is the schedule for those whose publication has occurred or who publication is set:

2012 ASSESSMENT PUBLICATIONS

The 2012 assessments for McHenry Township will publish on Thursday September 13, 2012 in the Northwest Herald. The final date for filing an appeal will be Tuesday October 15, 2012.

The 2012 Assessments for Dorr Township will publish on Wednesday September 12, 2012 in the Woodstock Independent. The final date for filing an appeal will be Friday October 12, 2012.

The 2012 assessments for Nunda Township will publish on Friday September 7, 2012 in the Northwest Herald. The final date for filing an appeal will be Tuesday October 9, 2012.

The 2012 Assessments for Hartland Township will publish on Wednesday August 29, 2012 in the Woodstock Independent. The final date for filing an appeal will be Friday September 28, 2012.

The 2012 assessments for Alden Township will publish on Wednesday August 22, 2012 in the Northwest Herald. The final date for filing an appeal will be Friday September 21, 2012.

The 2012 Assessments for Greenwood and Seneca Townships will publish on Wednesday August 22, 2012 in the Woodstock Independent. The final date for filing an appeal will be Friday September 21, 2012.

And, here’s the procedure for filing an appeal supplied by Supervisor of Assessments Robert Ross:

HOW TO FILE AN ASSESSMENT APPEAL

Do you have questions about filing an assessment appeal? Click on the following link for an indepth detailed account of the appeal process.

http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/departments/assessments/PDFDocs/How%20to%20File%20an%20Appeal.pdf

Today’s message is dedicated to those McHenry County Board members and other tax district officials who have or will cast “Yes” votes for any budget which exceeds last year’s extension.

Voting for property tax levies that are greater than last year’s collection run the very real risk of increasing taxes of existing taxpayers. That’s because most tax districts are below their statutory maximum tax rate. Those tax rates were forced down in the over a decade when real estate inflation exceeded the increase in the CPI. The result now is that virtually any tax district can ask for the 3% inflationary increase allowed this coming year and get it. The County Clerk merely increases the tax districts tax rate to make it happen…even with lower assessment levels on people’s homes.

The tee shirt says, “Whatever it is, I didn’t do it!”

That pretty much sums up what tax hiking local officials say when asked if they raised our property tax bills.

Some will remember that the “extension” is the amount of taxes that are collected. (In reality, it is about 99.9% of the taxes collected, but my definition is more than adequate for “government work.”)

All tax districts are allowed by the Property Tax Cap to collect what they had last year, plus the increase in the Cost of Living, defined as the increase in the Consumer Price Index.

That number is 3% for next year’s taxes.

Schools and other tax districts are also allowed to collect money on new construction which was not previously in the tax base.

I have written how I believe that capturing that new growth is perfectly appropriate and that our legislators should change the Real Estate Tax Cap (“PTELL” to the technocrats) so that it could be taxed without running the risk of increasing the tax burden on existing property owners.

To the best of my knowledge no state rep. or senator has taken up that cause.

Because they haven’t, tax district boards err on the side of asking for (levying) too much money.

There’s enough to get all the new growth, but such “balloon” levies are usually high enough to slap existing homeowners and businesses with increased taxes as high as the increase in the CPI as well.

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Filing for non-partisan office, where most of the taxes are levied, is from December 17th to 24th. The County Board members will be elected on November 6th.

And, speaking of the County Board.  I want to believe that the Board will not tax to the max this year, as I read in Kevin Craver’s Northwest Herald article, but unless the Board votes before the election, I remain a skeptic.

A press release from Cliff Surges, who is running against Karen McConnaughay:

REPUBLICAN CLIFF SURGES ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR PROPERTY TAX FREEZE LEGISLATION WHILE McCONNAUGHAY’S WEAK ATTACK ON SURGES MISSES THE MARK

“Property Tax Freeze is what is important,” says Surges, “not the payment decisions of Kane County citizens.”

“What a politician does with public money is much more important than what a private citizen does with personal funds, 33rd District Republican Senate candidate Cliff Surges said today.”

“Karen McConnaughay’s poll numbers must be plummeting because she is launching a vicious personal attack against me and my family,” Surges continued.

Cliff Surges

The issue of paying property taxes in one installment instead of two has already been
asked and answered in this campaign. The Surges family does not owe any late taxes or fees and is completely up to date.

“What is really on the minds of the people I speak to in the district is, “Why do our property taxes continue to rise while our home values continue to fall?” Freezing or lowering property taxes is what is important,” says Surges.”

Surges announces today his support for two bills in the State Senate, SB 2073 and SB2862, both of which would freeze property tax bills if property values remain flat or decline.

The two bills would freeze property tax levies for local taxing districts if the total equalized assessed valuation for the unit or district was lower than the preceding year. Taxing districts would be required to hold a referendum to raise their levies.

“Instead of trying to manufacture a controversy around private decisions by taxpayers, Mrs. McConnaughay might want to consider ways to lower or freeze taxes for the people of this district and get out of control government spending stopped,” says Surges.

Yesterday, McHenry County Blog noted that State Rep. Jack Franks’ bill was “headline” bill, that is one, that was put up to garner local press, but never intended to be enacted.

In fact, I quoted a state legislator close to the Illinois Municipal League to the effect that the bill was going nowhere.

Now the proof.

The Ilnois Municipal League logo. The motto is "Educate, Advocate, Empower."

Look what is on the Illinois Municipal League’s web site:

Senator Link Message on Property Tax Legislation

By Joe McCoy, Legislative Director, IML

State Senator Terry Link has asked the IML to make our membership aware that he has no intention of advancing a PTELL provision opposed by communities across the state. SB 2073, as amended in the House, proposes to prevent non-home rule local governments from capturing inflationary increases through the property tax if the overall assessed valuation within the local government jurisdiction has declined from that of the prior year. Senator Link’s statement is below.

The IML would like to thank Senator Link for his opposition to the House amendment.

Terry Link

Dear friend,

When I introduced Senate Bill 2073, the original intent of the bill was to require the Property Tax Appeal Board to issue a decision within one year from the date the appeal was received.

However, once the bill passed over to the House, Representative Jack Franks signed on as the chief sponsor.

He then amended the measure with house amendment 6, a hostile amendment which essentially limits local municipalities’ authority to levy a tax based on the needs of the community and student population, removing local control.

I am sending this letter to inform you I DO NOT SUPPORT Representative Frank’s amendment.

I will hold this measure in the Senate and make sure it never comes to a vote.

I share your concerns and appreciate your interest in the matter.

The measure is dead on arrival.

You should know that there is another bill in the General Assembly that is similar to Senate Bill 2073.

I recently learned of Senate Bill 2862, which is similar to the amendment Representative Franks placed on my legislation.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to my Springfield office.

Sincerely,

Terry Link
State Senator, 30th Legislative District

In the past there has been tension between Link and Franks.

A email has been sent this morning soliciting parental opposition to State Rep. Jack Franks’ bill to prohibit the collection of more property tax dollars when assessments go down.

Apparently Superintendent Donn Mendoza and School Board President Jeff Mason were not privy to the widespread understanding among state representatives that the legislation was just another “headline” bill to enhance the re-election chances of Democrats who voted to hike state income tax rates by 67%.

As one suburban Republican joined at the hip with the Illinois Municipal League put it, “It’s all for show.”

In any event, below is the use of District 47 tax dollars to try to get you to contact State Senator Pam Althoff and State Reps. Mike Tryon and Mike Gaffney to allow the school district to be able to collect more money (3% next year), even though the value of your home has tanked.

It should be noted that Tryon and Gaffney have already voted for the bill.

Donn Mendoza

Dear District 47 Families:

Crystal Lake School District 47 had been closely following recent legislation (Amendment 6 of Senate Bill 2073) approved in the Illinois House of Representatives on February 21, 2012, which, had it passed in the Senate and been signed by Governor Quinn, would have had a significant impact on our ability to provide high quality educational services for students for whom we are responsible.

Jeff Mason

This is the third time in the past few weeks that this sort of law has been proposed.

Based on that, there may be additional attempts in the future.

We wanted to make you aware of the potential impacts, as we see them in District 47, were this type of legislation to eventually become law.

Currently, local taxing authorities, such as District 47, are limited to increasing taxes by the rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 5%, whichever is less.

Simply stated, the Franks Amendment to Senate Bill 2073 would have capped the ability of local taxing bodies, such as District 47, to raise the tax rate when property values decline unless approved by voters.

Effectively, the legislation would have capped the increase to 0%.

District 47 has lost over $8.6 million in revenue since the 2006-2007 school year with interest income down $2.3 million and State revenue down $6.3 million.

New property, which adds to the district property tax revenue, is down from $54 million in the 2003 tax year to $7 million in the 2011 tax year.

Since the current economic crisis began, our school district has managed its finances by cutting approximately $6.2 million in expenditures.

By the end of the 2012-2013 school year, we will have:

• Eliminated 72.5 positions through attrition and layoffs
• Frozen salaries
• Eliminated or reduced benefitsRestructured programs and contracts to secure savings
• Utilized $6 million in reserves to weather the loss of revenue in order to maintain our current level of programs and services

Should this type of proposed legislation eventually become law, we estimate given the current economic climate, that District 47 would have to initiate a discussion regarding

• the possibility of closing a school,
• significant staff layoffs thus further
• increasing class sizes and would consider a reduction in programs and services which have become part of District 47’s culture. Examples of these programs include but are not limited to Art, Music, Health, Clubs and Activities, Extended Curriculum, Reading Recovery, Band, etc.

As part of the community, we understand the property tax burden being placed upon everyone in a time of declining home values.

However, we cannot pull back from investing in our children’s future.

We believe that legislation such as Amendment 6 to SB 2073 damages the ability of local schools to provide quality education and would potentially be devastating to District 47’s students.

We encourage you to contact your state senator and state representative to discuss this. Local legislators include

• Representative Mike Tryon-mike@miketryon.com,
• Senator Pamela Althoff- Pamela@pamelaalthoff.net  and
• Representative Kent Gaffney- repgaffney@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

Donn P. Mendoza, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
dpmendoza@d47.org

Jeff Mason, School Board President
jmason@d47.org

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Although State Rep. Jack Franks and Dan Duffy represent parts of District 47, their email addresses were not included in the message.

I cut my political teeth while McHenry County Treasurer in 1959-70 by challenging real estate assessments before the McHenry County Board of Review (a fool’s errand in those days) and, then, appealing them to the newly-former Illinois Property Tax Appeals Board.

Jim Bishop

What I could find of the "Tax Avenger" sword.

I had read the decision railroad lawyers had gotten. It said that taxes for rights-of-way in each county should be based on assessments equaling the county average.

So the Involved Citizens Association and I conducted two studies to find out what the average (median) assessment level was in McHenry County.

We used two different methodologies

1. We compared assessments on homes with the amount that tax stamps on deeds indicated the homes’ values.
2. We sent questionnaires to home purchases for the same year asking what they paid for their homes.

Both studies yielded the same result.

As I remember the finding was that the median assessment level was 43.2%. Something close to that anyway.

At the time, the rules laid down by McHenry County Supervisor of Assessments were that all residences were to be assessed at 60% of market value.

Turns out that most township assessors went “wink, wink, nod, not” and assessed only the new homes purchased by people in subdivisions like Crystal Lake’s Coventry at 60%.

Obviously, a lot of older homes were assessed a lot less or the median (mid-point when lining all the percentage figures up from high to low) could not have been 43%.

The new home buyers who figured how they were being discriminated against were, of course, quite upset.

Fourteen appealed all the way to the State Board.

All won.

There's always next year.

As McHenry County Treasurer, I was handing out $500 refund checks to Coventry homeowners.

Great publicity for me, undoubtedly helping me get elected State Rep. in 1972.

This year and two years ago, Crystal Lake attorney Jim Bishop did the heavy lifting.

Due to the absurdity that the County Board of Review will not take into account distressed sales, he advised me to get an appraisal. I did from Crystal Lake’s Meador and Associates.

Recently, I received a letter from Bishop telling me my assessment had been decreased from $107,595 to $101,657.

A 5.5% cut in my assessment worth a bit over $500.

Not as big a percentage cut as the new homeowners got back in 1970–a cut of almost 30%–but worth the effort.

After we got the decision, Joanne Wojcik gave me a fiber board sword painted gold with a sparkling ribbon.  On it was written, “Tax Avenger.”  It recently got destroyed in a kids’ sword fight.

The table above shows the seventeen townships in McHenry County, the number of appeals for this tax year (2011 assessments, taxes to be collected in 2012), the total number of real estate parcels, plus the percentage of appeals from each township.  Algonquin Township is highlighted only because its appeals are still in process.

So, what do the numbers tell us?

For starters, the most tax unrest seems to be in the Woodstock area.  Both Dorr and Greenwood Township have lots of Woodstock residents.

9.75% of the real estate parcels in Dorr were appealed, while 7.65% in Greenwood were subject to appeals.

Grafton Township’s high 8.7% appeal rate is sandwiched in between Dorr’s and Greenwood’s numbers.

The other townships above the county average of 5.67% were Nunda (6.89%) and Richmond (6.39%).

Least activity was seen in Hebron ( 1.24%), Chemung (1.65%) and Alden( 2.3%) Townships.  All are on the Wisconsin border.

This map shows which townships are where in McHenry County.

Three townships had somewhere between 3% and 4% of their property owners appeal.  They are

• Hartland – 3.2%
• Marengo – 3.26%
• Algonquin at – 3.9%

In the 4% to 6% range are the following:

• Riley – 3.85%
• Coral – 4.08%
• Seneca – 4.39%
• McHenry – 4.73%
• Burton – 5.33%

Of the four largest townships–Algonquin, Grafton, McHenry and Nunda–only two are above average.