McHenry County Blog

David McSweeney

State Rep. David McSweeney is proposing at amendment to Senate Bill 1937 that would prohibit township governments throughout Illinois from increasing the amount of money they extract from taxpayers’ pockets for the next two years.

Unlike some legislators and local officials who try to tinker with property taxes, McSweeney knows the key word is “extension.”

The “extension” is the amount of money that a tax district is allowed to collect in a given year. It is usually well below the levy, which can be seen as a “wish-fulfillment.”

For example, McHenry County College increased its levy by nine percent, giving it bad publicity in the Northwest Herald, but having no impact on the Property Tax Cap-imposed limit of three percent (plus new growth).

Just as an aside, any tax district official that wants to cut taxes should vote to make his or her tax levy the same as the extension for the year before.

In any event, McSweeney is probably on a mission impossible, because there are thousands of townships in Illinois.

Plus, the record of what is happening to the bill show that his amendment has been assigned to the House Rules Committee, the place legislation where House Speaker Mike Madigan kills amendments he doesn’t like.

David From, State Director of the Illinois chapter of Americans for Prosperity, informed me of this amendment via the following email:

“I’m writing to ask you to take just a moment of your time to support legislation to place a two-year moratorium on the property taxes levied by townships. The legislation sponsored by State Representative David McSweeney (R-Cary) will be the subject of a committee hearing tomorrow morning in House Revenue Committee. We need to let committee members know that we support this common-sense moratorium on higher local taxes.

“Please take a moment to submit an electronic witness slip in favor of SB 1937 today!

“Illinois faces a dual problem when it comes to property taxes; they’re rising fast while Illinois’ median household income is dropping. In the four most recent years for which census data is available, Illinois median household income dropped by more than $3,000. At the same time, the suburban Daily Herald reported in November that “property tax levies were up nearly $4.8 billion” between 2005 – 2010.

“Click here to file an electric witness slip with the committee on behalf of Rep. McSweeney’s efforts to curb the increase of property taxes! Be sure to check “Proponent” in Section III (Position) & “Record of Appearance Only” in Section IV (Testimony).”

McHenry County has seventeen townships. Each township has two separate governments.  One is run by the Supervisor; the other by the Highway Commissioner.

The following made a good faith effort not to take every dime that they could. I put them on my “Honor Roll.”

ALDEN TOWNSHIP
2011 – $138,551.71
2012 – $125,589.92 (-9.4%)

ALGONQUIN TOWNSHIP
2011 – $1,812,281.41
2012 – $1,818,540.52 (+0.3%)

ALGONQUIN TOWNSHIP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $3,989,082.24
2012 – $3,989,081.94

Both Supervisor and Road Commissioner in Hartland Township cut their budgets.

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP
2011 – $177,096.32
2012 – $168,120.44 (-5.1%)

HARTLAND TOWWSHIP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $257,147.74
2012 – $249,843.80 (-2.8%)

HEBRON TOWNSHIP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $223,260.02
2012 – $218,264.61 (-2.2%)

MARENGO TOWNSHIP
2011 – $303,002.43
2012 – $299,000.30 (-1.3%)

McHenry Township Hall

MARENGO TONSHIWP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $496,211.57
2012 – $496,964.36 (-0.2%)

McHENRY TOWNSHIP
2011 – $1,876,425.79
2012 – $1,876,437.35

McHENRY TOWNSHIP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $3,406,895.19
2012 – $3,406,912.40

NUNDA TOWNSHIP
2011 – $1,125,172.20
2012 – $1,125,172.20 (+0.3%)

Part of the Nunda Township Road District complex.

NUNDA TOWNSHIP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $3,332,592.47
2012 – $3,332,591.92

RICHMOND TOWNSHIP
2011 – $258,886.96
2012 – $262,771.67 (+1.2%)

SENECA TOWNSHIP
2011 – $172,300.92
2012 – $168,000.60 (-2.5%)

SENECA TOWNSHIP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $266,055.92
2012 – $266,053.68

But let’s put the role of township government in perspective.  Below is what each type of government has billed (extended) this year:

• Schools – $499 million (Only four districts are taking less money this year than they did last year.)

All the rest take $93 million will be funneled to special districts, as follows:

• 

  Huntley Village Hall

  Municipalities – Almost $67 million (municipal Tax Increment Financing Districts will receive $2.3 million more)

• Fire Protection Districts – $41.1 million
• Community Colleges – $32 million
• Townships – $26 million
• Conservation District – $19.6 million
• Library Districts – $16.1 million
• Park Districts – $15.6 million
• Miscellaneous Districts – $698,000
• Sanitary Districts – $672.000
• Cemetery Districts – $44,000

= = = = =
Other articles about the real estate tax bills that will be paid 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

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.

= = = = =
*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.

The Beatles’ song seems appropriate for today, the first day when McHenry County Property Tax Bills can be seen on County Treasurer Bill LeFew’s web site.

A taxpayer as seen by the Tax Foundation.[/caption]Look here.
= = = = =
Links to all articles on the McHenry County Real Estate Bills that will arrive in the mailboxes of most people this weekend are

A taxpayer as seen by the Tax Foundation.

below:

• 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

The Beatles sang “The Tax Man.” “Be thankful I don’t take it all.”

This has been the week that tax information was posted on the McHenry County Clerk’s web site.

Pretty much anything anyone would be interested is there, but to make it useful for comparison purposes requires quite a bit of work.

The following articles take a look at various aspects of McHenry County tax bills that will soon be mailed. Click on the title to see the contents.

• 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

Take a look at those tax districts that asked for about what they got last year.

The maximum allowed was 3% more than they asked for last year, the inflationary increase as measured by the Consumer Price Index.

You will note that very few are school districts. (Please understand I am eyeballing the numbers, so some listed may not meet your definition of “trying to hold the line.”)

The figures you see are called “extensions.”

They are the amounts that the County Clerk’s Office says are legal for the County Treasurer to collect. They total what taxpayers will see on all the combined bills.

McHenry County Governments

McHENRY COUNTY
2011 – $78,285,064.42
2012 – $78,535,191.18

McHENRY COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT
2011 – $19,317,898.84
2012 – $19,565,164.91 (+1.1%)

Community Colleges

ELGIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
2011 – $56,792,996.80
2012 – $57,324,251.53 (+1.1%)

ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE
2011 – $28,703,993.09
2012 – $26,525,130.84 (-7.6%)

School Districts

PRAIRIE SCHOOL DIST 46
2011 – $10,019,082.45
2012 – $9,966,782.94 (-0.5%)

RICHMOND-BURTON SCHOOL DIST 157
2011 – $10,871,791.76
2012 – $10,375,229.21 (-4.6%)

HARVARD SCHOOL DIST 50
2011 – $14,801,979.84
2012 – $13,926,259.55 (-5.9%)

HUNTLEY SCHOOL DIST 158
2011 – $61,109,472.87
2012 – $61,581,321.96 (+0.8%)

Cities and Villages

VILLAGE OF ALGONQUIN
2011 – $5,574,999.39
2012 – $5,481,010.56 (-1.7%)

BARRINGTON HILLS
2011 – $6,533,762.62
2012 – $6,492,399.31 (-0.6%)

CITY OF CRYSTAL LAKE
2011 – $3,282,804.82
2012 – $3,274,055.48 (-0.3%)

VILLAGE OF GREENWOOD
2011 – $0
2012 – $0

CITY OF HARVARD
2011 – $2,367,834.50
2012 – $2,359,412.23 (-0.4%)

VILLAGE OF HUNTLEY
2011 – $3,800,002.76
2012 – $3,799,994.39

VILLAGE OF LAKE IN THE HILLS
2011 – $5,560,280.32
2012 – $5,493,550.26 (-1.2%)

CITY OF MARENGO
2011 – $1,405,343.47
2012 – $1,389,495.63 (-1.1%)

VILLAGE OF MCCULLOM LAKE
2011 – $157,892.74
2012 – $157,424.78 (-0.3%)

CITY OF McHENRY
2011 – $4,761,637.73
2012 – $4,761,636.11

VILLAGE OF PRAIRIE GROVE
2011 – $380,002.34
2012 – $370,001.56 (-2.6%)

VILLAGE OF RINGWOOD
2011 – $76,500.08
2012 – $76,500.08 (+1.3%)

VILLAGE OF TROUT VALLEY
2011 – $0
2012 – $0

CITY OF WOODSTOCK
2011 – $9,071,370.52
2012 – $9,001,599.07 (-0.2%)

Fire Protection Districts

BARRINGTON COUNTRYSIDE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
2011 – $5,441,287.31
2012 – $5,485,596.51 (+0.8%)

CRYSTAL LAKE RURAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
2011 – $1,632,143.62
2012 – $1,497,067.44 (-8.3%)

FOX RIVER GROVE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
2011 – $1,377,471.22
2012 – $1,271,682.99 (-7.7%)

MARENGO RESCUE SQUAD DISTRICT
2011 – $795,630.09
2012 – $698,078.66 (-12.7%)

McHENRY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
2011 – $6,500,013.45
2012 – $6,500,007.48

RICHMOND FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
2011 – $720,445.21
2012 – $655,128.81 (-9.1%)

WAUCONDA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
2011 – $7,640,043.82
2012 – $7,950,482.86 (+0.2%)

Library Districts

McHENRY LIBRARY DISTRICT
2011 – $3,122,948.63
2012 – $3,122,955.55

Park Districts

CRYSTAL LAKE PARK DISTRICT
2011 – $6,585,006.80
2012 – $6,609,886.38 (+0.4%)

MARENGO PARK DISTRICT
2011 – $509,280.95
2012 – $493,114.64 (-3.2%)

Townships

ALDEN TOWNSHIP
2011 – $138,551.71
2012 – $125,589.92 (-9.4%)

ALGONQUIN TOWNSHIP
2011 – $1,812,281.41
2012 – $1,818,540.52 (+0.3%)

ALGONQUIN TOWNSHIP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $3,989,082.24
2012 – $3,989,081.94

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP
2011 – $177,096.32
2012 – $168,120.44 (-5.1%)

HARTLAND TOWWSHIP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $257,147.74
2012 – $249,843.80 (-2.8%)

HEBRON TOWNSHIP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $223,260.02
2012 – $218,264.61 (-2.2%)

MARENGO TOWNSHIP
2011 – $303,002.43
2012 – $299,000.30 (-1.3%)

MARENGO TONSHIWP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $496,211.57
2012 – $496,964.36 (-0.2%)

McHENRY TOWNSHIP
2011 – $1,876,425.79
2012 – $1,876,437.35

McHENRY TOWNSHIP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $3,406,895.19
2012 – $3,406,912.40

NUNDA TOWNSHIP
2011 – $1,125,172.20
2012 – $1,125,172.20 (+0.3%)

NUNDA TOWNSHIP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $3,332,592.47
2012 – $3,332,591.92

RICHMOND TOWNSHIP
2011 – $258,886.96
2012 – $262,771.67 (+1.2%)

SENECA TOWNSHIP
2011 – $172,300.92
2012 – $168,000.60 (-2.5%)

SENECA TOWNSHIP ROAD & BRIDGE DISTRICT
2011 – $266,055.92
2012 – $266,053.68

Sanitary Districts

NORTHERN MORAINE WATER RESOURCE (SANITARY) DISTRICT
2011 – $223,727.12
2012 – $190,548.83 (-14.8%)

Let’s put the Villages of Greenwood and Trout Valley on top, because they levy no property taxes.

While most local governments in McHenry County increased the amount they are taking from the public, a limited number asked for less money in the coming tax bills than they requested last year.

In some cases, it was just pennies.

In other words, the governments tried to get the same amount as last year, but probably through rounding managed to get a bit less.

Others made an effort to make more significant cuts.

Still others tried to get the same amount, but, again, probably because of rounding, got a tiny bit more.  They are not listed below.

The problem is that not many of those on the Honor Role get much tax money.

Property owners will be taxed $797 million this year.

Residential property owners will pay most of it–$640 million.

The bulk of local taxes go to school districts.

$499 million will go for kindergarten through 12th grade education.

There only four of them who are taking less money this year than they did last year.

Another $32 million will go to community colleges.

$93 million will be funneled to special districts, as follows:

• Fire Protection Districts – $41.1 million
• Townships – $26 million
• Conservation District – $19.6 million
• Library Districts – $16.1 million
• Park Districts – $15.6 million
• Miscellaneous Districts – $698,000
• Sanitary Districts – $672.000
• Cemetery Districts – $44,000

Almost $67 million will flow to municipalities.  Of that total, municipal Tax Increment Financing Districts will receive $2.3 million.  In reality, all of the TIF money is paid by property owners outside of the TIF districts when their local tax districts raise their levies in order to make up for the money that is diverted for cities and villages to spend as they will within those districts.

State law allowed all but non-Home Rule municipalities to increase their “tax take” by 3% this year. That was the increase in the cost of living as measured by the Consumer Price Index.

There is not limit on tax increases for Home Rule municipalities.  In McHenry County, they are Algonquin, Barrington Hills, Crystal Lake and McHenry.

Cartoonist Frank Higgins of the Chicago Sun-Times used this imagery yesterday in a cartoon.

Only the tax districts that actually cut taxes–even if by the smallest amount–are on the list.

The following districts will get less money in 2012 than they got in 2011:

Junior Colleges

• Rock Valley College

School Districts

• Nippersink (Richmond & Spring Grove) Grade School District
• Prairie Grove Grade School District
• Richmond-Burton High School District
• Harvard Unit School District

Cities and Villages

• Village of Algonquin
• Village of Barrington Hills
• City of Crystal Lake (excluding fire protection, net is up)
• City of Harvard
• Village of Huntley
• Village of Lake in the Hills
• Village of McCullom Lake
• City of McHenry
• Village of Prairie Grove
• City of Woodstock

Fire Protection & Rescue Squad Districts

• Crystal Lake Rural Fire Protection District
• Fox River Grove Fire Protection District
• Marengo Rescue Squad
• McHenry Fire Protection District
• Richmond Fire Protection District

Library Districts

• McHenry Library District
• Marengo Park District

Township Governments

• Algonquin Township Road & Bridge District
• Chemung Township Road & Bridge District
• Coral Township
• Dunham Township
• Hartland Township
• Hartland Township Road & Bridge District
• Hebron Township Road & Bridge District
• Marengo Township
• Nunda Township Road & Bridge District
• Seneca Township
• Seneca Township Road & Bridge District

Sanitary Districts

• Northern Moraine Water Reclamation District

= = = = =

Other articles about the real estate tax bills that will be paid 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

Below are some raw statistics from the McHenry County Clerk’s Office concerning real estate tax rates for this year and last.

The tax rates have been rounded to the nearest cent, except for the case of governmental units levying less than 10 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

What I found interesting is that even tax districts who lowered the amount of money they are asking taxpayers to cough up saw their rates increase.  That’s because assessed valuation plunged.  The totals for the whole county went from $8.8 billion last year to $7.9 billion this year.

Both the Villages of Greenwood and Trout Valley levy no property taxes.

McHENRY COUNTY

Tax Rates for County Government

2011 – $0.89
2012 – $1.00

Assessed Valuation for the Entire County

2011 – $8,817,375,055
2012 – $7,886,571,742

Community College Districts Tax Rates

ELGIN COLLEGE DISTRICT 509
2011 – $0.47
2012 – $0.51

ROCK VALLEY COLLEGE DISTRICT 511
2011 – $0.45+
2012 – $0.45-

HARPER COLLEGE DISTRICT 512
2011 – $0.29
2012 – $0.33

McHENRY COUNTY COLLEGE DISTRICT 528
2011 – $0.34
2012 – $0.39

School District Tax Rates

[Richmond-Burton Grade] SCHOOL DIST 2
2011 – $3.32
2012 – $3.24

[Fox River Grove Grade] SCHOOL DIST 3
2011 – $4.66
2012 – $5.34

[McHenry Grade] SCHOOL DIST 15

2011 – $4.02
2012 – $4.67

[Riley Grade] SCHOOL DIST 18

2011 – $2.93
2012 – $3.36

[Cary Grade] SCHOOL DIST 26

2011 – $3.38
2012 – $3.93

[Wonder Lake Grade] SCHOOL DIST 36
2011 – $5.25
2012 – $5.93

[Prairie Grove Grade] SCHOOL DIST 46
2011 – $3.82
2012 – $4.09

[Crystal Lake Grade] SCHOOL DIST 47
2011 – $3.43
2012 – $3.95

[Marengo-Union Grade] SCHOOL DIST 165
2011 – $2.49
2012 – $2.96

[Marengo High] SCHOOL DIST 154
2011 – $2.44
2012 – $2.87

[Crystal Lake High] SCHOOL DIST 155
2011 – $2.30
2012 – $2.64

[McHenry High] SCHOOL DIST 156

2011 – $2.09
2012 – $2.41

[Richmond-Burton High] SCHOOL DIST 157
2011 – $2.93
2012 – $3.12

[Johnsburg] SCHOOL DIST 12

2011 – $4.77
2012 – $5.57

[Alden-Hebron Unit] SCHOOL DIST 19

2011 – $4.72
2012 – $5.37

[Harvard Unit] SCHOOL DIST 50

2011 – $5.89
2012 – $6.21

[Belvidere Unit] SCHOOL DIST 100

2011 – $4.92
2012 – $5.76

[Wauconda Unit] SCHOOL DIST 118
2011 – $5.35
2012 – $6.28

[Huntley] SCHOOL DIST 158
2011 – $4.84
2012 – $5.42

[Woodstock] SCHOOL DIST 200
2011 – $5.85
2012 – $6.90

[Barrington Unit] SCHOOL DIST 220

2011 – $3.64
2012 – $3.59

[Carpentersville Unit] SCHOOL DIST 300
2011 – $4.84
2012 – $5.61

Municipal Tax Rates

ALGONQUIN VILLAGE
2011 – $0.57
2012 – $0.62

BARRINGTON HILLS VILLAGE
2011 – $1.24
2012 – $1.34

BULL VALLEY VILLAGE
2011 – $0.52
2012 – $0.60

CARY VILLAGE
2011 – $0.47
2012 – $0.54

CRYSTAL LAKE CITY
2011 – $0.27
2012 – $0.30

CRYSTAL LAKE FIRE CITY
2011 – $0.59
2012 – $0.68

FOX RIVER GROVE VILLAGE
2011 – $0.66
2012 – $0.74

FOX LAKE VILLAGE
2011 – $0.68
2012 – $0.78

FOX LAKE FIRE VILLAGE
2011 – $0.38
2012 – $0.43

PORT BARRINGTON VILLAGE
2011 – $0.28
2012 – $0.32

GREENWOOD VILLAGE
2011 – $0.0
2012 – $0.0

HARVARD CITY
2011 – $1.94
2012 – $2.21

HEBRON VILLAGE
2011 – $0.59
2012 – $0.69

HOLIDAY HILLS VILLAGE
2011 – $0.22
2012 – $0.24

HUNTLEY VILLAGE
2011 – $0.48
2012 – $0.53

ISLAND LAKE VILLAGE
2011 – $0.58
2012 – $0.72

JOHNSBURG VILLAGE
2011 – $0.44
2012 – $0.51

LAKE IN THE HILLS VILLAGE
2011 – $0.79
2012 – $0.83

LAKEMOOR VILLAGE
2011 – $0.36
2012 – $0.42

LAKEWOOD VILLAGE
2011 – $0.89
2012 – $1.04

MARENGO CITY
2011 – $0.98
2012 – $1.44

MCCULLOM LAKE VILLAGE
2011 – $0.67
2012 – $0.74

MCHENRY CITY
2011 – $0.67
2012 – $0.74

OAKWOOD HILLS VILLAGE
2011 – $0.43
2012 – $0.49

PRAIRIE GROVE VILLAGE
2011 – $0.39
2012 – $0.41

RICHMOND VILLAGE
2011 – $0.86
2012 – $0.96

RINGWOOD VILLAGE
2011 – $0.21
2012 – $0.23

SPRING GROVE VILLAGE
2011 – $0.32
2012 – $0.37

TROUT VALLEY VILLAGE
2011 – $0.0
2012 – $0.0

UNION VILLAGE
2011 – $0.42
2012 – $0.45

WONDER LAKE VILLAGE
2011 – $0.40
2012 – $0.46

WOODSTOCK CITY
2011 – $1.66
2012 – $1.87

Fire Protection District Tax Rates

ALG LITH FIRE DIST
2011 – $0.72
2012 – $0.83

BARRINGTON CTRY FIRE

2011 – $0.37
2012 – $0.35

CARY FIRE DIST

2011 – $0.47
2012 – $0.54

CRYSTAL LAKE FIRE (Part of city government)
2011 – $0.59
2012 – $0.68

CRYSTAL LAKE RURAL FIRE
2011 – $0.40
2012 – $0.40

FOX LAKE FIRE DIST

2011 – $0.35
2012 – $0.42

FOX RIVER GROVE FIRE

2011 – $0.70
2012 – $0.72

HARVARD FIRE DIST

2011 – $0.31
2012 – $0.36

HEBRON-ALDEN GREENWOOD FIRE
2011 – $0.41
2012 – $0.47

HUNTLEY FIRE DIST

2011 – $0.72
2012 – $0.83

MARENGO FIRE DIST

2011 – $0.24
2012 – $0.29

MARENGO RESC SQUAD
2011 – $0.20
2012 – $0.20

MCHENRY FIRE DIST

2011 – $0.45
2012 – $0.50

NUNDA RURAL FIRE
2011 – $0.60
2012 – $0.66

RICHMOND FIRE DIST

2011 – $0.70
2012 – $0.70

SPRING GROVE FIRE
2011 – $0.52
2012 – $0.61

UNION FIRE DIST

2011 – $0.35
2012 – $0.37

WAUCONDA FIRE DIST
2011 – $0.53
2012 – $0.61

WOODSTOCK FIRE RESCUE

2011 – $0.65
2012 – $0.76

WONDER LAKE FIRE
2011 – $0.40
2012 – $0.46

Library District Tax Rates

ALGONQUIN LIBRARY
2011 – $0.46
2012 – $0.52

BARRINGTON LIBRARY
2011 – $0.18
2012 – $0.18

CARY AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY
2011 – $0.21
2012 – $0.24

CRYSTAL LAKE LIBRARY
2011 – $0.35
2012 – $0.39

FOX LAKE LIBRARY
2011 – $0.33
2012 – $0.38

FOX RIVER GR LIBRARY
2011 – $0.47
2012 – $0.53

HUNTLEY AREA LIBRARY
2011 – $0.21
2012 – $0.24

JOHNSBURG LIBRARY
2011 – $0.14
2012 – $0.16

MARENGO-UNION LIBRARY
2011 – $0.15
2012 – $0.18

MCHENRY LIBRARY
2011 – $0.28
2012 – $0.32

RIVER EAST PUBLIC LIBRARY
2011 – $0.15
2012 – $0.18

NIPPERSINK LIBRARY
2011 – $0.16
2012 – $0.19

RURAL WOODSTOCK LIBRARY
2011 – $0.09
2012 – $0.10

WAUCONDA AREA LIBRARY
2011 – $0.41
2012 – $0.47

Park District Tax Rates

BARRINGTON HILLS PARK
2011 – $0.035
2012 – $0.038

CARY PARK DISTRICT
2011 – $0.66
2012 – $0.76

CRYSTAL LAKE PARK
2011 – $0.41
2012 – $0.46

HUNTLEY PARK DIST
2011 – $0.37
2012 – $0.43

MARENGO PARK DIST
2011 – $0.35
2012 – $0.40

Township Tax Rates

ALDEN TOWNSHIP
2011 – $0.26
2012 – $0.26

ALGONQUIN TOWNSHIP
2011 – $0.066
2012 – $0.074

BURTON TOWNSHIP
2011 – $0.084
2012 – $0.098

CHEMUNG TOWNSHIP
2011 – $0.14
2012 – $0.17

CORAL TOWNSHIP
2011 – $0.078
2012 – $0.087

DORR TOWNSHIP
2011 – $0.11
2012 – $0.13

DUNHAM TOWNSHIP
2011 – $0.24
2012 – $0.26

GRAFTON TOWNSHIP
2011 – $0.071
2012 – $0.083

GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP
2011 – $0.14
2012 – $0.17

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP
2011 – $0.22
2012 – $0.24

HEBRON TOWNSHIP
2011 – $0.22
2012 – $0.25

MARENGO TOWNSHIP
2011 – $0.20
2012 – $0.23

MCHENRY TOWNSHIP
2011 – $0.15
2012 – $0.17

NUNDA TOWNSHIP
2011 – $0.091
2012 – $0.10

RICHMOND TOWNSHIP
2011 – $0.12
2012 – $0.13

RILEY TOWNSHIP
2011 – $0.23
2012 – $0.26

SENECA TOWNSHIP
2011 – $0.16
2012 – $0.18

Township Road & Bridge Tax Rates

ALDEN TWP RD & BR
2011 – $0.30
2012 – $0.34

ALGONQUIN TOWNSHIP ED & BR
2011 – $0.14
2012 – $0.16

BURTON TWP RD & BR
2011 – $0.10
2012 – $0.12

CHEMUNG TWP RD & BR
2011 – $0.33
2012 – $0.37

CORAL TWP RD & BR
2011 – $0.19
2012 – $0.22

DORR TWP RD & BR
2011 – $0.21
2012 – $0.24

DUNHAM TWP RD & BR
2011 – $0.35
2012 – $0.56

GRAFTON TWP RD & BR
2011 – $0.051
2012 – $0.059

GREENWOOD TWP RD & BR
2011 – $0.35
2012 – $0.41

HARTLAND TWP RD & BR
2011 – $0.33
2012 – $0.35

HEBRON TWP RD & BR
2011 – $0.35
2012 – $0.38

MARENGO TWP RD & BR
2011 – $0.32
2012 – $0.38

MCHENRY TWP RD & BR
2011 – $0.27
2012 – $0.31

NUNDA TWP RD & BR
2011 – $0.27
2012 – $0.30

RICHMOND TWP RD &BR
2011 – $0.21
2012 – $0.24

RILEY TWP RD & BR
2011 – $0.26
2012 – $0.30

SENECA TWP RD & BR
2011 – $0.25
2012 – $0.28

Sanitary District Tax Rates

NORTHERN MORAINE W R
2011 – $0.71
2012 – $0.71

LITH SANITARY DIST
2011 – $0.70
2012 – $0.83

Cemetery District Tax Rates

NUNDA TWP CEMETERY
2011 – $0.0016
2012 – $0.0017

RICHMOND CEMETERY
2011 – $0.01
2012 – $0.01

= = = = =

Other article about the property taxes that will be 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

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.

= = = = =

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

Andrew Gasser

Andrew Gasser, a Republican Precinct Committeeman from Fox River Grove has been active in his opposition to the referendum to hike taxes $60-$90 a year (the cost for $200-300,000 homes).

He was even interviewed by the Chicago Tribune for its article last Sunday. Maybe that’s why his web site was shut down by an 20,000 hits in fifteen minutes.

In any event, Gasser called me today to tell me he was opposed to the referendum to raise $9 million more in real estate taxes to help the Developmentally Disabled.

I have weighed in on the reasons for my opposition, as recently as yesterday.

That’s when I learned from the Tribune that the 708 Board is only giving 10% of its $13 million a year to DD services. (In that article I explain that when I was McHenry County Treasurer in the late 1960′s I delivered the first checks. My memory tells me I took $25,000 to Pioneer Center and $25,000 to Family Services. A 50-50 split, in other words.)

In any event, here is Gasser’s telephone message:

“Hi, this is Andrew Gasser, a concerned neighbor, calling to ask you to vote NO tomorrow on a ballot Proposition to increase your property taxes.

“We live in the 29th most expensive county… in the nation, yet the political class wants more.

“Why should we continue to tighten our belts to live within our means while they use our homes as personal ATM machines?

“Join me tomorrow and vote NO.

“Thank you.

“This call was paid for by Citizens of McHenry County Against Higher Property Taxes. (708) 320-1073.”

Just talked to Fox River Grove Republican Precinct Committeeman Andrew Gasser and he told me that his hosting service has had to take his web site down because there had been 20,000 attempts to break into it.

Since he is featured in the Chicago Tribune article today in opposition to the 377 tax hike referendum, which gives voters the opportunity to raise their taxes $60-90, I thought I put up his latest article.

But, first, here’s what the Sunday Tribune said,

“Critics of the proposal have been outspoken, if few in number. Andrew Gasser, an Air Force Veteran and a Republican precinct committeeman in Fox River Grove, said the tax will hurt poor and middle-class homeowners struggling to survive the recent housing bust and recession.

“Gasser said he has compassion for those with disabilities but questioned why they warrant a special tax, when many families also face financial strins while caring for loved ones with a host of other ailments.

“‘There’s a responsibility we have as a society,’he said, ‘but at the same time, government cannot do it all. People just can’t afford it.’”

Gasser’s latest article–with a table of the high tax counties that has been downloaded 15,000 times–points out that McHenry County is the 19th highest taxed countie in the United States of America.

Here it is:

McHenry County 29th Most Expensive County… in the United States

So it only makes sense that we raise taxes more so we can be number one.

McHenry County homes are the 26th highest in the country.

McHenry County is the 29th worst county in America to live when it comes to taxes.

Why on earth are people wanting to raise them higher?

No one in our state denies our government is broken, badly broken.  So why on earth would we raise taxes more?  Fear not McHenry Lake, DuPage, and Kendal counties are worse than us but Kane is nipping at our heals.

How many of our senior citizens who live in Fox River Grove, Cary, Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Crystal Lake, McHenry, Marengo, Spring Grove, or Woodstock can afford another tax hike?

How can the struggling poor and the over burdened middle class afford another tax hike?

But it gets better!  Tax day, April 15th, right?  Wrong.

Do you wonder why hard working people are fleeing Illinois?
We have to work longer to pay our tax bill.

Citizens who reside in Illinois have to work until April 25th to pay off their tax burden.  Compare that to all the neighboring states:

- Wisconsin April 20th
- Indiana – April 13th
- Iowa – April 9th
- Missouri – April 8th
- Kentucky – April 6th

And just as a side note I would point out that Illinois has more taxing bodies than any other state around us.  Heck, even California is better than Illinois.  Are we not paying attention to the economic reality we are facing in Illinois?  Are we just living in some fantasy world where we think we can tax and spend our way to prosperity?

Just look how bad our sales tax is here in Illinois:

Yep – Illinois leads the way in sales tax too.

Yep – Illinois leads the way in sales tax too.

Illinois is the 10th highest income tax rate at 8.2 percent.  Now look at our surrounding states:

- Missouri is 14th at 7.49 percent
- Indiana is 20th at 7 percent
- Iowa is 25th at 6.81 percent
- Kentucky is 36th at 6 percent
- Wisconsin is 41st at 5.43 percent

Tell me, where would you want to open a business?  Where would you want to live?  Where would you want to raise a family?

We are in a financial crisis.  Not just in the United States, not just in Illinois, but in McHenry County.  So many of us complain about our taxes going up every year.  How many of you know someone who has left the state?

I have one (former) constituent who left the state because she could not afford the taxes on her house she owned outright in Fox River Grove.  How is that right?  Her American dream is shattered.  She had to sell her home.

There aught to be no shame in voting NO against this proposition.  There aught to be no anxiety over what other people might think of a NO vote.  How much is enough?  How much does the poor and the middle class have to pay to satisfy political correctness?  Vote NO on Tuesday.

Finally – while everyone plots political strategy quietly in emails and phone calls, while everyone likes to run around calling themselves “tax cutters” and “reformers”, all the counties on the first graphic above are run by “Republicans”.

Go figure.

This was in the Daily Herald Tuesday:

“DuPage County homeowners can expect to pay more property taxes to school districts and other local governments, even though land values continue to plummet.

“The overall value of land in DuPage decreased last year by 8 percent, to roughly $34.6 billion. At the same time, the average tax rate for the county’s 384 taxing bodies — the other half of the tax equation — increased 11.73 percent.

“As a result, property owners countywide are going to pay an average of 3.73 percent more on their tax bills this year…”

So, why does this happen?

The reason, which I have repeated pointed out, is that during the time since the Property Tax Cap took effect in the early 1990′s, real estate inflation vastly outstripped the Consumer Price Index.

Under the Tax Cap, all tax districts but Home Rule municipalities had their tax rates forced down in order to limit their tax extraction from exceeding the increase in the CPI.

That meant their tax rates were well below the maximums set by state law.

When property values started falling, the tax districts kept asking for more money.

Because they were under their maximum rates, those rates were increased enough to give them the amount they got the year before, plus whatever the Consumer Price Index (the measure of inflation used in the law) had increased.

In DuPage County’s case this past year, tax districts did what most do every year, try to squeeze every dime they can out of property owners’ pockets.