County Board Increases Balance One-Twelfth Pretty Much Gruaranteeing Taxing to the Max

You may remember my critique of the County Board’s budget limiting efforts. My May 30th article was entitled, “County Board Just Can’t Say, ‘No New Taxes.‘” The guts of the article was this table: Approximate 20 Year Effects of Not … Continue reading

Pat Quinn and Legislators Kill Senior Citizen Tax Relief

The law is still on the books, but, as they say in the movies, the contents are on the cutting room floor. The bill was originally passed using money from the new 2 1/2% income tax by Governor Richard Ogilvie. … Continue reading

Althoff Opposes Shift of Teacher Pension Burden from State to Real Estate Tax

A press release from State Senator Pam Althoff: Althoff: Shifting pension risk onto local schools wrong approach SPRINGFIELD, IL. – State Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-McHenry) says a pension proposal being advanced in Springfield that shifts costs onto suburban and Downstate … Continue reading

Crystal Lake Elementary School Doesn’t Know How Much Democrats’ Proposed Pension Shift from State to Real Estate Taxpayer Might Cost

I have to say I am disappointed that Crystal Lake District 47 has no idea of how much it might cost to shift the financing of teacher pensions from state taxpayers to local taxpayers. In a Freedom of Information Request, … Continue reading

The Tax Cap Did Not Make Your Tax Bill Go Up, Tax District Officials Asking for More Money Did That

Under the heading of “Why your tax bills went up,” in Kevin Craver’s article on the issuance of Property Tax bills is a misstatement from the McHenry County Supervisor of Assessments. The Northwest Herald story says Robert Ross indicated, “The … Continue reading

Remembering the County Board Members Who Voted to Maximize Our Tax Increases

With tax bills having arrived, it seems appropriate to call attention again to those McHenry County Board members who recommended to tax us to the max: Who Voted to Raise Your County Taxes? The Board members voted “balloon” levy, that … Continue reading

Municipalities Cut Tax Take! Fire Protection Districts Cut Even More! Libraries, Sanitary Districts Flat

Real estate tax bills being sent out in McHenry County this year will total $783,689,437.41 this spring. That compares with $773,325,977.50 a year ago. That’s an increase of 1.34%, which those with good memories will recall is less than the … Continue reading

Compare Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ Miniscule and Governor Pat Quinn’s Property Taxes to Yours

The inequity of the Illinois real estate tax system hit home again last Thursday as I read Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mark Brown’s piece. In it, he points out that Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has her Water Tower Place condo … Continue reading

School District 300 Shows Its Taxeater Side in Opposing “Anti-Education” Tax Cap Limit

A press release from Carpentersville School District 300 [I have inserted some comments in brackets.] is below: D300 opposes Tax Cap Bill as “anti-public service” On Feb. 21, Senate Bill 2073 passed the Illinois House of Representatives including an amendment … Continue reading

A Citizen’s Thoughts on the Crystal Lake Library’s $28.6 Million Proposed Expansion

Here’s the view of Stephen Willson on the proposal for Crystal Lake Library improvements. Food for thought. Should We Build a New Library in Crystal Lake? An open letter to the Crystal Lake City Council Key points New library budget … Continue reading

Surges Rebuts McConnaughay “Hit Piece” on Property Tax Payments

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, … Continue reading

Surges Calls Late Property Tax Payments Cited by McConnaughay “Old News”

Yesterday State Senate candidate Karen McConnaughay issued a press release which I characterized as “pounding” her opponent Cliff Surges on not having paid property taxes on time. I asked for a reply and here is what Surges sent: “This is … Continue reading

McConnaughay Pounds Surges on Late Real Estate Tax Payments

A press release from State Senate candidate Karen McConnaughay about her opponent Cliff Surges: Karen McConnaughay Congratulates Opponent for Rare On-Time Tax Payment Cliff Surges meets property tax payment deadline for first time since 2006 St. Charles, Illinois—State Senate candidate … Continue reading

Emphais on McHenry County Board’s Decision to Tax to the Max Continues to Dominate Northwest Herald Coverage for District 3 Candidates

You may remember that Kevin Craver’s Northwest Herald article about District 2 McHenry County Board candidates focused on the vote to increase the property tax levy by the maximum of 1.5% Cost-of-Living increase allowed by the Real Estate Tax Cap. … Continue reading

NW Herald Article Actually Quotes Cal Skinner

Guess my article about the motivation for Democrat Jack Franks’ Real Estate Tax Cap bill and the one about his Senate sponsor’s outright rejection of the idea and the posting of the email from Crystal Lake Grade School District 47 … Continue reading

Senate Sponsor of Jack Franks’ Property Tax Cap Bill Says It’s “Dead on Arrival”

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 … Continue reading

Crystal Lake Grade School District Asks Taxpayers’ Help to Fight Their Self-Interest

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 … Continue reading

The Cost to Local School Districts of Democrats’ Plan to Shift Who Pays Teacher’s Pensions

Here’s how much the Democrats teacher pension payment shifting plan will cost McHenry County taxpayers: Nippersink School District 2   $6,426,544.26 Fox River Grove CSD 3                2,957,690.47 Johnsburg CUSD 12                   12,905,616.00 McHenry CCSD 15                        21,799,110.51 Riley CCSD 18                                 … Continue reading