McHenry County Blog

A press release from State Rep. David McSweeney:

McSweeney Calls on Speaker Madigan to Release Property Tax Relief Bill

Springfield –On the same day a special House committee heard testimony on a pension cost shift proposal to local school districts, state Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) had his property tax relief bill blocked by the House Rules Committee. McSweeney’s amended bill, Senate Bill 1937, is a proposal for Illinois residents living within township governments to get a 2-year property tax levy freeze and it also provides tax relief for seniors living with people with disabilities.

“We are here discussing a pension cost shift today, which will result in yet another property tax increase,” said McSweeney.

“Residents have had enough.

“Property taxes are through the roof at a time when home values and the market haven’t recovered.

“My bill would provide tax relief now and the bill deserves a fair shake.”

Earlier this week, McSweeney filed the amendment to Senate Bill 1937 which specifically calls for enacting the 2-year property tax freeze.

The House Rules Committee has not released the amended bill to the House Revenue Committee.

The Rules Committee is the place in which legislation can be killed or advanced by the Democratic House leaders.

“If my bill is released from Rules and doesn’t pass the House, so be it. That’s the democratic process,” added McSweeney.

“But, I have garnered significant support from both sides of the aisle on this bill and I respectfully ask the Speaker to reconsider this bill.

“I’m confident that I have the necessary votes to pass the bill in Revenue Committee and on the floor”

If released from Rules and then ultimately enacted, Senate Bill 1937 would take effect immediately and would impose a 2-year Township property tax levy freeze, covering tax billing years 2014-2015 for township governments only.

This is not McSweeney’s first attempt at property tax relief this session.

As one of his first actions in office, McSweeney proposed House Bill 95 which would freeze all property tax levies for three years. He was also lead co-sponsor and supported Representative Jack Franks’ House Bill 89, which would freeze all property tax levies when home values fall.

[Franks' bill tanked.]

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For more information about township taxes in McHenry County, click here.

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

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

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

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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

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

I was reading an article Boone County Watchdog criticizing the Belvidere Township Assessor’s petty cash fund when I ran across the following in a referenced article in the Belvidere Daily Republican:

“In addition, she [Assessor Diann Helnore] said she understands township Road Commissioner Richard Lee has ‘a slush fund, gleaned from selling scrap metal and cans picked up along township roads.

“But [Belvidere Township Supervisor Pat] Murphy said that doesn’t happen anymore. ‘In the old days all the townships did that,’ he said.”

Does anyone know anything about such a practice?

A missive from Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore.  I wonder if it will get more than the 50 comments on the previous post about her.

Dear Grafton Township Residents,

The deadline for filing an appeal of the assessed value of your home is December 10th. Please call the county assessor’s office 1-815-334-4290 if you have not received a letter with your properties assessed value.

EQUALIZATION

How do the county assessor and the Illinois Department of Revenue determine the equalization value for your assessed property value?

In Grafton Township this year the multiplier for all property is over 9%.

This fact is not true for any other township in McHenry County.

It is determined by:

• The Illinois Department of Revenue looks at the sales that have occurred (2009-2011) and compares the assessments on that property – it is a measure of assessment valuation quality.
• Two levels of equalization are done each year in McHenry County, first by the county assessor and then by the Illinois Department of Revenue as required by law.
• The goal is for every township to have the level of assessment at 33.3%.
• The Illinois Department of Revenue checks to see that after the Board of Review action that the county has the appropriate level of assessment for equity across county borders.

The 9% equalization has been interpreted by the state and county to mean that the assessed value for all properties, on the average, is too low in Grafton Township.

As a result of this, the township office has been very busy with residents seeking to appeal the assessed value of their property.

RTA PRESENTATION ON CTA, PACE, and METRA PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

RTA will be giving a free class on using public transportation. They will discuss reading train and bus schedules and maps. I have always been a bit unnerved by travelling into the city by train or bus. If you are like me and would like to learn more about how the bus and trains work, plan to join us. They will also discuss senior discounts, fares, and the Ride Free program. On Wednesday, December 5th at 5pm this class will be held at the American Community Bank. Please call 847-669-3328 to reserve a seat.

I hope everyone is keeping warm now that the temperatures are dipping into the teens. If you know of someone in financial difficulty, please have them give the township office a call. We can help with General Assistance and Emergency Assistance Programs. We also have lots of warm coats for all ages and a food pantry to help someone who cannot afford to buy groceries.

December 4 Senior Bingo

Grafton Township will be holding a festive Bingo event, Christmas entertainment will be sponsored by Sunrise Assisted Living and Northwest Home, Health, and Rehab sponsors lunch. Join us December 5 starting at 11 am at Huntley American Legion, 11712 Coral St., Huntley, Tuesday.

Coat Drive

As the weather cools, some people who can’t afford a winter coat are going to find a need for them. Grafton Township Supervisor, Linda Moore wants to help. If you have an extra gently used or new coat or two, please bring them into the Grafton Township office or place them in our collection boxes.
– click here to continue reading –

Senior Services Calendar

The Crystal Lake Senior Services Associates has released their December 2012 Calendar.
Click here to view the December Calendar

Presentations on Using Accessible CTA, Pace and Metra Public Transportation

Accessible CTA, Metra and Pace buses and trains are easy to use and the RTA would love to show you how! It is important that people with disabilities and seniors stay informed about public transportation options in order to get to appointments, maintain social connections, and enjoy independent travel. Mark your calendars for December 5th.
– click here to continue reading –

Grafton Township
Supervisor Linda Moore
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Click below to download information about our Senior Bus

Senior Bus Flyer
Grafton Senior Bus Registration Form

Contact Information
13904 Harmony Road, Huntley IL 60142 lindamooregt@gmail.com
Phone number: 1-847-630-6325
Paid for by Committee to Elect Linda Moore

What would happen if a candidate ran for township office pledging to abolish the government for which he or she seeks office?

Attorney and future McHenry County Board member Mike Walkup considered the question and came up with the following:

Can this be done?

Many people are under the impression that townships can no longer be abolished one at a time.

This is due to legislation that was passed amending the Township Code when former McHenry County State Representative Ann Hughes chaired a special committee that had been formed following the unsuccessful attempt by Bob Anderson to abolish all of the townships in McHenry County in 1994. I will refer to this as the “Hughes Act.”

The issue at the time was that in a county like McHenry, where some townships have much larger populations than others and are also mostly incorporated into municipalities, a referendum to abolish all townships in the county could be carried by those more populous townships where the residents didn’t feel that they needed township services, notwithstanding the desires of the more rural township residents to retain that form of government.

I represented Bob Anderson at the time and helped him get the question on the ballot. It scared the heck out of the townships at the time.

The Hughes Act is as follows:

ARTICLE 25. DISCONTINUANCE OF TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION

(60 ILCS 1/25-5)

“Sec. 25-5 Petition and referendum to discontinue township organization. Upon the petition of at least 10% of the registered voters of each township of a county, as determined by the date registration closed before the regular election next preceding the last day on which the petition may be filed, that has adopted township organization, the county board shall certify and cause to be submitted to the voters of the county, at the next general election, the question of continuance of township organization. ” {a lot of stuff next about how the signatures all have to be collected 90 days before the last day for filing the petition and how to establish that on each petition sheet}.

“Sec. 25-10. Cessation of township organization. If it appears by the returns of the election that a majority of the votes in at least three-fourths of the townships, containing at least of majority of the population in the county, cast on the question of the continuance of township organization are against the continuance of township organization, then township organization shall cease in the county as soon as a county board is elected and qualified.”

This referendum can only be presented at a general election at which members of the General Assembly are elected, so it cannot be done in connection with a Consolidated Election, which is the one next year.

The entire County Board is then replaced by 3 County Commissioners!!

Many legal experts have been advising township boards that this is now the only way to abolish townships.

This is incorrect.

The power to abolish townships by referendum created by citizen petition is derived from the 1970 Illinois Constitution. Section 5 of Article VII thereof states as follows:

” SECTION 5. TOWNSHIPS

The General Assembly shall provide by law for the formation of townships in any county when approved by county-wide referendum. Townships may be consolidated or merged, and one or more townships may be dissolved or divided, when approved by a referendum in each township affected. All townships in a county may be dissolved when approved by a referendum in the total area in which township officers are elected.” (emphasis supplied).

The State Constitution supersedes any legislative enactments which are inconsistent with it.

Bob Anderson formed a group known as “S.T.O.P.”, (Send Township Officials Packing), which I also represented, and which challenged the Hughes Act in DuPage County on the grounds that the second paragraph, which required a super majority, violated the “one person one vote” rule.

We lost at the county level and decided not to appeal.

Bob subsequently filed to abolish McHenry Township separately.

He did not have enough valid signatures and tried a second time.

This time McHenry Township Supervisor Donna Schaefer decided not to file an objection and it made it to the ballot, where it lost.

No further attempts have been made.

Therefore, I am of the opinion that you can get a binding referendum on the ballot to abolish an individual township, notwithstanding the Hughes Act provisions, which I believe apply only where someone is attempting to abolish all of the townships in a county at one time.

How many signatures would then be required and at what elections could it be presented?

The Hughes Act requires ten percent of the registered voters. However, it does not address the requirements for single township abolition.

I believe these would therefore be determined by the Election Code.

This would fall under Section 28, Submitting Public Questions.

It provides as follows:

“The method of initiating the submission of a public question shall be as provided by the statute authorizing such public question, or as provided by the Constitution. …..

If such statute does not specify any of the foregoing petition requirements, the corresponding petition requirements of Section 28-6 shall govern such petition.

“Sec. 28-6. Petitions; filing.

“(a) On a written petition signed by a number of voters equal to at least 8% of the total votes cast for candidates for Governor in the preceding gubernatorial election by the registered voters of the municipality, township, county or school district, it shall be the duty of the proper election officers to submit any question of public policy so petitioned for, to the electors of such political subdivision at any regular election named in the petition at which an election is scheduled to be held throughout such political subdivision under Article 2A.”

Therefore, I believe that only 8% of those who voted in the 2010 gubernatorial election (combining vote totals for all Governor candidates) within the township is needed and that it can be placed on the ballot at any upcoming election, including either the Consolidated Election in April or any primary election prior thereto.

There you have it.

The rest, if anything, is up to you.

The deadline for filing for the general consolidated election is December 24th. I believe for a primary there is an earlier date.

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Those wishing to file for township office must do so from November 19-26.

Happy Thanksging.

District 6 Democratic Party McHenry Coun”ty Board candidate Scott Summers answered a recent question about consolidating local governments and shares a slightly different version of it below:

“As a Democratic Party candidate for a District 6 seat on the McHenry County Board, I now am receiving more and more questions about my public policy views.

“Recently, a township official sent me an email. In part, he asked this question: “What are your feelings on the consolidation (and/or dissolution) of certain forms of local government? Which ones would you choose to change and why?”

“Here, edited somewhat, is my response:

‘Yes, we must make changes. As you and I know, Illinois has the highest number of local governments of any state. Reducing them will of course be exceedingly difficult from a political standpoint.

‘I support the Jack Franks initiative establishing the current study commission on local government. I am very hopeful that it will lead to constructive and meaningful changes.

‘As for my personal views — I believe that “pruning” is a more appropriate concept than outright cutting. Perhaps some quick examples will suffice.

‘Oak Park and River Forest have three school districts: two elementary and one high school. One unified district might serve well.

‘I know you’re aware of the initiative in Evanston to consolidate the city and the township. I agree with this: in highly urbanized areas, municipalities and townships should be merged.

‘In rural townships, more emphasis should be placed on consolidation of services (as opposed to dissolution). Can some townships share an assessor or a highway superintendent? I think so — though that’s far easier said than done, of course.

‘But it’s not just about cutting units of government. It’s also about merging positions, and selectively closing offices. For example, DeKalb County has combined the offices of county clerk and county recorder.

‘And do we really need 102 state’s attorneys, and 102 clerks of court (one of each, in each county)? The state has 22 judicial circuits; I’d like instead to see one chief prosecutor and one court clerk in each circuit.

‘Does the Illinois Secretary of State have to have a driver facility in each county? That’s highly expedient from a political standpoint, of course.

‘But to make up an example — why not have a consolidated Winnebago-Boone facility for drivers? Or Boone-McHenry?

‘Yes, it’d be a bit more inconvenient for residents of, say, Belvidere. But can we as taxpayers continue to afford things the way they are now?

‘In short, my position is this. Rather than engaging in simplistic or across-the-board cuts, I’d like to keep the services that are cost effective, and instead consolidate and streamline the work of local government.

‘Thanks very much for taking the time to contact me.’

“Sincerely,

“Scott Summers”

Woodstock attorney Robert T. Hanlon was in courthouse this past Wednesday to offer his services pro bono to mediate differences between the Township Trustees and the Supervisor.

There were court appearances in

• the Separation of Powers case that Supervisor Moore brought against the Trustees when they tried to usurp her office’s Executive powers (which the Trustees are appealing),
• the case brought by Highway Commissioner Jack Freund to get Moore to pay bills including one for his wife’s health insurance and
• the suit by Assessor Bill Ottley against Moore for her refusal to pay re-modeling bills.

That’s what the story written by the First Electric Newspaper’s Pete Gonigam said.

Apparently Moore has agreed to try that approach, but when I asked the apparent leader of the Trustees, Rob LaPorta, if it were true that mediation had been agreed to by the Trustees, I received the following email:

“This is not true.

“Neither Moore nor Trustees have agreed.

“This event will not occur.”

When I sent LaPorta’s response to Hanlon for his reaction, he sent me the following reply:

“After making the offer to mediate, the Township Trustees’ attorney indicated verbally that she would recommend it to the trustees.

“Additionally, Mrs. Zirk and Mrs. Murphy appeared willing to embrace mediation.

“Attorney Nelson, who represents Mrs. Moore agreed to the mediation.

“To test Mrs. Moore’s good faith, I asked for a small concession on Mrs. Moore’s part.

“That concession was granted. (The subject of the concession is not for public comment.)

“It is my belief that Grafton Township is in a complete and total state of dysfunction as a result of personal animus arising from prior events.

“As indicated in the E-mail below [above here], it appears that the trustees are not willing to mediate.

“Unless and until the trustees agree to a good faith mediation, there is nothing I can or will do.

“If a special meeting of the Township board is called to address the mediation process, I will attend and then and there present to the trustees and supervisor a proposal outlining the mediation process.

“If approved and later I determine that a particular party is not acting in good faith I will immediately end the mediation.

“My time is too valuable to play games.

It’s that time of year when township officials have to make up their minds whether they are running for re-election.

It’s also time for those thinking about challenging township officials to be making similar calculations.

When I last saw Grafton Township Assessor Bill Ottley if he were running for re-election, I got an affirmative reply.

Assuming Ottley decides to run in the Republican primary election, he (and others) can begin circulating petitions for the February 26th election on August 28th.

Partisan primary election petitions for township office must be filed between November 19th and 26th.

Thanksgiving is November 22nd.

Last time around Algonquin, Dorr, Grafton, McHenry and Nunda Townships held Republican primary elections. The deadline for filing a notice to the County Clerk of such a primary election is November 15th.

No township Democratic Party central committee did so.

Parties in townships of more than 15,000 people may also select their candidates in a party caucus. If a caucus is held, state statute says it must be December 4th.

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 1.5% allowed by the state’s Property Tax Cap.

McHenry County

McHenry County government’s tax bill–just under 10% of the total tax bill –will be $78,285,064.42.  That’s compared to $76,846,500.12 last year, up 1.87%.  The County Board, you may remember, voted to take every dime possible under the Real Estate Tax Cap.

Education

The Big Daddy in the Property Tax Game is always education.

Including junior colleges, elementary and high schools, that category consumes almost two-thirds (66.4%) of our tax bills.

$520,283,124.49 this year; $511,040,206.22 last year.

That’s almost a 1.8% increase.  The Tax Cap does not cover bond payments, so my guess is that some districts back-ended bond payments to keep taxes lower in past years.

Junior Colleges

Looking at the junior colleges separately, we see that the total tax bill is $31,323,344.25 this year, while it was $30,347,809.74 last year.

That’s a 3.2% hike.

Since the junior colleges are getting so much higher a percentage the the education group as a whole, it would probably be interesting to see what the unit, grade and high school districts are getting in comparison.

Unit Districts

This year the unit districts will pull in $202,025,310.67, compared to $199,937,737.99 last year.

The difference?

A bit over 1%.

Elementary Schools

Grade school districts are charging $174,244,829.51 in 2012.  Last year’s bill was $171,086,182.51.

Doing the division yields a hike of over 1.8%.

High Schools

The last component of the educational tax bill is high schools.

$112,689,640.06 is the bill this year, compared to $109,668,475.98 this year.

Up 2.7%.

So, with the exception of the K-12 unit districts, which generally have lower tax rate limits, it appears the higher one goes in the grade level, the deeper the educators dig into our wallets:

• Unit Districts – +1%
• Grade Schools – +1.8%
• High Schools – +2.7%
• Jr. Colleges – +3.2%

McHenry County College covers most of McHenry County with the exception of District 300 School District, which is in the Elgin Community College District.  Small parts of McHenry County in the Barrington School District are in the Harper College District and a bit in the Wauconda School District goes to the College of Lake County.

Cities and Villages

Municipalities are next in the order of those pecking at our pocketbooks.

$66,644,908.46 being billed this year, compared to $66,885,115.04.

To their credit, cities and villages actually are taking less money out of our checking accounts for real estate taxes–about 4/10 of one percent–than last year!

That’s worth a headline, don’t you think?

Fire Protection Districts

Let’s look at Fire Protection Districts.

$40,598,421.16 this year, $41,448,795.39 last year.

No one looks at how Fire Protection Districts are governed or what they spend, yet, so far, this category of tax district has been parsimonious with our tax dollars.

It should be noted that some municipalities have their own fire departments, e’g., Crystal Lake, so the $40 million, plus, does not comprise the whole cost of fire protection.

The FPD’s are taking over 2% less this year than they did last year.

Townships

Townships will take $25,770,362.84 this year, less than the $25,577,572.45 last year.

That’s an increase for the governmental form taking the most heat in the metropolitan media of $193,000, about a three-quarters of a one percent increase.  It should me noted that township officials are up for election next spring.

McHenry County Conservation District

The next highest taxing entity is the McHenry County Conservation District.

It will slice $19,317,898.84 out of property owners’ income this year.

Last year the total was $18,964,957.38.

The tax hike is almost 1.9%.

Library Districts

Library Districts cover a lot of the county (although Crystal Lake’s is in that city’s budget).

This year they ask you to pay $15,902,674.96.  Last year it was $15,901,974.39.

The Property Tax receipts for Library Districts will almost be constant.  Up just $700.

Park Districts

Park Districts take about as much out of the private sector as Library Districts, although municipalities like Lake in the Hill, McHenry and Woodstock do not have separate taxing districts.

$15,370,365.51 will be taxed this year compared to $15,059,395.19 last year.

The increase?

Plus 2%.  More than the Tax Cap allows, so, as with others that exceed 1.5%, it probably has to do with bond payments exempt from PTELL.

Sanitary Districts

The rest of the districts are under $1 million, so I won’t bother with them except for the Sanitary Districts, which like Fire Protection Districts, no one ever examines.  There are only two of which I am aware, the Lake in the Hills and the Island Lake (re-named the Northern Moraine) Sanitary Districts. ( I wrote about the McHenry County Health Department’s suing the latter  in a thrust for revenue, but that’s the only time I have dipped into that type of government other that attending the dedication of both of their waste treatment facilities.  The “Royal Flush” in Island Lake was a  hoot.)

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Hoe to find your bill here.

$677,590.39 is the tax “request” from Sanitary Districts this year.  It was $667,056.58 last year.

Essentially no change for Sanitary Districts, up just $534.

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ow to find you