McHenry County Blog

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

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

I’ve long wondered why those living in municipalities are forced to subsidize the police services of those living in “the country.”

DuPage County allows those living in unincorporated areas apparently pay extra for better police coverage from its Sheriff’s Department.

Under the DuPage County arrangement four townships are supposed to pay 80% of the cost, DuPage County 20%.

The story popped up because the ration is not the agreed upon 4-1 ratio, but less than 2-1.

The audacious question I would like to bring up is

Why should those living in municipalities pay anything for the policing of unincorporated parts of McHenry County?

When an area incorporates, its residents know that they will have to pay for police protection.

One alternative is to contract with the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department.

That costs money.

Why should those living outside of cities and villages get a comparatively free ride, getting police protection from the Sheriff’s Office while paying the same tax rate the incorporated folks pay for operating the Sheriff’s Department?

Why not charge a user fee?

Preckwinkle backed off on her proposal, but intends to take suburban road maintenance and building money to pay for the policing.

And, she says there still needs to be some way to pay for the Sheriff’s Policing of unincorporated areas other than taxing those in incorporated areas, in other words to end the subsidy of those living in unincorporated areas.

There is so much going on in McHenry County that a citizen can easily lament the need for more information in a usable format.

Fortunately, “Cary Report” has popped up.

It’s not up to the quality of the gravel pit expansion opponents’, but one has to start somewhere.

I note that when organizers of a candidates’ night would not allow it to be recorded, a citizen-note taker started writing. On the web site are those notes.

The web site cost $25.50, it says right before this delicious quote:

“It’s harder and more expensive to get information from the village to put on this website, than it is to run this website.”

112-2.

A lopsided vote.

Definitely not a controversial bill.

It was sponsored by Democrat State Rep. Jack Franks.

Here’s what legislators saw when they voted upon it:

“Provides that the Illinois Transparency and Accountability Portal (ITAP) shall also include a searchable database of a

• counties,
• townships, and
• municipal

employees sorted by the employing unit of local government, employment position title, and current pay rate and year-to-date pay.

“Amends the Counties Code, the Township Code, and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that

• counties,
• townships, and
• municipalities

must comply with the requirements established by the Department of Central Management Services concerning ITAP.”

Do you notice anything missing in the governmental units listed that have to reveal employee’s pay?

Oh.

I guess I put in the title, so this is not much of a quiz.

As you can see from the press release below from the Village of Lakewood’s Clerk
Janice S. Hansen, it is time for those wanting to run for village trustee or village president (some like to call themselves “mayor”) to pass petitions.

Candidate petition packets for the April 5, 2011 Consolidated Election will be available at Lakewood Village Hall, 2500 Lake Avenue, beginning at 8:30 a.m. on September 21, 2010. This is the first day Independent Candidate Petitions may be circulated.

Vacant positions include: one (1) two-year Trustee position and (3) three four-year Trustee positions. Anyone interested in running for a Village of Lakewood Trustee position can pick up nominating packet at the Village Hall during regular business hours.

Nomination papers must be filed at the Village Hall between December 13, 2010, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and continuing during regular business hours until 5:00 p.m. on December 20, 2010.

Respectfully submitted,
Janice S. Hansen, Village Clerk
Village of Lakewood
815-459-3025

When city leaders read this Tribune article saying that Pat Quinn expects them to “share the pain,” there will be gnashing of teeth.

Apparently Quinn has decided to cut the $1 billion a year income tax revenue sharing by 30%. That will save $300 million, of course.

The cities got a cut of the income tax when the deal was put together by Republican Governor Richard Ogilvie way back in 1969.

It never made sense to me.

Why should local officials get a pot of money without taking any heat for hiking taxes?

10% of the total amount collected?

Better to take any heat little that comes with raising taxes, e.g., the 75% Crystal Lake city sales tax hike that Mayor Aaron Shepley and six of his city council members (all but Jeff Throsen) supported.