Revised Referendum Numbers

Here are the election results for referendums throughout McHenry County’s cities, townships and park districts. The more complete results for the McHenry High School District referendum to allow the borrowing of $44 million: … Continue reading

Small Tax Hike Referendums Fail

Tax Hike referendums in Hebron Township and the Village of Greenwood were trounced. Here is the Hebron Township question: Shall the extension limitation under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for Hebron Township, McHenry County, Illinois, be increased from the … Continue reading

Greenwood Baptist Minister Pleads Guilty to Child Porn

That’s what the Chicago Tribune is reporting. His name is Timothy Williams and he started Heritage Baptist Church in the old Greenwood Methodist Church in 2001 after the Northern Illinois Conference of the declining United Methodist Church sold it off … Continue reading

Mayors Endorsing Jack Franks

Just thought you’d like to know the mayors and village presidents who have endorsed Jack Franks as of 7-12-16: City of Harvard Mayor Jay Nolan City of McHenry Mayor Susan Low City of Woodstock Mayor Brian Sager Village of Algonquin … Continue reading

Tax Takes for Cities and Villages

Below is what cities and villages in McHenry County did to property taxpayers last year and what can be expected this year: City or village INCR / DECR INCR / DECR 2015 – 2014 2014 – 2013 IN TOTAL TAX … Continue reading

Effective Tax Rates in McHenry County

The only way to compare property tax burdens is to divide one’s property tax bill by the value of one’s home. That’s what the Chicago Tribune did in November of 2015. The effective tax rates found for McHenry County towns … Continue reading

Comparing City & Village Tax Takes

Yesterday, we took a look at what school districts requested to be collected last year and this year. Today we’ll look at municipalities. A number of McHenry County municipalities overlap into adjacent counties. If you see “McH only,” that is … Continue reading

Income Tax Revenue Sharing Loss Would Cost McHenry County Governments $16.9 Million

The McHenry County Council of Governments (McCOG) has calculated how much money each village and city in the county would lose in state subsides should Governor Bruce Rauner’s budget recommendations be enacted. The Govenror suggests cutting the subsidy in half. … Continue reading

Candidates for McHenry County Cities and Villages

I’ve finally pinned down all who are running for municipal office in cities and villages having all or part of their boundaries within McHenry County. The names have been listed in ballot order.  That makes little difference unless there are … Continue reading

Filings for Municipal Office

Here’s my best effort to find out who filed for village and city offices in McHenry County’s thirty municipalities. Most who didn’t file last week probably waited until late Monday afternoon. Why? Best place on the ballot is first.  With … Continue reading

Crystal Lake’s Hikes Taxes Almost 10%–More Than Any Other City or Village

Municipal elections were last spring.  The next ones are not until next spring. Perhaps that explains why the City of Crystal Lake decided to hike taxes so much this year–a non-election year. There will go up 9.8%. McHenry, on the … Continue reading

Michael Stanard Answers ALAW’s McHenry County Board Questionnaire

Michael Standard is another candidate running for the McHenry County Board in District 6. Below are his answers to the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water Questionnaire: ALAW County Board Candidates Survey: 2012 Primary Election A. Land Use 1. Do … Continue reading

Lakewood’s Tax Rate Up Most, Richmond’s Only One Down

Because Lakewood Village Board members decided to require residents to pay off the last year of the golf course purchased the year before the Property Tax Cap went into effect, Lakewood has the highest percentage tax rate increase of any … Continue reading