What Did Taxpayers Get for Their 2016 School Taxes

So far, we’ve been looking at where money spent on schools has gone. Today, we look at what taxpayers got for the property taxes in 2016. it is interesting that Crystal Lake High School District 155–the school district with the … Continue reading

Real Estate Tax Bills Coming Monday

McHenry County Treasurer Glenda Miller mailed property tax bills on Friday. Since they didn’t come Saturday, I’m guessing they will arrive in most mailboxes Monday. McHenry County Blog will present some analysis, the first portion of which compares what categories … Continue reading

Fire Protection Districts Are McHenry County’s Tax Increase Leaders

McHenry County Levy Increases Outpace Municipalities In a previous McHenry County Blog articles Comparing McHenry County Property Tax 2002 Versus 2016 it was discovered that while the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased 33.8% from 2002 to 2016, most McHenry … Continue reading

Comparing School District Property Taxes 2002 Through 2016-Part 4

63.98% Average Increase for School Districts Today McHenry County Blog is revealing numbers for School Districts In summary from 2002 to 2016: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased by 33.8%. County Population increased by 10.55%. County Assessments have increased … Continue reading

Illinois Review Spreads Potential Rauner Property Tax Hike Signature Statewide

has picked up the information that Woodstock’s Susan Handelsman found about the bill that would allow school districts to raise real estate taxes without a referendum. It would legalize (still again) the transfer of money from Transportation Funds to districts’ … Continue reading

Which Types of Tax Districts Taking More, Which Less

Ups and downs. That describes what McHenry County taxpayers will see in this year’s real estate tax bills. As reported Saturday, county government provided significant savings by zeroing out last year’s $3 million Valley Hi Nursing Home tax levy.  (If … Continue reading

McSweeney Goes After Local Governmental Travel Costs

A press release from State Rep. David McSweeney: Rep. McSweeney’s Bill Would Bring More Accountability for Local Government Costs Springfield, Illinois—State Representative David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) has proposed legislation to eliminate the use of taxpayer funds for entertainment costs and … Continue reading

A Plea for Single-Member Districts for Local Governments

Active citizen Steve Wilson offers the following lament: Voter Oversight and Span of Control There is a concept in business management called “span of control”. It refers to how many people a paid, full­time manager can reasonably be expected to … Continue reading

Local School Finances – How to Probe

Crack researcher Susan Handelsmann of rural Woodstock has put together a “how to” piece about figuring out what your school board has done with school finances. It is presented below for McHenry Grade School District 15, but can be adapted … Continue reading

Five-Year Tax Hike for Schools 12.75%

Reader “Connecting Dots” inserted this property tax information in a comment under the article, “McSweeney Introduces Eleven Bills.” There are comments on more than one of the bills, but with regard to McSweeney’s House Bill 178 to freeze township extensions … Continue reading

Courts Force Disclosure of Tax Dollars Spent to Pass Northfield Township High School Referendum–$60,000 in 2006, Passed by 241 Votes

Here is a press release explaining the successful conclusion–from a taxpayer’s point of view–of a suit to stop taxeating local governments from promoting their tax increase referendums.  Although it did not originate in McHenry County, it will affect school districts, … 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