In the candidates’ forum for McHenry County Board members, high property taxes were brought up more than any other subject.
No matter that school districts, not the County Board, are mostly responsible for our bring in the highest 30 counties in the nation as far as real estate taxes go. (And no one I know is planning to run for school board, where the bulk of the tax action is. One might conclude that people really don’t care about high taxes.)
Nick Chirikos
District 1 incumbent Democrat Nick Chirikos said the following:
“I’d like to challenge the notion that property taxes in McHenry County are too high. $70,000 is the average income. The problem is that we do not have enough good paying jobs.”
Now he is being called on the carpet by one of his Republican challengers, Andrew Gasser.
Gasser points out on one side of a door hanger that McHenry County ranks 29th most expensive county in the country to live in.
He notes that he has fought taxes. (He led the opposition to a countywide tax hike referendum two years ago.)
Gasser also reiterates he favors making stipends and audits easy to find.
On the back is a photo of Chirikos and what he said at that candidates’ forum:
“County Board member Nick Chirikos doesn’t think your property taxes are too high! ” the text reads.
At the bottom is the following:
Time to say
“Goodbye”, Nick!
A Friend of McHenry County Blog decided to take a look at the real estate taxes Chirikos paid this year and found the following:
Nick Chirikos’ property taxes this year.
Here’s a picture of his home at the intersection of Haeger’s Bend Road and the road between Algonquin and Fox River Grove:
Where Nick Chirikos lives.
That explains Chirikos “taxes aren’t too high”comment.
I’ve paid more than that, on 2 B, 900 Sq.Ft. condos. Please explain Mr. Assessor.
I’ll wait for the latest equalizer, multiplier, BS-afier explanation, that I’ve been getting for ten years now from assessor’s.
Chirikos! ….whenever I hear that accursed name I reach for my cudgel.
Send Chirikos to Syria.
ISIS will know exactly what to do with him ……hmmmmm, on second thought, he might be an ISIS mole in the first place.
Wow. Maybe just a little under assessed?
Is he in a forestry program or zoned AG?
Pretty low assessment
Take Nick to the cleaners.
Oh sorry, he’s already taken the tax payers to the cleaners…
Bye, bye Nick.
…why are we posting pictures of people’s houses?
That’s a bit creepy.
It’s not creepy.
It appears that Nick Chirikos lives a very cushy life.
An assessor report, is appropriate…….
Well Nick how much you worth?
Do you like toothbrushes?
Do you brush your teeth or just like to clean floors?
Just asking.
Don’t bother asking for a green one, because it’s already been taken by our favorite all-time popcorn making judge, who no longer likes parades…lol…..
He’s lonely too.
His buddy Keith Baby, is rarely in town.
Do you suppose they are watching those favorite Tv shows “Let’s Make a Deal” because “The Price is Right” by Skype?….
Now that is an act of desperation.
Don’t you all worry, Gordy gave the popcorn recipe to Keith Baby!
“Goodbye, Nicky Babe!
Thats it Andrew, go after this RICH guy who could care less if anyone can afford to pay their taxes.
The statement he made shows how he really feels about the average taxpayer.
I can pay mine too bad if you can’t.
DO NOT VOTE FOR CHIRIKOS!!!!!!
We had an awesome time tonight knocking on doors.
We hit well over 200 homes today.
We do need help getting our door hangers out and if anyone is interested in helping please feel free to give me an email:
andrew@andrewgasser.com
Seven days to go.
Good things are happening and we can use all the help we can get!
As for taxes – even people with Nick’s sign in his yard are taken aback when they read what he said.
I just fundamentally and respectfully disagree with Nick on taxes.
The taxes on our home in FRG is $7,500 and many of the homes I was visiting this evening were well above $10,000.
Taxes are the number one problem in district one.
Be Blessed,
Andrew Gasser
Nick has to go period !!!!!!!!
Even if people make the money and can afford to pay high taxes the question is do they want to give their hard earned money to taxes which are way to high whatever category you’re in.
There are many many places to live that are nice and the taxes are way lower.
McHenry County is not the only place to live people.
The only choice people may have is to look at other communities.
No wonder he doesn’t think taxes are to high!
How does a house with barns and outbuildings on almost 4 acres have a total market value under $140,000?
Everyone in Algonquin Township should fight their tax bill based upon his assessment.
This is EXACTLY what is wrong with McHenry County!!
…”some animals are more equal”…
Wow, that’s Chirikos’ house !!?!!
3,200 square feet !!
hat house should be assessed at $300,000 and he should be taxed at $10,000+.
No wonder he doesn’t believe we’re over taxed.
WHO is his assessor?
I think his assessor is in trouble.
It’s time for GOP RINOs like Geri Davis to rescind their endorsement of Chirkos and Harrison.
Just because you lost your seats in the GOP to true tax fighting conservatives doesn’t mean you should now go against everything you people told PC’s – ALWAYS SUPPORT THE REPUBLICAN.
You lost all credibility-if there was any in the first place.
Interesting that Zillow has market value listed at $354,955.
Is the assessor in Algonquin another Democrat or just a buddy of the Millers who always look after ‘their own’.
My zillow market value is far below my tax assessment.
My property taxes are more than 300% of chirikos’s’, and my home is older, smaller, and in a much less poshy location.
Can any mchenry county taxpayer justify this ?
Can any mchenry county taxpayer imagine that we will survive much longer with rulers such as these?
Why are McHenry County taxes so high? Why have they been so high for years? For years before Nick ever ran for public office?
It’s because you demand services. You want lower taxes? Demand fewer services. Demand the State, County, City, Village, Township, Library, Roads Departments, MCC, etc. cut back on facilities, services and payroll. Demand that your school districts lower pay, cut benefits.
What are YOU willing to give up, and what are you going to do about it? With a few exceptions, you’re a bunch of crybabies who are too scared to put your names to your snarky comments.
Apparently, Nicky Babe, likes to have a toothbrush on hand for cleaning floors… Man the guy will never learn… He was asked to consult with our all-time, popcorn making, toothbrush loving judge who no longer likes or appears in parades. Those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it… Gosh Nick, get a clue. There is no excuse for the high taxes. Bye Nick!
Gus, you have never answered the question as to WHY you don’t stick to your own ?
blog
Gus is on to something. Most people you talk to complain about their taxes and also complain about things like schools cutting art clubs or roads not being fixed. You either want high taxes and high services, or low taxes and low services. You don’t get something for nothing–that’s why America is 17 trillion dollars in debt. The government increases spending and doesn’t get new revenue.
I would just add that in Illinois, it seems like we pay some pretty high taxes for the amount of services we get. Look at the overall tax burden that Illinoisans carry and look at the ranking of Illinois in terms of roads, schools, and social service. Many of us feel like the return on investment is not enough.
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we have way more units of government than any other state. Maybe it has to do with pensions eating up a significant portion of the budget and expected to grow. Maybe it has to do with prevailing wage laws. We need solutions fast. Illinois is hemorrhaging jobs and people. It is one of the highest states for outbound migration and when people were asked if they wanted to leave half of Illinoisans said yes–the highest in the nation.
We can pass higher taxes to pay for services, but the downside is people and employers leave, the economy suffers, and instead of getting an increase in revenue it may turn into a zero sum game or worse due to the unintended consequences. Quinn raised the taxes during the recession, and we’ve had the worst recovery in the Midwest. Just 5 years ago our income tax was lower than Indiana’s, now we see Hoosiers inviting us to come across the border for jobs.
So yeah, I would look at the cutting side instead of the revenue side. We raised taxes considerably and did it make a dent in Illinois’ budget deficits? Nope. I mentioned three huge problems facing this state: the number of units of government, prevailing wages, and pensions. We have structural problems that MUST be addressed, but for some reason the politicians are just kicking the can.
“Joe”
Maybe, it has something to do with corruption.
Do us all a favor Joe, and go look at yourself in the mirror.
You need a good laugh……
“has something to do with corruption.”
That’s the most ambiguous thing I’ve ever heard and you’re arguing just for the sake of arguing.
You didn’t dispute one thing I said.
Worst than that, you resort to making assumptions about anonymous people on the internet AND you use ad hominems.
This isn’t Joe G. What is with the people on this blog not comprehending that there are multiple people named Joe?
Joe.. There are no assumptions.
Apparently, you are clueless as to what has been happening in McHenry County……