“Whether you like it or not, this is your federal, state, and local government. This is your nation. It does not own you — you own it.”

That is just the attitude we need to REALLY push as voters and tax payers.

It’s kind of disappointing how little open verbal and actual physical support there is for the tax referendums put foreword by Paul and Andrew even if they weren’t binding.

Nothing would change the game more than putting clamps on elected officials spending and taxing.

Like school referendums that are binding, voter turn out would increase if we really had some say in our own futures on a regular bases.

That is absurd logic.

The dissenting voices on a free-speech posting site are in response to a poor job done by that cohort you describe as the only who should be eligible to post.

If many of those who have held office had not committed malpractice, the citizenry would be safe and happy and enjoying equitable outcomes, having little need of dissent.

I think it takes reaching a point of personal pain (pain inflicted by elected rulers) to have an epiphany about politics and get involved to the degree of becoming informed.

One person who has reached that point should not judge another like a reformed smoker.

That said, I’ll run for office.

Questioning, I was a Rep committeeman one term.

I attended a few meetings and realized the Rep party at that time was not me, or at least those running those meetings were not.

Mike Tryon was to busy playing tangent games and not going for the heart of the State and local problems.

Same problem I see with most of the Rep’s locally, State, and Fed, none of them seem to want a Balanced Budget law or giving up their power and letting us vote on any really important issues.

Taxation and Levy changes, adding new programs like BOcare, we should have the right to vote on any major changes that effect taxation IMO.

As far as running in the future, well my past and my blunt nature would not win me many friends unless they really wanted to move in the direction I’ve stated in my rants.

How about you?

Nob,

While the Board for Cary D-26 was certainly aware of the referendum results, no one came before our board to present the results or argue in its favor.

And, am I not aware of any other taxing body seeing a presentation regarding the results of the various referenda.

That being said, the D-26 Board will actually CUT the levy for next year.

I think our board has been very responsive over the last several years in recognizing the balance that must exist between establishing the operating revenue structure that is required to deliver educational programs on a long-term, sustainable basis versus the impact the levy has upon the community.

In each of the last 4 years, we have employed various tactics that will deliver approximately $5 million in tax savings.

I am hopeful that more taxing bodies will consider the balance issue when considering their levy for the upcoming year.

Susan,

Could you please explain your comment further for those who may not be as number savvy as youself?

What is an equalization factor increase?

How does that effect assessments?

When is EAV of all taxable properties calculated?

So just because my EAV is going up 6.something %, there is no way to tell if my taxes will go up or down?

I would assume all parcels would go up in value equally, creating a balance that would keep taxes equal.

A flat levy would not be a tax increase?

The LAST DAY to file is next MONDAY for election PRIMARIES.

If you are there at 4 PM there is a lottery to determine the last place ballot position.

Municipalities MAY have primaries depending on how many people file so check with your local municipal clerk’s office to see if you need to file in the current period.

Townships having over 15,000 population generally have primaries (except apparently McHenry Township this year).

This depends on whether or not the local township parties had a vote and transmitted a letter to the county clerk or not prior to 11/15. If not, they will have a CAUCUS.

You must file:

(1) Petition containing .005% signatures of registered voters of the number that voted in that jurisdiction in the last Consolidated Election (April 2015 or April 2013 for townships);

(2) The person circulating the petition must sign the bottom in front of a NOTARY;

(3) You must file a RECEIPT for the STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC interests; (3) STATEMENT OF CANDIDACY. Loyalty Oath is optional.

Forms are available online from the State Board of Elections.

You do not have to open a campaign committee with the State Board until you have collected or spent $5000 unless you already have done that.

ALL PAGES OF THE PETITION MUST BE NUMBERED.

ALL PETITION PAGES MUST BE STAPLED.

IF anyone wants their complete paperwork reviewed prior to filing, you can stop by my house across from Veteran Acres Park in Crystal Lake (5215 Walkup Road, look for sign advertising chickens) and I will do so free of charge.

Dog is friendly.

No excuses people!

Susan, If D-200’s EAV is spiking that much, that may spell big trouble for D-200’s General State Aid calculation in 19 months for FY19 when the EAV for 2016 is plugged in for that formula.

Basically, D-200’s GSA revenue has tripled in the last 4 years due to plummeting EAV and, now that EAV is recovering, GSA will be cut over time as EAV begins to approach previous levels.

Correctamundo on gsa formula.

Wagner from D155 said he was going to retire and not run again.

After the bleacher mess let’s hope he does retire and takes a few other board members with him.

Coffey, get that below $4 and I’ll buy ya a case of Oreo’s.

Tax Rate: Full or 1/3

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Any given tax rate from “The Seven Highest Tax Rates in McHenry County” is multiplied by the Net Taxable Value, resulting in total tax due.

Net Taxable Value = EAV – Exemptions.

Remember in Illinois EAV is about 1/3 of Fair Cash Value (FCV being estimated selling price).

Remember just about every owner occupied home outside Cook County receives the Homestead Exemption of $6,000, and additional exemptions are available (for those that apply and are accepted) for seniors, disabled, etc.

(Cook County receives a $7,000 Homestead Exemption.)

Thus the full Tax Rate is applied to Net Taxable Value.

The full Tax Rate appears on the property tax bill.

Many people also want to know the property tax rate on the home’s market value(the market value being the selling price aka Fair Cash Value).

That’s called the effective tax rate.

The effective tax rate on the market value (aka fair cash value aka estimated selling price) of a home, due to exemptions, is a little less than 1/3 of the full Tax Rate.

Here is a simple example, assuming $300,000 market value & 10% full Tax Rate, leaving out both any county applied Township factor, and any State Multiplier on assessed value to arrive at EAV.

$100,000 EAV – $6,000 Homestead Exemption = $94,000 Net Taxable Value.

$94,000 Net Taxable Value x .10 full Tax Rate = $9,400 property taxes.

$9,400 property taxes / $300,000 market value = .031333 effective property tax rate (3.1333%).

1/3 of the 10% full Tax Rate is 3.3333% (.033333).

Thus the Homestead Exemption results in a savings to 3.3333% – 3.1333% = .2%, which is .002, which is 2/10 of one percent.

2/10 of one percent doesn’t sound like much of a savings from applying the Homestead Exemption to the property tax bill.

$600 sounds like a whole lot more savings.

Doing the math, assuming a $300,000 house, with an EAV of $100,000, a Homestead Exemption of $6,000, a full tax rate of 10% (applied to Net Taxable Value), an effective tax rate of 3.1333% (applied to Fair Cash Value), the Homestead Exemption results in a savings of $600 annually.

$300,000 x .033333 = $10,000 without homestead exemption.

$300,000 x .031333 = $9,400 with homestead exemption.

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Be sure any seniors or disabled folks you know are receiving any qualified exemptions.

The government doesn’t keep track of who is a senior and who is disabled when it comes to property tax exemptions.

One must apply for the exemption with the County Clerk.