McHenry County College Board Saves Taxpayers Over $20 Million by Having Flat Tax Levy for Five Years Running

A press release from McHenry County College:

McHenry County College Board Approves Flat Tax Levy for Fifth Consecutive Year

McHenry County College Board in April, 2017, after the election of officers.

[Oct. 4, 2017.Crystal Lake, IL] At their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, September 28, the McHenry County College Board of Trustees unanimously approved a flat tax levy for the fifth year in a row, saving taxpayers more than $20 per homeowner over five years, while offering a massive economic impact to the college district.

“Since 2013, MCC has resolutely controlled the economic impact of the College on the taxpayer, while offering tremendous economic development value to the college district,” said Bob Tenuta, chief financial officer/treasurer.

“One significant way this was done was through keeping the levy flat—and doing more with less resources.”

While the College is allowed, by law, to collect revenue tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), MCC board members agreed to not collect CPI revenue from taxpayers for the fifth year in a row, resulting in a flat tax levy.

By holding the levy flat again this year, the college district’s taxpayers will have saved approximately $20.56 over the past five years, Tenuta said.

Based on the overall average cost per parcel of $206.84, this amount represents a cut in taxes of about $4.75 per year, he added.

“We have controlled spending repeatedly, all in order to return value to the community,” MCC President, Dr. Clint Gabbard, said.

Board members have previously discussed the option of decreasing the levy by $5 per year, per parcel, but college leadership explained that move would not be sustainable, as it would have created a significant decrease in revenue for the college.

MCC Board Chair, Chris Jenner, shared his support for the decision to sustain a flat levy for another year.

Chris Jenner

“I’m very proud of this Board and administration for being sensitive to McHenry County property taxpayers for the past five years, while still keeping our students and faculty at the forefront,” Jenner stated. “

We have been very careful and efficient in our spending, especially during a time with such significant state budget challenges.”

MCC is one of only eight organizations among the 56 taxing bodies that have said “no” to levy increases each year since 2013.

The other seven taxing bodies are much smaller than MCC, including

  • the Village of Algonquin
  • Coral Township
  • Dunham Township
  • Hartland Township
  • the Village of Holiday Hills
  • the City of Marengo
  • rhe Village of McCollum Lake

These taxing bodies have had a combined impact on taxes of 65 percent of the impact of MCC on the community’s taxes.

In a presentation to board members at a committee meeting earlier in the month, Gabbard explained that in comparison to MCC, the K-12 school districts’ impact on taxes is immense. For example, since 2012, 22 area school districts had combined total levy requests of $4.6 billion while MCC had combined total levy requests of slightly over $141 million.

“MCC’s impact on community savings from a flat levy has been greater than the seven other flat levy governmental agencies combined,” Gabbard said. “We are in the minority of tax entities able to state that we have held the line, while at the same time continuing to support our students and remain innovative.”

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The Village Presidents of both Algonquin and McCollum Lake endorsed Jack Franks for McHenry County Board. It will be interesting to see if they cut their levies 10%.

Can you tell that MCC Finance guy Bob Tenuta disagreed with the Board’s decision.  The years I heard levy discussions he actively opposed not taking the maximum amount allowed by the Property Tax Cap.


Comments

McHenry County College Board Saves Taxpayers Over $20 Million by Having Flat Tax Levy for Five Years Running — 5 Comments

  1. $20 here, 10% there.

    It all adds up.

    When McHenry Co gets out of the top 100 taxing counties, then we have a good start.

  2. BY CONTRAST, Woodstock CUSD 200:

    (Everyone should notice this, and compare and contrast to their own school district’s tax take)

    MAX RATE (allowed to be taxed) in ED FUND:4% ..D200 taking 4%

    MAX RATE Building Fund: 0.75% .…D200 taking 0.75%

    MAX RATE Fire Prevention & Safety Fund : 0.10% …D200 taking 0.10%

    MAX RATE Special Ed Fund: 0.80%….D200 taking 0.80%

    https://www.co.mchenry.il.us/home/showdocument?id=73545
    page 31

  3. When a school District claims to be mindful of taxpayers’ crises, check out whether they are still taking the maximum amounts allowed by law under Fund Accounting.

    D200 claimed to have lowered the 2016 levy by over $1 million “for taxpayers”, OR, WAS IT REALLY because a taxpayer lawsuit pointed out the (alleged) illegal practice of deliberately overtaxing in (uncapped)Transportation Fund for the express purpose,stated in the District Budget, of transferring that excess accumulation OUT of Transportation Fund into Rate Capped ED Fund for non-transportation purposes?

  4. Interesting that a pro-business GOP in McHenry County does not understand investment in human capital and training (schools, healthcare, etc).

    Investment in training and education is a pro-business, pro-growth attitude upon which many good companies espouse and thrive.

    I’ve visited hundreds of schools over my career and can vouch for Dist 200’s expenditures being well spent and contributing to a high quality of life and to a trained workforce in McHenry County.

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