The McHenry County Board put next year’s real estate tax levy at $69,848,422.

That is a reduction from this year’s $71,839,610.

Last year the levy was $79,424,610.97.

The County Board reduced it by about 9.5%, but some County Board members continued to claim there was an 11.2% reduction.

Starting with the $79.4 million figure from last year, the proposal is to cut $9.8315 million.

Most–about $7.5 million–would be a one-time cut called an “abatement.”

Mike Skala

In addition, however, Finance Committee Chairman Mike Skala, proposed a $2.3 million permanent cut in the tax levy, the base over which future boards cannot raise taxes without referendum approval.

By reducing the levy, mainly through a one-year abatement, the Board also continues its practice of not taking all the new money which the Property Tax Cap allows.

With new growth, that refusal to “tax to the max” will probably mean each property’s share of the county tax bill will be lower than what was paid this year.