Algonquin Township Keeps Levy Constant, But Still Raises Taxes, Road Commissioner Doesn’t

It was tax levy night at Algonquin Township. “We froze our levy,” Algonquin Township Supervisor stated at the beginning of the discussion of the tax levy for the real estate taxes to be collected next spring. I wanted to ask … Continue reading

Kane County Passes Levy Equal to Last Year’s Tax Collections

Kane County has done McHenry County one better. Under the leadership of outgoing County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay, the Kane County Board passed a levy that was the same as last year’s extension. Because there is additional assessed valuation, that … Continue reading

How Does McHenry County Stack Up to Kane & Will Counties on Keeping Taxes Constant?

Last week, McHenry County Blog ran a press release from Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay (who is running unopposed for State Senate) concerning her Executive Committee’s recommendation that the Board pass a levy that is the same as last … Continue reading

Message of the Day – A Tee Shirt for Tax Hikers

Today’s message is dedicated to those McHenry County Board members and other tax district officials who have or will cast “Yes” votes for any budget which exceeds last year’s extension. The tee shirt says, “Whatever it is, I didn’t do … Continue reading

McHenry County Board Members May Have Signaled Intention to “Tax to the Max” Again

Getting as much money out of taxpayers is pretty much the goal of every tax district official, from school board member to township trustee. To do that, boards need to ask for more than the increase in the Cost of … Continue reading

Who Voted to Raise Your County Taxes?

The McHenry County Board failed to break with the “increase the tax take as much as possible” crowd, but they came close. Barb Wheeler made the motion to remove the CPI and Nick Provenzano seconded it.   Wheeler is a candidate … Continue reading

Jack Franks Hits a Taxeater Nerve

It was the late 1960’s or early 1970’s when I heard or read State Rep. CL McCormick of Vienna coin the word “taxeater.” I think it was when WBBM was running an evening Illinois House session live. I admit to … Continue reading

No Financial Diet for McHenry County Next Year + The Tax Levy Game

There is widespread misunderstanding about the tax process. Today, we won’t look at the assessment part. Instead we will examine what tax districts do to pry more money out of our pockets. News stories talk about levies this time of … Continue reading

School Supt. State Rep. Roger Eddy Throws Wrench at Jack Franks’ Tax Cap Bill

No doubt which side of the taxpayer Downstate Republican State Representative Roger Eddy is on. It’s not the taxpayers’. This is the legislator who wanted to loosen the Real Estate Tax Cap in the early 2000’s in order to allow … Continue reading

McHenry County of Governments Opposes Capping Tax Cap CPI Hikes in Property Downturns

“We want more!” might be the motto of the McHenry County Council of Governments, a taxpayer-supported local meeting ground of local officials, elected and appointed. The McCOG group’s Executive Director has sent out the following email in opposition to State … Continue reading

School Boards Fight Tax Relief with Tax Dollars

Not only are townships and municipalities using taxpayer dollars to lobby against the interests of their taxpayers, so are school boards. And they are all paying for their lobbying with taxpayer-financed dues. Read what is posted on the Illinois Association … Continue reading

Township Officials Oppose Tax Diversion, Limitation

The lobbying arm of Illinois Township Officials is urging local members to call their legislators to ask them to oppose two bills. One takes money from a state subsidy that should have been phased out decades ago. It looks like … Continue reading

Jack Franks’ Tax Limitation Bill Advances

A Jack Franks’ bill that would prevent most local governments from getting more money in year two than they did in year one if real estate assessments are declining flew out of the House Revenue Committee 6-1 Tuesday. There is … Continue reading

How Real Estate Tax Rates Are Set – Tax Levies, Extensions and the Tax Cap

A comment from Allen Skillicorn to my article on the Sun City overlapping tax district inequities prompted an explanation of how tax rates are set by county clerks. Here is Skillicorn’s comment: With a 1 yr average, I assume the … Continue reading