Serwatka Keeps Promise, Disolves TIF District, Property Tax Refunds Go Out to Lakewood Residents in Former TIF District

Lakewood President Paul Serwatka sent an email out announcing a property tax refund for those who were impacted with the now dissolved TIF district.  You can read about it below: Friends and Neighbors, On June 13 2017, as promised, the … Continue reading

Comparing Property Tax Relief Mandated in the 1973 State Aid to Ed Law with How This Year’s Law Addressed Real Estate Taxes

In 1973, my first year in the Illinois House of Representatives, State Rep. Gene Hoffman, a high school teachers from DuPage County, passed the Resource Equalizer State Aid to Education law. It included property tax relief. It had some exceptions, … Continue reading

From Property Tax Freeze to Need to Get 10% of Registered Voters to Sign a Petition for a Tax Cut Referendum in High Tax School Districts

When Governor Bruce Rauner ran for office, he promoted a permanent real estate tax freeze. He said he would not sign a tax high bill unless it included a four-year property tax freeze. When the Democrats 32% income tax hike … Continue reading

McConnauhay Says New State Aid to Education Law Provides No Property Tax Relief, Roll Call

A press release from State Senator Karen McConnaughay:: Sen. McConnaughay: School-funding plan does not address local needs SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. Karen McConnaughay (R-St. Charles) says she could not support school funding reform legislation approved by the Senate Aug. 29, … Continue reading

Tribune Endorses Franks, Tirio & Kenneally

On the Chicago Tribune’s web site are the following endorsements for McHenry County’s countywide offices: County Board Chairman – Jack Franks, Democrat Recorder of Deeds – Joe Tirio, Republican State’s Attorney – Patrick Kenneally, Republican The Tribune Editorial Board fell … Continue reading

Franks’ “I’ll Cut Your Property Tax” Pitch from 18 Years Ago

In 1998, when Jack Franks had dark hair, he wrote a long op-ed piece for the Northwest Herald for October 26th, right before the fall election when he beat appointed incumbent Mike Brown. The paper spread it across its entire … Continue reading

Jack Franks’ Big Bait & Switch

It was a dark and stormy night for State Rep. Jack Franks’ first Town Hall Meeting. A hundred or so folks showed up, a number long-time supporters. Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley, who has served as Republican Party Vice Chairman … Continue reading

Mike Walkup Literature Surfaces at McHenry Parade

A four-color leaflet promoting Mike Walkup’s campaign for McHenry County Board Chairman was distributed at McHenry’s Fiesta Days Parade last Sunday. The front also points out that Walkup led the fight to cut $3 million from the property tax levied … Continue reading

Franks Uses Tax Money To Pitch Campaign Issues

State Rep. Jack Franks is not running for re-election, instead opting to run for McHenry County Board Chairman. In a blast email he announced that on his first day in office he would cut McHenry County’s taxes by 10%. (That … Continue reading

Reader Challenges Jack Franks on Property Tax Relief

Yesterday, I quoted Jack Franks from an interview on WLS done by “Big” John Howell. One of the reasons Franks gave for running for the Chairmanship of the McHenry County Board was to “…really work on property tax relief…” A … Continue reading

Attacking the Property Tax Problem

Rural Woodstock resident Susan Handelsman put the following together after reading about some of State Rep. Jack Franks’ bills. Tax Relief Bills Won’t Approach Solving the Problem Political proposals for property tax relief seem to focus on temporary freezes, along … Continue reading

If You Want the County Board to Use the RTA Sales Tax Money to Replace Property Taxes…

With the McHenry County Transportation Committee having rejected a motion to take $5.7 million out of the RTA Sales Tax Fund, a reader asked if that meant real estate taxes would go down. The short answer is that it does … Continue reading

WL School District Capitulates to Tax Protesters, $123,000 Being Refunded

St. Charles attorney Tim Dwyer asked property owners associations and businesses on the eastern side of Wonder Lake if they would like to join in protesting excessive taxation by the Harrison Grade School District. Those that took up his offer … Continue reading

Mike Walkup Calls for 50% County Tax Cut, Offers Strategy to Do So

A press release from McHenry County Board Chairman candidate Mike Walkup: Walkup Calls for 50% Tax Cut County Board Member MICHAEL J. WALKUP, representing McHenry County Board District 3, has called for a Special Meeting of the County Board to … Continue reading