That shifted more of the collective tax burden for five trans-county taxing districts, particularly School District 158, from the McHenry side of the border onto taxpayers in Kane. Kane County Supervisor of Assessments Mark Armstrong told the Drendel audience he'd sent a request to the Illinois Department of Revenue Friday to put things back they way they should have been but no one applauded.
Armstrong claimed he had no idea why Ottley decided to change Grafton assessments on a wholesale scale. However, Ottley, who wasn't at Saturday's meeting, earlier in the week told a delegation of its sponsors he did it to bring the rest of Grafton assessments in line with reductions the McHenry County Review Board had been handing out.
Armstrong and State Sen. Chris Lauszen whose 25th District includes heavily-impacted Rutland Township both charged McHenry County's been marking assessment values to depressed current sales instead of the much-higher three-year average everyone else uses.
McHenry County Assessor Bob Ross said there wasn't anything he could do about that since the Review Board really isn't under his control or, indeed, the control of anyone in McHenry County.
At the State level all the Department of Revenue could do was slap what amounted to a 3.5 percent surcharge on all of McHenry County's tax bills. Kane Treasurer Dave Reichert said that just made things worse since he'd already sent out Kane's tax bills so Rutland homeowners ended up paying more than they should have. Reichert said this year's extra taxes would be subtracted from next year's tax bills but that didn't satisfy resident Rosemary Welc. "I'll bet we don't get the interest on it," she complained afterwards.
Homeowners trickled steadily out of the information-dense meeting almost from the start muttering about manure and smoke infiltration of the nether anatomy. Resident Steve Fornek stayed the course but complained the whole property tax process was overly-complicated. "You know who made it that way? The lawyers and accountants," he said.
Unmentioned at Saturday's meeting is a chance Tuesday for the McHenry County Board to weigh in on the assessment mess. That's when they're set to vote on Spring Grove's Cliff Houghton as a permanent member of the Board of Review. There's a spot open since former Board Chairman Robin Brunschon left to become DeKalb County Chief County Assessment Officer three weeks ago.
6 comments:
Ottley did the right thing property values fell alot. FEN you have posted many stories about falling house prices in Mchenry county I think your last story said prices have fallen 17%. So then why is wrong that assments reflect the drop value? People in Rutland should throw there assesor out the next time he runs. the problem isn't assesments It's taxing bodies. They just can't seem to be fiscally acountable to the tax payer. Most people have to learn to do with less in this economy. But I geuss if you work for local government you can expect to get big raises and great benefits because the strugling taxpayer has no choice but to pay!
"Armstrong and State Sen. Chris Lauszen whose 25th District includes heavily-impacted Rutland Township both charged McHenry County's been marking assessment values to depressed current sales instead of the much-higher three-year average everyone else uses"
The Three year average? Give me a break! Sad that an elected official would weigh in on the side of Inflated property values.
House sell for what the market will bare. I don't think you can call it a depessed maket any more.
Property is just worth what it's worth and thats alot less then it what use to be.
So, you live in Grafton.
I wouldn't be for higher assessments no matter where I lived! I'm not sure too many people would. If you accept your
Assessors excuse for higher assessment I got some swamp land at 2001 prices to sell you. lol
I left when they said grafton either went down or stayed around the same as last year. I went home to make sure I knew where we live since someone must have moved our house to rutland township when we were not looking....our taxes in Grafton township went up almost $800 and we have a small house. At least get the facts straight before you start talking.
Everyone, and I mean everyone in McHenry County should appeal their property tax... This is unconscionable. I live in Algonquin Township and not a damn thing dropped on our town-home except the market value!! Notice the politicians are all saying...it's not my fault!!!
Your taxes went up because of tax levy increases by your school dist, village and county. If your assessment hadn't gone down your tax bill would have increased even more than $800. I do know what I'm talking about. I didn't even have to go to a meeting and listen to a bunch of B.S. to figure it out. duh
Wow? Lets all meet and have a pity party that'll get our taxes lowered.
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