Property Taxes
Do you like a tax system where your property taxes are assessed over and over and in other parts of the county, land is not assessed. They essentially don’t pay and you do. Do you like a system where you pay your share and then everyone else’s too? Do you believe property taxes that are fair should be the number 1 priority for our County Board.
Streamlining the County Board is not only combining committees and modernizing our board structure, it is to refocus our County Board on local issues like our property tax mess.
And specifically, some may ask, what exactly can the County do about our property taxes?
We form an ad hoc committee (with a two year time limit) to hear testimony from taxpayers and professionals. We then find root causes and solutions based on the facts that are produced in committee. And finally, we vote as a County to take action.
For example, as a County, we can take actions such as: fines for those who take an oath to do their job and don’t, and charge fees for work not done.
We can streamline our County Board to make it more efficient and at the same more productive for taxpayers.
Once elected as County Board Chairman, my focus will be having the County Board look at why some property owners are not assessed per state law and some property owners are assessed over and over again.
If everyone was properly assessed, overall rates would drop, thereby reducing taxes by spreading out the burden. You would also know that you are being treated fairly when you pay your property taxes. That cannot be said right now.
No one wants their property to be assessed, but Illinois allows 4 years to get the job done. That is different than states mandate yearly or every other year assessments.
I have the data that shows what portions if the County are not being assessed and which are. Taxpayers should not subsidize those who do not do their job as required by their oath of office.
And to clarify, townships assess residential taxes, the County simply collects the data, and provides a tax appeal board for property owners that feel their taxes are unfair. The County does assess the commercial and industrial property taxes.
I would appreciate your vote for County Board Chairman.
