An Observer subscriber who goes by “Concerned VBH Albert” has posted some questions for other residents who live in Kane County regarding their latest tax bill…
“Anyone else Totally Outraged by the unbelievable increase in their Kane County Property Tax Bill just received? A 32.3% increase in amount due while the assessed value was nearly static? What kind of Voodoo arithmetic can result in such madness?”
We share your outrage.
The rate Increase for Barrington School District 220 jumped from 3.289 to 4.860, for the District 220 Pension from 0.116 to 0.165, for Harper College from 0.316 to 0.430 and for the Barrington Hills Village from 1.160 to 1.436. These four categories alone account for nearly a 30% increase in our property taxes in one year.
These kinds of increases are unconscionable and made even more onerous by the difficult financial circumstances homeowners find themselves in. With many properties facing foreclosure and even more “under water”, our taxing entities rubbing salt in the wound.
What is the cause? Did so many apply for and receive a lower assessment that the rest of us have to make up for the difference? Or are they negotiating between counties and those of us in the edge portions are being overwhelmed by the clout of the bigger numbers in Cook and Lake and they are getting a break?
I read that there are meetings within and between counties where they divy up portions of the tax burden and what are the final numbers allocated to which jurisdictions. Perhaps there is a decision making process that is arbitrary or open to judgement by functionaries hidden deep within the various layers of the county beuracracies?? Is this process open to review or scrutiny? Could there be mistakes made which tilt the scales so much? Are there any caps to this halt this process?
A 30% change in payment makes us so upset. What can we do?
Thanks Potpourri!
That is one of the things on our list. I am hoping there is some kind of mistake, but I am pretty sure it’s not going to be easy to change the situation. I have a strong suspicion there is something else that is behind the substantial increases in the rates for the School district, VBH admin, Pensions, etc. as noted above by BH Taxpayer above.
We didn’t vote for these did we?
Any other readers of this blog willing to post the percentage increase (or decrease Ha!) in their tax bills ? perhaps there is a divergence between residents of the four counties? It would be very interesting to see how the pie was divided. Thanks!
Here are the facts:
District 220 requested a 2% increase in their levy across all four counties. Our problem here in Kane County is that the Assessor dramatically lowered the EAVs in ALL Carpentersville homes while raising them or holding them steady in all Barrington Hills homes. As a result, Barrington Hills homeowners were left holding the bag for the reduction in property taxes granted to all Cville homes in District 220.
Go online and check it out:
http://www.co.kane.il.us/TaxAssessment/Access.aspx
It almost seems sinister to think how someone (or someones) could perform such a masterpiece of reallocation of the tax burden and shift it so dramatically. Is this a result of the “Occupy” movement’s impact? Is it the Buffet Rule being enacted on a local scale? Again, Did we vote for this? Did we vote for these decision-makers?
BH Dave: my RE tax increased 33%. Assessed valuation same. It is outrageous that someone in county government (who?) can reallocate the County’s tax burden so drastically.
Seems this would be a great opportunity for our Village officials to get involved and help us figure this out?