Lower Your Tax Bill? Really?

The Northwest Herald reports this morning (Page 2A) that McHenry County Treasurer Bill LeFew will conduct three meetings this week on how to lower your property tax bills. At least, that's the headline.

He will present his "Ten ways to lower your property tax bill" at three meetings. Does he have a pamphlet like the one passed out last week at the County Board meeting by the Assessor's office? That one, "Ten Questions to a Fair Assessment", and the content of the PowerPoint presentation did not satisfy a packed house at the Board meeting, who wanted to know HOW to lower their assessments.

It seems that everybody except the Assessor knows that property values have declined in McHenry County. The Board watched and listened passively to the Assessor and asked no questions.

When housing sales have plummeted and you can't sell your house for anywhere near what (you think) it's worth, isn't that a pretty clear statement that property values have declined?

One friend in Woodstock had her house on the market for 540+ days. She dropped the price 3-4 times and finally sold it.

Of course, lower assessments would mean lower property taxes. Lower property taxes would mean some belt-tightening. And not only "tightening". All might have to grab that hole-punch and knock a few more notches in the belt!

Turn off your TV and get yourself over to MCC on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday night at 7:00PM. Catch up with Treasurer LeFew in the MCC Conference Center in Building B.