The following message is from Bob Anderson, who is making a lot of noise all over McHenry County on your behalf! Read this carefully. Take action to get your assessed valuation, and your property taxes, lowered. Let Bob know how you are doing - how much did you save as a result of squawking? And you might consider kicking in some money toward his efforts.
Also, be sure to read the excellent article in the September 24, 2008, The Woodstock Independent, Page 3.
ARE YOUR REAL ESTATE TAXES TOO HIGH ? $$$$
PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON PROPERTY TAX BILLS!!!
WITH THE SOFT HOUSING MARKET YOU MAY BE ******OVER - ASSESSED******
SEE THE INFORMATION GUIDE, ON THE REVERSE SIDE (second sheet) OF THIS NOTICE, FOR PROTESTING PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS.
HOMES +++ VACANT +++ BUSINESS
AS A TAXPAYER IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO APPEAL YOUR PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS. SO READ ON!!
(second page)
THIS GUIDE IS MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU BY “Citizens for Fair Assessments”.
· APPEAL YEAR: You will be appealing assessments for the year 2008. You may not appeal prior tax years.
· COMPLAINT FORMS: Forms are available from McHenry County Board of Review Administration Building Suite 106 McHenry County Government Center, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. You can pick them up, hour’s 8:00AM to 4:30PM or call 815-334-4276 or 815-334-4282 to have forms mailed to you. Forms are also available from the County web site www.co.mchenry.il.us. Go to departments, then assessments, then forms. You will need forms for each property protested.
· SUBMISSION OF EVIDENCE: You must have evidence to support complaints. An opinion of fair cash market value must be submitted at the time of complaint filing. You will need four (4) copies of evidence documents.
· EVIDENCE EXAMPLES:
1. Recent bank or other appraisal.
2. Market value analysis by a real estate agent.
3. Comparable neighborhood properties (three are needed).
· INTERNET USE FOR COMPARABLE ASSESSMENTS: The Treasurer’s Office has a web site www.mchenrytreasurer.org. It can be used by you to look up any Real Estate Tax, which is public record. There are three ways to do this, by someone’s name, address, or PIN number. County Treasurer Bill Lefew is willing to help. Just call him at: 815-334-4260.
· HEARINGS/MEETING: Hearings will be held at McHenry County Board of Review Administration Building Suite 106 McHenry County Government Center, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. You will be notified. Hearings last about 15 minutes.
· FILING DEADLINE: Fully completed complaint forms must be filed with the clerk of Appeal Board 30 days after publication in the newspaper or mailing of assessment cards.
· WHERE TO FILE COMPLAINT FORMS: Forms are filed at the McHenry County Administrative building with the Office of Assessments either in person or by mail. If you need further information, call the Office of Assessments at 815-334-4290.
· ATTORNEY REPRESENTATION: You can hire an attorney to represent you. In most cases, this is not necessary.
· HELP US OUT: Please pass this information on to your neighbors and others!!!
· MAILING LIST: We are gathering a postal and E-Mail list.
Please E-Mail to Ed2mar68@yahoo.com
IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO APPPEAL YOUR PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS
JUST DO IT !!
PROVIDED BY CITIZENS FOR FAIR ASSESSMENT
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3 comments:
Okay. Let me play devils advocate.
If WE challenge our assessed value for our property and it gets lowered; then the County takes in less tax revenue. They will not have enough funds to meet their budgets. I assume the County costs for gas and other expenses have gone up too like everyone else’s. So to meet this budget deficit, the County will then elect to raise taxes. Then, when the economy starts to rebound (which it always does) we will be paying MORE in taxes when they re-assess later. Why open that can of worms? Why not pressure the County Board to work within the current tax revenues and fight any proposed increase of taxes. Because it will be impossible to get them lowered once the housing market stabilizes and property values bounce back.
I just think a mass campaign to lower assessments is a “can of worms” that we do not want to open. It will only bite us back later.
Kyle, good points. It could be that we, collectively, want lower property taxes (one resident I know saw her prop. tax bill go from $5,600 to $8,000 on a Ponds of Bull Valley house that is now in foreclosure). I was flabbergasted to learn her property taxes were over $650/month!
Property owners will have to be ready to fight "city hall" (and the county government and the school districts) to keep them from increasing the tax rate, in order the keep the money rolling in.
Maybe we are being over-served? Maybe we don't need (or want) all the services that "they" want us to have?
Thanks for being a good devil's advocate!
I would challenge a 43% increase in assessed property value. Unless she added 10,000 sf addition, there is no reason for that increase.
I have no problem with paying high taxes as long as I feel I'm getting the services. I lived in Crystal Lake for 8 years before returning to Woodstock 3 years ago. For what I pay in Woodstock, I feel I'm getting robbed compared to Crystal Lake. At least in Crystal Lake I felt the City was giving me good City services (bang for the buck). I have had to call the City (Woodstock) twice since moving back to complain about getting my street plowed; And I live in town.
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