30 days - the clock is ticking

OK, Property Owners. It's now or never (at least, until next year).

Sick and tired of high property taxes?

You do know on what your high property taxes are based, don't you? They are based on your high property assessment.

If you live in Dorr Township, your assessed valuations have been published. This means you have 30 days to protest.

How do you do that?

Get ready to contact Veronica Myers (formerly known as Kelly Myers), your elected Dorr Township Assessor. First, go to www.dorrtownship.com and click on Assessor. Then read the information posted "Information on Appeals".

Read it 2-3 times. Print it out. Highlight relevant words and sentences. Then gather your documents and plan your action.

Then contact the Assessor's office at 815.338.0128

Don't wait. The deadline to file your appeal is October 12, 2012. Don't get caught off-guard by one of the many paid holidays for Township officials.

When 40-50-70% of property owners protest valuations, maybe all elected officials will start to get the message. What do you have to lose by appealing (protesting) your assessed valuation?

Be sure, also, to understand how the County Board and the State legislature will stick it to you, even if your assessment is lowered. You must fight tax increases, when property values go down. Can you do with less government? You bet! Demand that the County and the State begin to cut back, so that taxes can go down.

We have a County in which many people cannot afford to live, thanks to property taxes. Fight back now.

If you have trouble with the URL in the Northwest Herald story (a period at the end of the URL seems to be the culprit, just click here for nine pages of appeal information on a McHenry County webpage.