Tuesday, December 11, 2007

D200 Tax Surprise

The Public Notice by District 200 that estimated total property taxes to be levied for 2007 would be 22.86% higher than last year was enough to scare me. So I publicized the meeting and attended tonight.

Six non-Board and non-employee residents of District 200 boundaries were present. Six... only six....

The Chief Financial Officer for the school district, Risa Hanson, explained the "numbers." She projected slides of the financial information in print so small that no one could see it, but fortunately there were sufficient copies of the Agenda and Board Packet on hand for the few in the audience.

The bottom line is that, while there is a projected tax increase of 22.86%, the property owner in District 200 will actually realize a small reduction in that portion of his property tax bill attributable to District 200. So long as the assessed value of his home doesn't go up, his taxes will go down a little. Not much, but at least they won't go up.

According to the Board Packet for the December 11, 2007, meeting, the mean price for the last 400 homes sold within District boundaries was $214,000. This number comes from Recod Information Services as of 10/3/05. How come this information is two years old??? Isn't it funny how certain information doesn't jump out at the time?

The D200 tax bite for 2006 was $3,102. If the Assessed Value does not increase, the tax bill will be $3,040, which is $62 less. However, the Supervisor of Assessment may increase the Market Value of a home by 5.25%. If that house was assessed at 5.25% higher, then its value would be $225,235 and the tax bill (for D200) would be $3,211, or $109 higher.

We all know that our houses in Woodstock went up in value last year; right? That's why some houses have been for sale for 6-12-18 months. What about the homeowner who dropped his price $20,-30,-40,-100,000 to sell it? Do you think the Assessor is going to consider that? Only if you fight the assessed valuation, and only if you fight it hard and smart.

But the assessed valuation fight is in another court, not D200.

Superintendent Ellyn Wrzeski announced that staff is willing to discuss the tax levy and actual D200 tax situation with any property owner who wants to call. I made a suggestion to the School Board that it publicize this information in the media and on its website. It's easy to react negatively, as I did, when I read the Notice of Public Hearing. Attending tonight to hear the explanation, see the numbers, and be able to ask questions made the difference to me.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

So Gus, how much did they pay you to shut yer mouth and side with them? Does this increase include all the damn mexican translators in the classrooms?

Anonymous said...

OUCH!

Hey Gus, did they mention anything about the current tax increase that everyone voted for to build new schools and pay a staff for over a year before it opens?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Where is the Referandum for the public to vote on this? Is there a loop-hole that allows the City Government to vote on this directly without a public vote? This is a property tax increase for the public schools, right? While the City Government is voting, why don't they increase our property taxes and get a new Fire Truck and Ambulance. Maybe add some more funding to the Police so they can better fight crime.

Anonymous said...

Hey dummy. Don't you know that the D200 is NOT the City Government? They tax you seperate. they are the largest chunk of your tax bill. Bitch about city, but D200 is what is making people lose homes. Also, dummy, fire is seperate tax as well. Not part of city. Go to a meeting dumb ass.

Anonymous said...

Gus us a D200 bitch. Don't want them screwing with your kid? D200 is out of control and you just sit there on your ass and bitch about Baldwin and Santa. What is your stake Gus? You rent or own? Rent I bet. You don't pay shit in taxes. Why don't you buy some property and that will show you give a crap about Woodstock.

Gus said...

Isn't the thinking power of some people around here wonderful? And, my oh my, how articulate they are!

Renters do pay property taxes. The taxes are buried in the rent they pay. The landlord receives the rent and pays property taxes out of it, claiming the deduction for income tax purposes.

Next question?

Anonymous said...

But if the owner rents out 3 rooms and rents the upstairs to a family of 7, then the owner is making more than what the taxes alone cost. (illegally) Your rent goes to the mortgage. All of the other tenants go towards the taxes. This is how it is because i said so butt pirate.