MCHENRY COUNTY – McHenry County Chief Assessment Officer Bob Ross discussed property taxes and the county’s record high number of tax appeals at a McHenry County Board meeting on Tuesday, August 2.
Ross was invited to speak to the board to give them insight into the property assessment process and how the appeals have impacted McHenry County.
“The primary reason why taxes go up in a [Property Tax Extension Limitation Law] county is based on the increase in the [Consumer Price Index], or the amount of money tax districts would ask for, as well as shift of burden,” Ross said.
The PTELL caps levies from taxing districts to either five percent or the increase in the consumer price index of the following year – whichever is lower. Because the CPI rose 2.7 percent from last year, taxing bodies were able to request levies up to 2.7 percent higher than last year.
“I don’t think PTELL was envisioned when it was formulated in the early ‘90s to have markets like this, and I don’t necessarily think the entire property tax code was formulated for this kind of situation,” Ross said.
In addition to taxing districts asking for more money, the high number of appeals causes the tax burden to shift between taxpayers.
“The shift of burden is a part of the system that I think is an unintended consequence of the way the system’s set up,” Ross said.
That shift, Ross explained, was partly caused by the 9,348 corrections filed by Grafton Township Assessor William Ottley on property taxes last year.
Ross responded to questions and comments from the board, some of whom questioned the communication between Ross and Ottley. Ross expressed it is important that everyone involved in assessments
work as a team.
One member thought the other county assessors should have worked in the same way as Ottley and that all McHenry County residents deserved the decrease.
Another commented on how, during these economic times, people should understand the cost of what their government provides them.
The board is hoping to host a follow-up meeting between board members and county assessors, though no date has been set.
