By: Diane Benjamin
Social Media is full of outrage because people recently got their property tax assessment. They see HUGE increases and think their property taxes are going up. They haven’t gone up YET, only you can stop it.
The assessed value is used by all the government units on your tax bill to decide how much money they want. People need to realize taxing you on unrealized gains is evil. If you don’t sell your house the increased value is meaningless. If the value crashes like it did in 2008-2009 nobody is giving you a refund. Property tax bills only go up and government pretends to be helpless to stop it. They aren’t, they don’t want to.
The property tax rates you will pay next year haven’t been set yet. Even though all those taxing bodies will claim they don’t set the rate, they know what it’s going to be. It’s based on how much money they want to collect. (levy)
Let me attempt to explain what is going to be happening very soon.
The Assessor will declare the total assessed value, for example all of McLean County. This number isn’t accurate, but let’s say it’s $200,000,000. Last year pretend it was only $195,000,000.
All the local units of governments salivate at the possible windfall. If they can get by raking in bucks because your property is worth more they will. They will be making this decision before the end of the year.
Whether or not your property taxes go up is totally dependent on how much money each unit of government tells the Assessor to collect for them. Many think you are richer because your value went up so they have a right to seize more. THEFT!
I suggest you contact your elected representatives now. Administrations will decide how much money they want to collect in property taxes. If they can live with what they collected last year, tax rates will go down and you will pay the same as last year. Of course inflation eats your budget and you have to do with less, government pretends they can’t.
If they try to tell you the tax rate will be the same as last year they are playing games. That obviously means you will be paying more since your taxable value is higher. Your property taxes are set by what these people decide to take from you. If they decide they need more you will be paying more.
School Boards and Town/City Councils are elected next April 1st. These are the people taxing you to death and the election most people don’t vote in. See the problem yet?
The County Board will be picked next Tuesday. If you want your property taxes to increase vote for the clowns who think your money is theirs. Only one party proves state-wide they are a threat to your wallet.
Only you can stop property tax increases. After everyone on your tax bill passes the amount they want to collect it’s too late. They REALLY hope you aren’t paying attention. Show up at Public Comment. Contact your representatives. Complaining on Social Media does nothing. If they don’t stop increasing property taxes housing and rent will be even more unaffordable.
Do you really think any government agency is going to lower your taxes? Won’t happen. I saw homes in this county go up $2,000 in property tax that was paid this year. 2024 assessments went up even more for what you will pay next year. They want to build more low income housing and those residents use a lot of public services not just rent subsidies. McLean County is losing jobs so there will be less of us to pay for public services.
If no dot shows up at meetings they will
Yep
Why would anyone put up with this? It’s extortion of your money. Seriously, people are moving out of Illinois every year for this reason and others. Plenty of states to escape to that don’t treat the citizenry like a personal bank. Get the hell our or quit complaining. It’s the only thing governments understand. BN, McLean County and Illinois are lost forever. Save yourselves!
If you think your taxes are too high just move to a place with lower taxes. Many of us like our high taxes and we vote for candidates that support higher taxes. Short sighted people who are always complaining
about taxes being too high are why we can’t have Nice Things.
Do you pay them or just expect the rich to pay?
From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.
So Marx. Nice
I always like comments from those that are obviously on a government pensions guaranteed 3% raise a year for life retire in your mid fifties and live the good life off the taxpayers
Not taking anything away from you that is what you were promised but for us struggling because of constant tax increases to pay for your retirement we do feel taken advantage of
Time to dump the tea into the water!!!
yep….exactly
Taxing unrealized gains and calling it “fair” and based in systems and data and unvalidated calculation (lack thereof) that lack integrity….while they all lauj to the bank….theft