By: Diane Benjamin
Below are the property taxes assessed on farmland in McLean County. This is a small parcel – 45.63 acres. Also shown is the percentage increase over various 5 year time frames:
See this website for historical prices of corn and soybeans: https://www.fcsamerica.com/insurance/resources/crop-price-history
Corn:
.
Soybeans:
.
One thing is clear:
Taxes only go one direction – up.
Farmland values have gone up and down. See this site: https://acretrader.com/resources/illinois-farmland-prices
From 2016 – 2019 prices were down from the high, property taxes don’t reflect that.
Keep in mind the price per acre only matters if the land is sold. Owners are being taxed on gains they only have on paper. That is exactly what is happening to in-town homeowners.
Farmers have many other costs that also fluctuate. The property taxes never reflect those variables. Just like you, farmers can count on property taxes only going up.
Heavy taxation fueled the largest revolutions in history.
– Colonial America- (1760s-1770s): British taxation policies led to widespread unrest and ultimately the American Revolution.
– Medieval Europe (Feudal Era): Peasants were heavily taxed by feudal lords, often leaving them in extreme poverty while the nobility thrived. The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381,
– Ancient Rome (Late Empire): Excessive taxation contributed to economic decline and social unrest, weakening the empire. Fall of the Roman Empire
– French Monarchy (Pre-Revolution, 18th Century): The heavy tax burden on commoners while the aristocracy remained largely exempt fueled the French Revolution.
Appraisal district issues/abuses and taxing unrealized gains (finance and banks, green project investors (ESG), and school & college districts love this type of accounting and $ flow (fair?). Pay to play never ends in Central Illinois and both elitist parties and politicians participate heavily for gain.
A shame – quite the legacy
Our forefathers dumped tea into the water then had a revolution over taxation
The way it stands right now we are being taxed into poverty all that worked their whole life to pay off their mortgages are now being made to pay ridiculous real estate taxes or the local government will come and take your house away
We are only a short time away from an all out revolution citizens get ready!!!
Rather than a revolution we’d make a huge difference if we held politicians feet to the fire. Engage! Call, visit, let them hear how you feel. After all they are only human and they WILL react if you keep the pressure up. Good people must run for office and everyone needs to get out to vote for those good people. Take it back! Ranting and raving on websites (I do it) is helpful but not good enough WE MUST (I did for many years and am retired) GET INVOLVED!
Good people tend to lose elections around here
Yeah then be shadow banned and gang stalked and profiles/labeled a trouble maker . (Typical for Central Illinois) As everyone is related to each other or hired at same places- seen this several times. $$$ and flow rule this area – everyone else is just “crazy” to them
Many county administrative personnel feel they need and are worth salary raises.
The money to fund those raises has to come from somewhere. In Mclean County , the Democrat controlled County Board decides those raises need to come from your farmland and property by way of higher taxes. Next year will be even worse.
Illinois taxes are INSANE!!
Unfortunately no amount of involvement is going to fix our problem. This has been going on for years with no stopping the demoncrats and their social agenda.
Locals just don’t vote for whatever reason. But they will sit by and allow involvement of a drastic measure. Just watch!!!
Oh my! Involvement does work. It’s been proven in B-N. Look what the Main Street Association did in regards to that form based code proposal. Eliminated certain elements and slowed it way down. Those people got involved. Made a big difference that of course many of you might not be aware of but it’s true. If you want to protect your freedom you’re going to have to grow some stones and get with it.
Had to be at least 12 years ago! A lot has changed
More like 17 years. But who’s counting? There is no form based code on the Main Street Corridor in Bloomington. None. It was defeated. In Normal, it was stalled. Many of the desires of that master plan was shelved. Finally as they propose to do the bump outs, street shut downs etc., in downtown Bloomington, that was from that plan as well, seven-teen-years-later. Getting involved does work.
Ah yes another IL Democrat tax for you coming down the pipeline.
$1.50 for each home delivery excluding groceries and pharmacy.
Their so called climate impact tax to address their growing state deficit.
Leave IL ASAP!