By: Diane Benjamin
Carl Hinshaw recently held another property tax appeal seminar. He told me this story.
A couple who bought a Habitat of Humanity home about 5 years ago are now worried about being able to keep it because of PROPERTY TAXES.
Their assessment was increased 11% this year including a 3.85% Township multiplier. Habitat is providing “affordable housing” while every local taxing body is destroying it. Carl is helping them appeal.
BNWRD is the latest to think they need your money more than you do: https://blnnews.com/2026/10/15/the-did-it-because-they-can/
Nobody at BNWRD is elected and media doesn’t normally cover what they do. Nobody told them to stop the fleece.
Before you vote, ask people wanting your vote if they will freeze property taxes. You have to live with a budget. They need to learn how to do the same without any grand plans. Don’t fall for: the rate is less! That doesn’t translate to lower taxes.
The County is getting a grand parks plan, Normal got their underpass, Bloomington wants a Public Works campus after massive water plans with accompanying rate hikes, on it goes. Of course schools are the worst offender while enrollment declines.
Next April those thieves will be on the ballot for the consolidated election. Failure to vote yet again in local elections give school boards, cities and towns, and more a GREEN LIGHT to increase property tax increases. Property taxes should be the #1 campaign issue. Taxing you on gains you will never see unless you sell your house is THEFT.
Good luck with any property tax appeal. I’ve found that approach does not work. Between 2001 and 1013 I appealed my taxes 9 times. I could stand on my driveway and count 8 houses that were newer, more square footage and sold for less. Most individuals would think that is sufficient evident to lower my property taxes.. Not so. Steve Scudder one of the McLean County Assessors, told me that because I have a wooded lot, my property is worth more. But, when EAB took out 23 mature ash trees my property taxes were not reduced because mature trees have no ;influence on the EAV of my property. And people wonder why no one trusts government
And, Scudder runs under the Republican banner, always unopposed.
The Socialistic Democrats and its media (WGLT, Pantagraph etc) have done a good job at fabricating the new political term Affordable without explaining where Un-affordability originates from.
Thanks, Diane, for being a lone voice in the battlefield of truth.