Our 2009 tax bill is officially through the roof, breaking through the $6,000 barrier for the first time. That’s right, $6,000-plus for an 1,875-square-foot, 85-year-old residence on a 50-foot lot.
And that’s it for me. This year, I finally will file the appeal I’ve threatened so many times in the past. This year, I’ll stay on top of the county assessment calendar which allows for a brief 45-day filing window between the publication of assessments in October and the end of the appeals process in late November.
I’ve already downloaded my appeals form and have, to my escalating chagrin, begun poring over comparables in my neighborhood. I’ve learned, for example, that the fully rehabbed house across the street which sold for 80 percent more than my home pays less in property taxes. As does the house next door with a five-year-old addition. As do our other neighbors, who paid $100,000 more for their home three years ago. As does just about everyone else on the block living in a modest (i.e., less than 4,000-square-foot) dwelling. As do two families I looked up who put on new additions complete with updated kitchens and master baths within the last 18 months.
I’m ticked. Can you tell?
In total, our tax bill increased more than $200 in the past year, although the psychological impact of breaking the $6,000 barrier was far greater than the dollars and cents involved. The viilage increased its rate from 0.2158 to 0.2354 and its pension fund rate from 0.1127 to 0.1461 for a hike of about $24 and $42 respectively on my tax bill.
The school districts accounted for the other big increases: $125 more to D58, $55 to D99 and an additional $34 to the College of DuPage.
While I’m feeling bruised by my tax bill, I realize there are many residents paying far more, including a friend with a rambling, 3-bedroom ranch on a wide-ish lot who is now contributes $10,000 in annual property taxes. She’s ticked, too.
No wonder I’ve had no luck connecting to DuPage County Treasure Gwen Henry’s office (a constant busy signal) or to the county Supervisor of Assessments where a message informed me they are “experiencing higher call volumes than normal.”
I don’t expect the bureaucrats at the county or the township to help much anyway. For real relief we’ll have to look to our lawmakers, who in true Cirque de Soliel fashion are juggling constituencies, walking the tightrope of competing demands and trying half-heartedly to crack a puny whip over the heads of the lumbering lobbies, such as the teachers’ union which, according to an April 15 letter from Rep. Sandy Pihos, had expressed concerns that “Illinois will lose high potential teacher candidates to other states with more generous pension systems” should reform legislation pass.
This is yet another verse of a very old tune, the one the band strikes up every time public employees attempt to make a case for more, more, better, better: That they will move en masse to a more generous state, school district, force, library, city if they aren’t paid a wage competitive with the best of the bunch.
In the private sector, those sentiments hold zero water. Because in the private sector, individuals using such tactics run the risk of someone — the boss — calling their bluff and inviting them to submit a resume to that better company in a far-flung state post-haste and don’t let the door hit you on your way out.
And from where I sit, with my state on the brink of insolvency and an ever-bigger tax bill in my hand, that far-flung state is actually looking pretty good.
Elaine, how did you come up with the comps? Is it on the county or township website? We bought a foreclosure near DGN and they are still basing our taxes on the previous transaction – a much higher price.
Thanks.
Click above on the highlighted phrase “poring over comparables” in the post and it will take you to the assessor’s search page (click again at the bottom on “I understand and accept the statements above” and on the next page click “residential” and then input the address of a comparable home in your neighborhood and the info comes up. Note: Do not use “St.,” “Ave.,” etc.
Speaking of foreclosures, the one down the street had no impact on our property tax bill, even though the house sold for about $150,000 less in foreclosure than the previous owner had paid for it. And I’m certain the value of my home has dropped at least 20 percent. Looking forward to the triennial reassessment.
So EJ, I wonder if Larry is going to tell you to get over yourself! LOL
Bureaucrats is the right word.
The Assessor’s office at the Township, County and State is a good old boy’s network that use an outdated process that takes five years to make a turn and does not reflect current values.
My appeal for 2006 was heard by the State Board of Appeals in 2009, and my appeal for 2008 will be heard by the State in June of 2010. The appeal for 2006 was denied and the County Assessor’s value upheld.
The hearing boards are comprised of representatives from all 3 levels, who all do the same job and uphold the assessment of the Township, using comparable properties that have not sold in years and for which the
owners just pay the tax, fair or not.
The housing bubble burst 3 years ago and taxpayers are still paying on inflated values. The tax collector aggressively raised takes during the bubble but is reluctant to aggressively lower them since since those who got fat on the windfall don’t want to go on a diet.
It is time for the taxpayers of Downers Grove, Illinois, etc. to say, ENOUGH!
I plan to protest my 2009 assessment and encourage every property taxpayer to do the same.
The taxing bodies that have access to real estate tax seem to have no intention to cut back and say no to themselves, because the real estate tax is recession proof unlike sales tax.
Protest your assessment and send a strong message.
Is it the assessments that are going up, or the rates that our School Districts are charging…and of course our other main taxing bodies…County, Forest Preserve, Village and Park District?
I called last year about my assessment going up. I was told it was based on a “trailing” 3 years average and that the assessment metric had not yet taken into consideratoin the “recession’s” impact on lowering our assessed valuations.
EJ,
you appear to have done some serious analysis which is exactly what is needed to get a reduced valuation. Good luck.
More debate over assessment methods in today’s Daily Herald:
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=378157
Gee, Elaine, I don’t know if my house would be a comp to yours or not (it is in square footage, at least, but mine’s even older), but my taxes are about 25% less than yours! Wow!