High property taxes (schools, compensation, education)

[chicagojlo]

Originally Posted by CyberGuyPR

In the eternal subject of high property taxes in Cook County, how does $9,500 tax sound for a $180k residence? Is it just me or does this sound ridiculous?

You should see what taxes are like in Grayslake if you think that's ridiculous.

I was talking about this with my husband recently. I suppose you have to look at the difference between Chicago and Lake county property taxes as an equivalent to what it would have cost you to put your kids in private school.

[sunnyandcloudydays]

sounds way too high. call the accessor

[chicagojlo]

I just realized they were talking about Cook County. Never mind.

[Gunner0325]

Does anyone know the best way to contest your property tax based on home value? Say you buy a house for 15% less then what it was worth 6 years ago..obviously your property tax should be less then what it was 6 years ago right? How do you contest and when do you need to do it?

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by Gunner0325

Does anyone know the best way to contest your property tax based on home value? Say you buy a house for 15% less then what it was worth 6 years ago..obviously your property tax should be less then what it was 6 years ago right? How do you contest and when do you need to do it?

In cook county you can begin by contacting your local township office. Remember, just because the house is worth less does not directly result in a tax decrease. Local government bodies, like school districts, can legally adjust the tax rate and the assesors office can also adjust the multiplier. Home value may drop, but the need and/or desire for tax maney to keep government functioning does not automatically become less expense as well.
As an example, our local school district adjusts the tax rate yearly based on whichever of the following numbers is LOWEST: CPI or 5%.

[tcs1366]

two yrs ago, our home was assessed at 578k and today assessed at 487k and the taxes were the same at just shy of 9,300

We've been successful in fighting our assessment before.

[Sodium]

Tomorrow is election day. If you have a school referendum to spend even more mountains of cash on a dysfunctional system run by bureaucrats and staffed by teachers whose principal qualification is possession of a paper certificate from some loony-bin ed school, then vote ***NO***.

[purplesky]

I successfully contested my Cook County property taxes. They only gave me a 2% cut. I actually did it online, took me about 5 minutes, and 5 weeks later it was approved.

Unfortunately, my Schaumburg taxes rose $1000 due to an inefficient and overspending local government. My mayor has been in office so long, he acts like it's his inherited position.

I'm going to the polls with my kids this afternoon. I used to be against term limits, but in the last few years I've changed my mind.

[Gunner0325]

Originally Posted by tcs1366

two yrs ago, our home was assessed at 578k and today assessed at 487k and the taxes were the same at just shy of 9,300

We've been successful in fighting our assessment before.

Did you contest online or in person? How did you go about it?

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by Sodium

Tomorrow is election day. If you have a school referendum to spend even more mountains of cash on a dysfunctional system run by bureaucrats and staffed by teachers whose principal qualification is possession of a paper certificate from some loony-bin ed school, then vote ***NO***.

If you want to make a generalized blanket statement without differentiating between local needs then DON"T VOTE! We don't need more lemming-like, 5 second-news clip, under-informed voters going to the polls. If your district is mismanaged and has 150% reserves, then get specific and call out YOUR district. Don't lump all of them together because that's not accurate or fair. Better yet, let me ask you, how many school board meetings have you attended in the last year? How much volunteer time have you given? How familiar are you with the performance of your schools and students & how well prepared are they for high school? Do you know the specifics of how your district spends its money, how big class sizes are, how the pay structure compares with neighboring districts??!!

I happen to value the non-mandated programs at District 23, such as sports, art, voice & instrumental music, woodworking/shop-classes, P.E. taught by P.E. teachers not by classroom teachers for kids under grade 6. Our admin. is amongst the lowest paid compared with 5 neighboring districts(yes some make a lot of money-but for right now it's what the market will bear)our principals are paid in about the 47% percentile. AND OUR KIDS SCORE VERY WELL; our district ranked 18th in the entire state. When I look at salaries, programs and expenses and compare with the top 17 and surrounding districts, I determine our district has been pretty frugal. THEREFORE I AM 100% BEHIND VOTING YES FOR DISTRICT 23'S TAX INCREASE.

Our band just advanced to super-state. For us that's like our basketball team advancing to super-state. Do we want to eliminate these programs and experiences for our kids? NO Because we feel that programs like these are instrumental (pardon the pun)in their academic performance and achievement. It makes our district a desired one and this is reflected in home values.
*Your statement is like me saying sodium is bad, don't ever use it. Of course that's not true. If you use too much or use it incorrectly, then it's bad for you. Same goes for school district's use of money. They need money to operate. Some districts use it wisely, others don't. Doesn't make it correct to say, all referendums are bad!!