Property tax is very flawed
Property taxes are an imperfect way to tax people.
Just how unfair property taxes can be was on display earlier this week in the story of Tom Bychowski. Bychowski of Spring Grove had been underassessed on his home and 13 acre property for years. When the township assessor finally fixed the problem, Bychowski saw his tax bill climb from about $5,892 to more than $19,000.
The huge increase irked Bychowski. The fact that his assessments had been low for so many years irked most everyone else. As is normally the case with property taxes, no one was happy. Although there is an appeal process if someone believes they are being overtaxed, no one is going to appeal an assessment that is low.
Mayberry’s office did not assess Bychowski’s property. Property in Illinois is assessed by local township assessors. Mayberry has no direct supervisory power over those individuals. Her office can attempt to direct an assessor’s attention to a particular parcel, or can raise other concerns, but the assessors are independently elected.
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- A few ways to deal with leaping taxes
Your real estate tax assessment shows another jump. Used to be, we suffered from creeping taxes — now it’s leaping taxes. Two of our dearest neighbor s are packing it in. They’re going to move to reduce taxes. Our county councilman has said the No. 1 complaint he’s heard since being elected is taxes are too high. I’ve appealed my...
He should pay like the rest of us. He wsn’t griping until they assesed his property correctly, They should make him pay a percentage of back taxes…