District 16, which feeds into the Glenbard high schools, plans to cut around thirty positions--no more art, no more librarians. What kind of cuts will we start seeing in Glenbard high schools, esp. considering their financial commitment of something like a million dollars for turf?

I have heard rumors that the Superintendent of D16 might even be forced to give up her clothing allowance [no joke]. Any truth to this rumor?

I have been trying to do my best Paul Revere with respect to the looming, certain declines in Equalized Assessed Valuation - across ALL of DuPage County. All nine Townships, from Milton, to Addison, to York, to Naperville and so on, will DECLINE here in 2010.

The actual EAV numbers will start appearing on Township web sites [oh, and the legally required paper newspapers] in just a few more months - mid-to-late summer.

Craig Dovel, Supervisor of Assessments has cleared the table at his web site for the By-Township Key Dates/Values. Up until last week, it still had all of the information for LAST year, 2009, within. As of today, right now, all of the columns are blank.

You might want to keep an eye on this table at the DuPage County web site as it contains all of the "milestone" dates, by township, having to do with assessments. The Big Kahuna date? Final Complaint Filing date - drop dead date for protesting your assessment.

And yes, each and every township has a DIFFERENT DATE.

Based upon things I read and hear from many INSIDERS at the schools, it is pretty clear to me that they aren't listening to my:

"The values are falling, the values are falling!" warnings.

Here in 2010, paying the 2009 tax bill, will be the last [final, finitio,] vestige of the 3-year assessing window that still includes Bubblicious valuations. It's a bit complex to explain - trust me on this - but the whole reason that EAVs are still as high as they are NOW, is because of one single past year: 2006. Yes, the Bubble Year of 2006 is STILL factored into your 2009-pay-2010 taxes. The ones you are about to write a check to "Gwen Henry, CPA" for.

The plunge begins NOW.

The EAVs will be going down every single year for the forseeable future. My prediction? By the year 2012, the full rot of the still-declining real estate market will have FULLY found its way into the assessors' spreadsheets. I'm thinking that 2012 EAVS will be as much as 21%-23% LOWER than 2009's - the ones used for the bill that is due just around the corner here in 2010.

In other words, if the schools are in full-metal panic mode over losing some state money and only having a .1% CPI for the tax cap?

Just wait. It is gonna get WAY worse for them. Towns, counties, park districts, etc. too. But towns and counties at least have other taxing sources.

Oh, and I am fully, 100% aware that the "ace up the sleeve" of many in the school business is:

"We know the EAVs are going to go down. We'll just get our Limiting Rate raised. See? Problem solved!"

OK, you might want to be INFORMING ALL THE PROPERTY OWNING TAXPAYERS THAT THIS IS COMING!

What's the big secret? I'm sure everyone who has been cornholed on property taxes over the last 10 years will just LOVE to hear that now that their homes have lost as much as 25% of their value, their TAXES WON'T BE GOING DOWN, and might even be GOING UP.

Can you say: Pitchforks, scythes, flaming torches?

You see, no one likes a rigged game or, "Heads I Win, Tails You Lose".

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ByTheNumbers,

BTN, Love your posts, love your attention to numbers.

As has been discussed before. The amount of property tax you pay will not change due to an overall change in EAV since taxing bodies ask for specific dollar amounts, not rates. It will only change due to a change in EAV if your EAV increases or decreases out of proportion to your neighbors.

* cue the Ed McMahon voice *

You are CORRect, Sir!

However, schools have a maximum Limiting Rate. Pretty sure it is $4.70 per $100 in "Net Taxable Value" [your home's EAV after exemptions].

Each of a school district's "funds" [Education, Transportation, etc.] actually has its own maximum rate. Added together, they total to 4.7%. This is exclusive of IMRF/SSN levies [or "Pension", as it appears on our tax bills] and any other voter approved bond referendum.

So, even this "rate raising" to make up for the sinking EAV base has an eventual Day of Reckoning. And, sure, we can talk all logically and calm about it NOW.

But wait'll it starts happening. Wait'll all the long-suffering taxpayers of this area start to realize that they have somehow been hoodwinked into a "Heads I Win, Tails You Lose" game on the great carnival midway of the local government circus!

Towns and villages that have Home Rule - Glen Ellyn sure does - need close watching as well.

Home Rule taxing districts can do a lot of tax-related things sans voter referendum, like raising sales tax within their borders or another Big Kahuna: Ignoring the PTELL "tax cap" law and essentially, raising their levy as high as they want.

Recent examples of local Home Rule towns and villages that have played this "ace up their sleeve" include:

Berwyn, Illinois - 16% increase
Rolling Meadows, Illinois - 15.5% increase
Bolingbrook, Illinois - 16% increase

These "canaries in the coal mine" dropped these increases on their property taxpayers RIGHT NOW, for 2009-pay-2010 property taxes - when the CPI-U for the tax cap was .1%. Or, Rolling Meadows raised their rate $15.50 to the CPI-U's dime.

And boy, if the Late Great State of Ill-Annoy follows through with their promised stiffing of 30% of a town's income tax share?

Oh, oh.

I'll have to ask Middle for some help here, but the cap has little to do with a rate and more so with pure dollars. Dollars increase (with a cap on that percentage increase). The rate is merely the output of the equation that looks at EAV and the amount of dollars being requested.

Oh yes, of course. The eventual Limiting Rate ciphered out by a County Clerk for Berwyn, Rolling Meadows, etc. was a direct result of these towns/villages asking for 16%, 15.5% MORE MONEY than the previous year.

Sorry if I didn't make this clear.

The key question is: How could they ask for [and get] so much more of a year-to-year increase than the PTELL law allows [$15.50 to a dime, etc.]?

Answer: They have Home Rule and the PTELL tax cap means nothing to them. Or, they do NOT HAVE TO ABIDE BY IT in their extension.

Glen Ellyn, as a Home Rule taxing entity [as well as almost ALL others that have it] have been very judicious, careful and reasonable about using this "wild card" with respect to property taxes.

But, it is in their deck. It is, it is.

Just doing another Paul Revere in drag, as Debbie Downer here and is why I wrote:

quote:

Towns and villages that have Home Rule - Glen Ellyn sure does - need close watching as well.

At least there is only one Home Rule entity on our property tax bills. Cook County is the only county in Illinois that has Home Rule. DuPage DOES NOT.

ChiTown sure has it, so if you live in Cook County, Chicago Illinois? You've got a pair of Home Rulers in your pocket.

From Page 4, first item in Fast Facts sidebar of the Glen Ellyn Citizen's Financial Report

quote:

Although it is a Home Rule Municipality, the Village has traditionally followed the Illinois Tax Caps to restrict the annual growth in property taxes.

But you see, they do not HAVE to follow the Illinois Tax Caps. No Home Rule entity does.

Well call me William Dawes.

Lead on Paul – lead on!

Home Rule provisions are contained in the Illinois Constitution. The intent of granting Home Rule is to streamline local governance without always have to take matters to a higher level of government or, to the voters of the municipality/county.

Home Rule is granted to an incorporated town, village or city:

a) automatically, as soon as the U.S. Census certified population reaches 25,000 [Glen Ellyn's case]
b) by voter referendum if the population of a municipality is below 25,000

According to some web sites that I have viewed, nearly 70% of Illinois citizens live in some form of Home Rule jurisdiction.

Living in a town or village with a population of at least 25K is one way but also, the unincorporated areas of the only county that has HR - Cook - are also subject to Cook County's Home Rule.

Home Rule can be voted out by the residents but this rarely happens. Rockford, one of the largest cities in Illinois, voted out Home Rule in 1983 and their local government officials have never been able to reinstate it, despite many attempts.

In somewhat of an Illinois Home Rule irony several Rockford suburbs are on the verge of getting Home Rule due to the 25,000 auto-HR provision, if the 2010 Census certifies their 25K.

But not Rockford itself.

Home Rule is not a new thing. It is really a low-key thing actually and nearly all Home Rule entities are very careful about doing anything "flagrant" with the inherent powers bestowed on them by it. In other words, they are normally Ultra-Conservative in its use.

Note that it was Home Rule that allowed Glen Ellyn to levy the increased sales tax [in Glen Ellyn only] recently without any kind of voter referendum.

Now, just this past year, several [if you ask me, irresponsible] towns/villages in the area [Berwyn, Rolling Meadows, etc.] have cast aside this Ultra-Conservative attitude toward Home Rule with respect to property taxes and IGNORING the tax cap.

I called them "canaries in the coal mine" because based on what I am seeing - area-wide - Chicago, Cook and the collar counties and towns, there's some "fiscal scrambling" going on. Red-light cameras, telecommunication taxes, increased vehicle sticker prices, more water upcharges and so on are becoming the order of the day. It's getting a little dicey if you ask me.

It will continue, without a doubt.

Watch for MORE Home Rule entities to up the ante MORE than usual with the Home Rule "wild card" in their deck.

Not saying that Glen Ellyn will do anything as rash as Bolingbrook, Berwyn et. al. but it is best to be aware of any possibilties that loom.

I mean, who knew the state was even THINKING of stiffing towns/cities out of 30% of their Shared State Income Tax?

I sure didn't.

If the state makes good on this stiff-job? And will not relent?

Home Rule becomes much more frightening. This, IS a new thing.

Park Districts and School Districts are obligated to abide by PTELL regulations that "limit" tax increases to 5% or CPI, whichever is less, plus new construction.

Sideline - Yes, Home Rule is bestowed upon municipalities only [of 25K or voted in if smaller] and a lone Illinois county - Cook. No schools, park districts, townships, etc.

Thank God! They are all strapped to the PTELL table.

However, according to the DuPage County Clerk's office, other than schools? Park districts, townships, etc. have no statutory MAXIMUM on their Limiting Rate.

Can you tell that I have been trying to dope out what is going to happen when the EAVs start to go down this year? And next? And next?

My bad, I didn't realize you were just talking about Home Rule...lead on!