Property taxes too high? Look in the mirror

I haven't met a single person who is happy with their property taxes in and around the collar counties. Yet we tend to do a lot of finger pointing; lately at Springfield.

Springfield has nothing to do with property tax rates or amounts. What you probably don't know or perhaps don't want to hear is that property taxes are controlled essentially by you.

Between now and Dec. 27, every taxing body will be passing levies at their regular or special meetings. These levies will be compiled by the county clerk and will determine your property tax rate for next year's tax bill.

Typically these meetings have no public presence, which means "we, the people," are not asking questions.

So the taxing bodies pass a levy either at last year's rate or max out this year's rate. This is probably even more probable this year now that Springfield is promising to "freeze our property taxes."

That promise won't be enacted this year, and your local officials know that. Compound the impending "freeze" with an assessment year that re-evaluated all property values in Illinois and we could see quite a jump in our property tax bill next year.

We, the people, are responsible, but many of don't take that responsibility seriously. In the collar counties, 80 percent of voters sit home at consolidated elections (odd years in the spring).

These elections elect the people who will determine our property tax bill. Not the election for president or governor. If you really want to see a change in your property tax bill, you have to vote and you have to engage your local officials.

Otherwise, you don't have a leg to stand on when you complain about your tax bill.

David McArtin

Round Lake