Property tax an issue in Lake County District 6

Both candidates for the Lake County Board's 6th District seat agree rising property assessments in the face of declining home values are a problem.

And though both incumbent Larry Leafblad and challenger Melinda Bush claim the issue as a priority, their stances on the subject do reveal a difference.

Leafblad, who has been working on the issue for years, said Bush's call for an audit and reform of the property tax system is an example of "typical challenger language" - statements made about subjects on which work is already under way.

"She hasn't been paying attention until she decided to run," said Leafblad, 66.

The self-employed marketing consultant from Grayslake, who served on the county board from 1990 to 2002 and 2004 to the present, said "property tax accountability" is his reason for running.

Bush, 52, also of Grayslake, is in a technology position with Grayslake Elementary District 46. She said she is not driven by a single issue, but would cite traffic and road congestion if she had to choose a priority. Taxes and a host of complex issues associated with them also have to be considered, she adds.

Bush said she would call for an audit and oversight of the assessor's office.

"There is an opportunity still for the county to look at a cap on assessment increases," she said. "The problem is the actual home values are lagging behind" assessments. She favors assessments every year to avoid sudden large increases.

She also calls for an "immediate reform" of the assessment system throughout Lake County.

Leafblad counters that the county already has requested and received legal opinions that its authority in the tax assessment process was negligible, because individual township assessors are elected.

"The fundamental changes have to come from the state," he said. The county can fire Marty Paulson, the chief county assessment officer "and it wouldn't make any difference."

Leafblad said great strides have been made with the amount of information available to taxpayers regarding their bills and the assessment processes. He also has been working with local legislators and plans to speak before an Illinois Senate committee studying the issue.

A self-described problem-solver, Bush said she would create a "Community Partners" program made up of residents from each "neighborhood" in the district to stay in touch with constituents.

Leafblad said the county has "one of the most advanced communications offices" to dispense and receive information from residents.

He said Bush's promise to push for more state funding for roads was another example of giving people false hope that something may happen.

District 6 encompasses Third Lake and portions of Grayslake, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake, Round Lake Park and Hainesville.