Tax system is hard to understand

In response to Walter Kubalanza, Grant Township Assessor ("High taxes aren't the assessor's fault," April 3), the other side of your letter about property assessments as they affect property taxes is simply this:

The property owners and I have no dispute with you or other assessors.

The property owners simply demand a system of assessment that is fair and equitable. They want a system that is consistent. They want a system that can be understood. They want to be treated with respect and understanding.

Yes, it is easy to confuse the tax increase with the assessment increase. We agree on that. However, the property owner is not an assessment officer and does not, like your peers, spend his or her workday operating a broken down, confusing and complicated system.

Over the past four years, you and I have seen remarkable progress, but it is nowhere near enough.

The Lake County Assessment Officer has completely opened up the data for property owners (www.co.lake.il.us/assessor) and the efforts of grassroots groups like Grayslake CAP have generated energy to fix the problem.

Citizens do not want you to stand pat. Taxpayers want you and others in your business to be part of the solution, and I am delighted to report that most assessors in Lake County are working hard on just that. You and I exist to serve the taxpayers' needs.

For the record, I and others in my tax protest group will never quit the battle until we have achieved fairness, consistency in a system that can be understood. This issue is never going away. Thankfully, senators Bond and Link have both picked up the gauntlet in Springfield. And in all sincerity, Wally, I appreciate your efforts and your passion, too.

Taxes are the biggest issue. Assessments are impossible to understand. It's the system.

Larry Leafblad

Lake County Board

Grayslake