How to improve our property tax system

We, like so many others here in Schaumburg, received our 2009 real estate tax bill last week and were shocked by the 16 percent increase over last year's bill and the whopping 50 percent increase over what we paid in 2006. We are reasonably certain that neither the number of services provided nor their quality improved by the same percentage. Why such a sizable increase?

One reason asserted by the township assessor was that appeals resulted in some lowering of taxes for some that must be absorbed by the rest. He further lamented that his “how to” sessions on lowering one's taxes were poorly attended. Who are the “some” and who are the “rest”? Why should anybody appeal if the real estate assessments are fair and objective?

It is no wonder that our esteemed elected officials saw fit to have this precious gem of a tax bill delivered after the elections. Just look at the turnout of homeowners paying a visit to the township assessor's office over the last few days. It may have saved some officials from being voted out of office by disgruntled taxpayers who don't understand these increases in light of all the sacrifices and cost cutting we and our families are making during these recessionary times. The irresponsibility they have demonstrated should absolutely not be rewarded by re-election.

It isn't fair to just vent one's complaints without putting forth some recommendations for improvement. Here are four: 1) We should require term limits for every elected position. 2) We must stop voting for “nice” people and start voting for “competent” people. 3) We don't want average government at any price; we want exceptional government at a reasonable price. 4) We must have a fair and objective real estate assessment system with no exceptions and no appeals.

Steve J. Marcis

Schaumburg