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Maxed-out funds see revenue loss
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3 school districts make AP list Recognizes gains in access to Advanced Placement classes and exam scores By ALLISON GOODRICH agoodrich@shawmedia.com
Photos by Matthew Apgar – mapgar@shawmedia.com
ABOUT THIS SERIES For Illinoisans, property taxes are a sore spot. Illinois has the second-highest property taxes in the nation, and McHenry County is in the top 10 for highest property taxes in the state. Illinois also ranks first in the country with nearly 7,000 taxing districts, which makes examining one’s tax bill a confusing exercise. While taxpayers are annoyed by the price tag, property taxes also are a primary source of revenue for local taxing bodies. This series examines some of the issues in Illinois for residents and taxing bodies.
THE SERIES DAY-BY-DAY THURSDAY High property taxes in Illinois and McHenry County have residents fleeing for other states. For residents paying close to $10,000 in taxes alone, many have decided enough is enough. Lowering property taxes is among the items on Gov. Bruce Rauner’s “Turnaround Agenda.”
FRIDAY The bulk of property taxes in Illinois, around 62 percent, goes to public schools. How much individual residents pay varies from school district to school district. What are among the reasons some residents pay more than others? One effort to ease property taxes has been an attempt to consolidate townships, which hasn’t gotten much traction from the McHenry County Board. We’ll take a look at the township portion of property taxes.
TODAY Some taxing bodies are maxed out on what they’re allowed to tax, which they say has been difficult as property value has declined. In 2014, 34 of McHenry County’s 117 taxing bodies reached the maximum tax rate in one or more of their funds.
SUNDAY A few taxing bodies have been building huge cash reserves, which is frustrating for taxpayers who still are paying high tax rates. Some are saving for major projects they have planned. At least one school district is making some efforts to change the trend of keeping a large surplus.
Marengo rescue squad captain Dan Klenske (left) and firefighter Larry Nichols climb ladders to work on the siding Tuesday at station 3 in Union. The new building, which has been in use for a few months and is being maintained by firefighters and paramedics, is partially funded by renting out additional building space owned by the squad at this location.
County taxing entities work to compensate By CAITLIN SWIECA cswieca@shawmedia.com When Robert Bradbury joined Marengo’s Fire Department 32 years ago, the members of the town’s fire department and rescue squad barely even spoke to each other. For the past five years, that lack of communication hasn’t been an option. The Marengo Rescue Squad is one of many taxing entities in McHenry County that has seen its revenue from real estate taxes drop over the past several years because of plummeting property values. Since 2008, it has lost more than a third of its real estate tax revenue, which has fallen from more than $961,000 at its peak to about $607,000 this year. That’s led the department to implement several cost-saving measures, including cross-training all the members of the fire department and rescue squad to ensure both departments are able to respond to calls efficiently. Bradbury, who has been the fire chief in Marengo for 11 years, became chief of the rescue squad five and a half years ago. He said he has a hard time keeping staff members from leaving for other jobs because of a lack of benefits and insurance. After the rescue squad opened a third station in Union, it began renting out storage space within the buildings so it could afford to pay its utilities and tax bills.
Marengo rescue squad Captain Dan Klenske hammers nails into the outside wall of station 3 on Tuesday in Union.
Clarification The headline “D-156 among area’s highest tax rates” published on page A1 of Friday’s edition requires clarification. By itself, McHenry Community High School District 156’s tax rate is the lowest among school districts in McHenry County. When you take its rate and pair it with the rate of its feeder schools – McHenry School District 15 or Harrison School District 36 – then the total aggregates are among the highest in McHenry County. Property taxes are expected to rise slightly this year, but that isn’t likely to bring much relief to the
department and others in its predicament. “We won’t get ahead any, but, hopefully, we won’t take any more cuts. We’re kind of scraping bare bottom,” Bradbury said. “If worst comes to worst, we have to take one of the ambulances out of service. That’s the last thing we want to do or expect to do right now, but if we take another $100,000 hit, we don’t have any other choice.” How much money most taxing entities receive each year is governed by two tax caps. One limits the overall amount governments – those that don’t have home-rule authority like
See FUNDS, page A4
This year marks the third year in a row that Crystal Lake-based Community High School District 155 has made the AP Honor Roll, and it’s a recognition that doesn’t get old, district officials said. It is one of three McHenry County school districts that made it onto the sixth annual AP Honor Roll, which means those organizations managed to increase access to Advance Placement course work while simultaneously maintaining or increasing achievement on exams. In addition to District 155, Woodstock Community Unit School District 200 and Huntley Community School District 158 were some of 15 Illinois districts and 425 districts across the United States and Canada to make the list, according to the College Board website. All three districts have consistently made the list for at least a few years running, but District 155 Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Corey Tafoya said it’s meaningful every year. “It speaks to the number of kids choosing to go on the most challenging path they can take,” Tafoya said, adding it also speaks to the quality of the teaching staff. In 2014-15, there were about 2,900 AP exams administered across the district, up from about 2,500 the year before and 1,870 in 2012-13. Last year, 76 percent of AP exams taken last school year were awarded honor scores of three, four, or five on a five-point scale, an achievement that next year will allow more students to receive college credit than before. District 158 Superintendent John Burkey, too, said it’s a notable honor to receive year after year because it shows continual growth. In District 158, the number of exams administered increased from 555 in 2011 to 1,043 in 2015, according to district data. About 75 percent of students scored three or higher in 2015. “What we’re really happy about as a district is this was very much a part of our strategic plan, very much a goal,” Burkey said. “It shows that our planning and efforts have really paid off.” Over the years in District 200, efforts have involved actively identifying students who could or should be taking AP course work, Superintendent Mike Moan said. Students are approached in class and faculty also reach out to parents to explain the benefits of the more rigorous options. There, the number of AP exams taken has risen by almost 40 percent between the
See DISTRICTS, page A4
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Suspect in Woodstock killing extradited to McHenry County, pleads not guilty / A3 BUZZ
Historic night CL South senior Chanel Fanter breaks 33-year scoring record in 55-38 FVC Valley Division win against Cary-Grove / C3
Remembering Scott Weiland The magnetic former frontman for Stone Temple Pilots passed away in his sleep / C8
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