From the Capitol Fax Blog -Rich Miller
www.thecapitolfaxblog.com
* Rasmussen’s latest Illinois poll is out.
Survey of 500 likely Illinois voters taken October 17, 2007. Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence…
1 - How do you rate the way that George W. Bush is performing his role as President?
14% Excellent17% Good
16% Fair52% Poor
1% Not Sure
* BUSH TOTALS: 31% good or excellent… 68% fair or poor… (32 and 67 in Rasmussen’s August poll)
2 - How do you rate the way that Rod Blagojevich is performing his role as Governor?
5% Excellent11% Good
37% Fair46% Poor
1% Not Sure
* BLAGOJEVICH TOTALS: 16% good or excellent… 83% fair or poor… (22 and 78 in Rasmussen’s August poll)
Oof. Could it get any worse for the governor? Now he’s polling much worse than Bush, and dropping like a stone. Wow.
* Now, on to gaming and mass transit…
5 - How closely have you followed recent news stories about the Chicago Transit Authority’s financial issues?
24% Very closely29% Somewhat closely25% Not very closely21% Not at all0% Not sure
6 - A proposal has been made to authorize more casinos in Illinois with the money going to help fund public transportation in Chicago. Do you favor or oppose this proposal?
31% Favor57% Oppose13% Not sure
7 - Suppose a choice had to be made between authorizing more casinos or having the Chicago Transit Authority cut half its routes. Which would you prefer?
51% Authorizing more casinos32% Having the Chicago Transit Authority cut half its routes17% Not sure
9 - [asked only of those who said at least once a week to the question: How often do you ride subways, trains, and buses in and around Chicago?]
Will you continue to ride CTA public transportation if fares go up to $3 or higher?
50% Yes43% No7% Not sure
10 - [asked only of those who said at least once a week]
Will you drive more if suburban bus and commuter train fares go up?
35% Yes55% No11% Not sure
Folks aren’t happy with gaming expansion for transit, and very big percentages threaten to abandon public transportation if a fare increase is enacted, as House GOP Leader Tom Cross and some Senate Republicans are suggesting. Not surprising.
* Also, according to the poll, 91 percent say they have health insurance, which is a lot more than what’s usually reported. Of those who say they have insurance, 40% rted their coverage as “Excellent,” 35% said it was “Good,” 20% said “Fair” and 4% rated it “Poor,” while 0% were not sure.
http://thecapitolfaxblog.com/2007/10/24/new-rasmussen-poll-shows-governor-sinking-like-a-stone-transit-riders-threaten-to-abandon-system-voters-unhappy-with-gaming-solution/
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Cook County homeowner tax relief enacted
From the Daily Herald
Cook County homeowner tax relief enacted
'7 percent' relief extended for tax bills
By Rob Olmstead Daily Herald Staff
Published: 10/22/2007 11:25 PM Updated: 10/23/2007 6:42 AM
As expected, Cook County board members on Monday enacted a form of homeowner tax relief recently passed by the state legislature.
While that will limit the increase in taxes you pay, it's probably a safe bet, however, that taxes will increase in the Northwest suburbs. That prediction is based on tax rates, which were also released Monday by the county clerk.
With the approval of the tax rates, the county can begin delivering tax bills that originally would have been due Oct. 1. Officials said that now bills will be delivered by Nov. 3 and will be due Dec. 2.
Although the rates affecting the bills appear to trend upward in most suburban taxing districts by single-digit percentages, that doesn't necessarily equate to a similar percentage increase in taxes. But it is generally safe to say, according to county officials, that if your tax rate is going up, so will your tax bills, because it's unlikely that many governments are decreasing the total amount they ask for, or levy.
Your bill could go up more than the tax rate increase if your increased home value from the last reassessment is still filtering in through the 7-percent-a-year relief measure enacted Monday.
For instance, if your assessed home value increases by 7 percent, and your tax rate increases 5 percent, you could get a tax bill higher by more than 5 percent.
The tax relief measure the county board passed Monday is commonly known as the "7 percent law." It limits to 7 percent the amount most homeowners' property values can increase for taxing purposes year over year. The assessment increase is artificially slowed by using a flexible exemption amount -- $5,000 to $20,000 -- subtracted from the assessed value of the home.
The intent is to keep taxes from skyrocketing in hot neighborhoods where value increases can far outpace inflation.
But the measure, originally enacted three years ago, was expiring, and the legislature passed a new form of it this year that initially increases the exemption amount to, in most cases, $33,000 the first year, $26,000 the next and $20,000 the third year.
Because Cook County is reassessed in three parts, one part per year, Chicago will be the first area to see the $33,000 exemption, applicable to this year's tax bills.
North and Northwest suburbanites will still be using the $20,000 maximum exemption under the old system for the tax bills that will be delivered in just a few weeks but will enjoy the benefits of the larger exemption with next year's bills. South suburban residents will see the larger exemption the year after that.
Cook County homeowner tax relief enacted
'7 percent' relief extended for tax bills
By Rob Olmstead Daily Herald Staff
Published: 10/22/2007 11:25 PM Updated: 10/23/2007 6:42 AM
As expected, Cook County board members on Monday enacted a form of homeowner tax relief recently passed by the state legislature.
While that will limit the increase in taxes you pay, it's probably a safe bet, however, that taxes will increase in the Northwest suburbs. That prediction is based on tax rates, which were also released Monday by the county clerk.
With the approval of the tax rates, the county can begin delivering tax bills that originally would have been due Oct. 1. Officials said that now bills will be delivered by Nov. 3 and will be due Dec. 2.
Although the rates affecting the bills appear to trend upward in most suburban taxing districts by single-digit percentages, that doesn't necessarily equate to a similar percentage increase in taxes. But it is generally safe to say, according to county officials, that if your tax rate is going up, so will your tax bills, because it's unlikely that many governments are decreasing the total amount they ask for, or levy.
Your bill could go up more than the tax rate increase if your increased home value from the last reassessment is still filtering in through the 7-percent-a-year relief measure enacted Monday.
For instance, if your assessed home value increases by 7 percent, and your tax rate increases 5 percent, you could get a tax bill higher by more than 5 percent.
The tax relief measure the county board passed Monday is commonly known as the "7 percent law." It limits to 7 percent the amount most homeowners' property values can increase for taxing purposes year over year. The assessment increase is artificially slowed by using a flexible exemption amount -- $5,000 to $20,000 -- subtracted from the assessed value of the home.
The intent is to keep taxes from skyrocketing in hot neighborhoods where value increases can far outpace inflation.
But the measure, originally enacted three years ago, was expiring, and the legislature passed a new form of it this year that initially increases the exemption amount to, in most cases, $33,000 the first year, $26,000 the next and $20,000 the third year.
Because Cook County is reassessed in three parts, one part per year, Chicago will be the first area to see the $33,000 exemption, applicable to this year's tax bills.
North and Northwest suburbanites will still be using the $20,000 maximum exemption under the old system for the tax bills that will be delivered in just a few weeks but will enjoy the benefits of the larger exemption with next year's bills. South suburban residents will see the larger exemption the year after that.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
School Impact Fees for Retirement Communities?
So, here is the topic that I pose for feedback. As always reply on here, email me, or call me.
Recently developers with pending retirement communities have faced a new dilemma while bringing their projects before municipalities. Retirement communities generally have an age restriction of 55 or older. So, the question is should such a development, many of them large scale, be required to pay school impact fees?
Impact fees are often accepted by developers as the price of doing business. However, if a retirement community that is guaranteed to have no impact on the school district is proposed in a municipality, should they be required to pay school impact fees? The municipalities can argue that the residents of the retirement community could act as a voting block against future school referendums or they might argue that a community could change the age requirements in the future thus creating a direct impact on the school districts. Are these legitimate arguments?
A similar case was heard by the Florida Supreme Court back in 2000. The court ruled in favor of the developer. In the annexation agreement in FL the properties were deed restricted which made it nearly impossible for the age requirement to be changed at a later date. However, some developments don't use deed restrictions but rather include the age requirement as part of the development's by laws, which could easily be changed and have in some cases in Illinois.
So, should a retirement community of 55 yr old or better residents with deed restricted properties be required to pay school impact fees?
Recently developers with pending retirement communities have faced a new dilemma while bringing their projects before municipalities. Retirement communities generally have an age restriction of 55 or older. So, the question is should such a development, many of them large scale, be required to pay school impact fees?
Impact fees are often accepted by developers as the price of doing business. However, if a retirement community that is guaranteed to have no impact on the school district is proposed in a municipality, should they be required to pay school impact fees? The municipalities can argue that the residents of the retirement community could act as a voting block against future school referendums or they might argue that a community could change the age requirements in the future thus creating a direct impact on the school districts. Are these legitimate arguments?
A similar case was heard by the Florida Supreme Court back in 2000. The court ruled in favor of the developer. In the annexation agreement in FL the properties were deed restricted which made it nearly impossible for the age requirement to be changed at a later date. However, some developments don't use deed restrictions but rather include the age requirement as part of the development's by laws, which could easily be changed and have in some cases in Illinois.
So, should a retirement community of 55 yr old or better residents with deed restricted properties be required to pay school impact fees?
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Anti-Crime Program
Anti-crime program optional for landlords
By Ames Boykin Daily Herald Staff
Published: 10/15/2007 11:59 PM
Beginning Jan. 1, landlords in Des Plaines will have a choice to make.
Aldermen approved a new program that will allow the city's nearly 600 landlords to decide whether to take part in a program to help crack down on crime in multifamily buildings.
This marks a leaner proposal than the one that stirred debate in late June since it would be voluntary, not mandatory.
A similar program in Mount Prospect is mandatory.
The program approved Monday also backs away from a controversial plan to force landlords to turn over a list of tenants and their addresses. Landlords wouldn't be required to do this.
If landlords choose to participate in the program, they would attend a seminar hosted by police where crime prevention and applicant screening would be discussed, Police Chief James Prandini said.
One of the suggestions includes putting a crime-free addendum in a lease. That would allow a landlord to start eviction proceedings in case of a crime.
Prandini supported making this voluntary since he's faced with a staffing crunch and lacks the officers to enforce a mandatory program.
This also would "let the program build on its own successes," Prandini said.
Those landlords who take part in the city's new program would be rewarded with a 10 percent discount on the city's rental license fee. The city charges $20 for each unit in a multifamily building.
Fifth Ward Alderman Carla Brookman and 3rd Ward Alderman Laura Murphy called the voluntary program a positive change.
Aldermen on Monday also decided to give police more power to crack down on nuisance activity, including unlawful use of weapons and drug possession.
Under the new law that would take effect Jan. 1, police could define a "chronic nuisance property" if they are called to the premises -- including the public way near the property -- at least three times in 180 days. In the case of prostitution and drug charges, a nuisance property would be defined as three police calls in 365 days.
Before, the property could be defined as a nuisance only if police made at least three calls in 60 days.
If a chronic nuisance problem is reported and a landlord refused to take measures to eliminate it, he or she would be required to attend police seminars to renew the rental license.
By Ames Boykin Daily Herald Staff
Published: 10/15/2007 11:59 PM
Beginning Jan. 1, landlords in Des Plaines will have a choice to make.
Aldermen approved a new program that will allow the city's nearly 600 landlords to decide whether to take part in a program to help crack down on crime in multifamily buildings.
This marks a leaner proposal than the one that stirred debate in late June since it would be voluntary, not mandatory.
A similar program in Mount Prospect is mandatory.
The program approved Monday also backs away from a controversial plan to force landlords to turn over a list of tenants and their addresses. Landlords wouldn't be required to do this.
If landlords choose to participate in the program, they would attend a seminar hosted by police where crime prevention and applicant screening would be discussed, Police Chief James Prandini said.
One of the suggestions includes putting a crime-free addendum in a lease. That would allow a landlord to start eviction proceedings in case of a crime.
Prandini supported making this voluntary since he's faced with a staffing crunch and lacks the officers to enforce a mandatory program.
This also would "let the program build on its own successes," Prandini said.
Those landlords who take part in the city's new program would be rewarded with a 10 percent discount on the city's rental license fee. The city charges $20 for each unit in a multifamily building.
Fifth Ward Alderman Carla Brookman and 3rd Ward Alderman Laura Murphy called the voluntary program a positive change.
Aldermen on Monday also decided to give police more power to crack down on nuisance activity, including unlawful use of weapons and drug possession.
Under the new law that would take effect Jan. 1, police could define a "chronic nuisance property" if they are called to the premises -- including the public way near the property -- at least three times in 180 days. In the case of prostitution and drug charges, a nuisance property would be defined as three police calls in 365 days.
Before, the property could be defined as a nuisance only if police made at least three calls in 60 days.
If a chronic nuisance problem is reported and a landlord refused to take measures to eliminate it, he or she would be required to attend police seminars to renew the rental license.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Springfield Update
“I feel as if I were a piece in a game of chess, when my opponent says of it: that piece cannot be moved.”
~Soren Kierkegaard
- On Tuesday, October 9th the IAR attended the House Mass Transit Committee subject matter hearing in Chicago that was held to solicit public testimony on the need for long term operations and capital funding for mass transit in Illinois. At this hearing, officials from the RTA and the various service boards once again testified to spell out their funding needs and potential reductions that would occur without significant revenue increases. The transit agencies testified that in their latest “doomsday” scenario, effective November 4th, deep service cuts and fare increases would occur. The CTA indicated, for example, that fares would increase to $3. This hearing also focused on some alternatives to the current proposed increase in the regional sales tax and the city of Chicago’s real estate transfer tax- such as the idea floated by the Governor’s office to tax commercial parking spaces. There was no resolution at the hearing and discussions continue.
- The General Assembly was in session this week Wednesday-Friday.
- There was NO action on either of the bills dealing with mass transit funding. As noted, the two bills, SB 572 (in the House) and HB 3667 (in the Senate) include both a regional sales tax increase and the authority for a real estate transfer tax increase in the city of Chicago. The language in both SB 572 and HB 3667 STRONGLY OPPOSED BY THE IAR is the authority for the Chicago city council to increase its real estate transfer tax by $3 per $1,000 for funding the CTA pension bond without following the law which requires a public hearing and voter approval by referendum. The House of Representatives rejected this proposal in early September but we anticipate that the issue will be called again within the next two weeks. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE TO OUR CALLS TO ACTION ON THIS CRITICAL ISSUE. WE NEED TO KEEP THE MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR TO MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR DALEY THAT AN INCREASE IN THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX SHOULD BE REJECTED!
- The Senate took final action on the so called “7% solution” legislation by concurring with action taken by the House last week to override the Governor’s amendatory veto of House Bill 664. As you recall, the Governor had used his amendatory veto power to modify language in HB 664 to increase the assessment cap and to make it permanent (rather than a 3-year phase out). On Friday, the Senate overrode the Governor’s veto on a roll call vote of 55-1-0, with only Senate President Emil Jones voting NO. The House overrode these changes last week on a roll call vote of 92-19-0. The IAR and a broad coalition of business and education groups SUPPORTED the override effort despite the fact that the group OPPOSED the original bill. This override action by the Senate is FINAL action so the provisions of HB 664 are now law. To recap the provisions of HB 664:
- The alternate general homestead exemption (a.k.a. the 7% solution) is extended for an additional three years with an increase in the exemption cap in the first two years. The original 3-year program had a cap established at $20,000 but this three year extension will provide for a cap of $33,000 cap in the first year, a $26,000 cap in the second and then will revert to the current $20,000 cap in the third year;
- Language was also approved for a long-time occupant homestead exemption for qualified properties in any county that adopts the 7% solution (currently only Cook County);
- There are also changes and additions in various exemptions that will apply statewide: an increase in the general homestead exemption; an increase in the senior homestead exemption; a change in the income levels to qualify for the senior freeze or the circuit breaker; a new disabled homestead exemption; a new returning veteran homestead exemption; a new disabled veteran homestead exemption and a provision that would allow a municipality or county to abate some or all of its own taxes on property of a surviving spouse of a fallen police officer, firefighter or rescue worker.
- Property tax bills in all counties must now include information about tax exemptions, abatements and other taxpayer assistance programs;
- A uniform method is established to provide direction to counties for assessing wind farms;
- A county board would be allowed, upon the recommendation of the county treasurer, to waive the interest penalty on delinquent payment of taxes for brownfield sites.
- Lastly, HB 664 creates a 9-member Property Tax Reform and Relief Task Force charged with looking, once again, at the issue of property tax reform and to report its findings to the General Assembly by January 1, 2010.
It is anticipated that tax bills in Cook County, which had been held up pending resolution of this issue, will be sent out to property owners in early November.
- On Wednesday, the House approved a negotiated version of Senate Bill 546 on a roll call vote of 71-40-0 and sent the measure back to the Senate for their consideration. This bill, which would enact a pilot program in Cook County to enhance the information collected by a notary public when notarizing real estate conveyances, is aimed at combating and enhancing the ability to prosecute mortgage fraud. The bill, introduced in February, had been languishing since a House Amendment was filed in May, but was revitalized this week. SB 546, as amended, amends the Illinois Notary Public Act to require that a “notarial record” be created in connection with each notarized document of conveyance. That notarial record would contain extensive information about the person whose signature is being notarized, including a thumbprint of the person. The bill permits a fee of up to $25 for each notarial act relating to real property conveyances in Cook County. The Cook County Recorder of Deeds would retain the completed forms, and the contents of the forms would be exempt from public disclosure. If the bill were to become law it would become effective July 1, 2008, and would “sunset” on July 1, 2011. The measure was negotiated by State Senator John Cullerton and the Illinois State Bar Association among various affected groups. The IAR is currently NEUTRAL on the legislation.
- The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation sprung a surprise amendment on regulated groups on Thursday, October 11th. Senate Amendment #2 to House Bill 2973, which was not available for review until minutes before the hearing before the Senate Financial Institutions Committee, amends the Title Insurance Act to require that in every residential mortgage transaction in the state, the title insurance company, title insurance agent, or independent escrowee handling the transaction must file with the Secretary of IDFPR the names and license numbers of each financial institution, mortgage broker, mortgage banker, real estate licensee, real estate appraiser, and closing agent involved in the transaction, no later than 7 days after the closing. The expressed intent of the Department is that they need the information to further their investigations when they encounter fraudulent mortgage transactions. The IAR, along with the other affected groups, expressed the concern that all of this information might not be readily available to the title insurance agent or company, and that this may lead to further requirements by the title insurance industry prior to closings, thus further delaying and complicating closings. Confidentiality concerns were also raised. Due to the concerns expressed, Senator Iris Martinez, the sponsor of the measure, did NOT call the bill in committee. Later in the afternoon a meeting was held with the sponsor, the Department and all of the affected groups. The consensus was that this issue would be the subject of continued negotiation in the coming weeks.
- Another new issue considered this week was House Bill 2353. On Wednesday, Senator Iris Martinez filed Senate Amendment #3 to HB 2353 which was considered by the Senate Housing and Community Affairs Committee and full Senate on Thursday. HB 2353 amends the Illinois Affordable Housing Act to create the Illinois Housing Affordable Housing Capital Fund to finance projects of the Illinois Affordable Housing Program as authorized by IHDA’s comprehensive plan. The Senate approved HB 2353 on a roll call vote of 38-15-0 and sent to the House for their consideration. The deadline for final consideration by the House is November 2, 2007. This legislation is currently under review by the IAR.
- On Thursday, October 11th the House of Representatives followed earlier Senate action and OVERWHELMINGLY voted to override the Governor’s amendatory changes to Senate Bill 1201 on a roll call vote of 105-7-0. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/votehistory/95/house/09500SB1201_10112007_005000M.pdf This legislation, which is now law, contains language to enable the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) to establish and implement an integrated policy for development and transportation planning. The action by the General Assembly restores a provision removed by the Governor that was essential to our SUPPORT of the measure; i.e. the creation of a Wastewater Committee to deal with facility planning areas (FPAs).
- The Senate also followed the House action in an override of the Governor’s veto of House Bill 3729 on a roll call vote of 58-0-0. This bill, which is now law, amends the Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act to authorize the Illinois Department of Public Health to allow the use of alternative private sewage disposal systems under specific circumstances. The IAR was NEUTRAL on this legislation.
- There was also final legislative action on override motions of the Governor’s TOTAL veto of two bills that extended the life of two specific Tax Increment Financing Districts (TIFs). The veto of House Bill 2036, sponsored by Representative Chapin Rose and Senator Dale Righter, which would extend the life of a TIF in the city of Villa Grove was overridden by the Senate on Thursday on a roll call vote of 56-0-0. The veto of Senate Bill 247, sponsored by Senator Frank Watson and Representative Bob Flider, for the extension of a TIF in the village of Mt. Zion was overridden by the House on Thursday on a roll call vote of 109-3-0. Both bills now become law. In related action, the Senate advanced a new TIF extension measure for the city of DeKalb contained in Senate Amendment #1 to House Bill 1514. This legislation, sponsored by Senator Brad Burzynski and Representative Bob Pritchard, was approved by the Senate on Thursday on a roll call vote of 55-2-0 and must still be acted upon by the House of Representatives. The deadline for final consideration by the House is November 2, 2007. The IAR is NEUTRAL on these bills.
- The Illinois State Senate unanimously concurred with earlier House action on Senate Bill 478. SB 478 amends the Eminent Domain Act to grant the requisite legislation authority to the village of Skokie to use quick-take eminent domain powers for a period of 12 months for the purpose of pedestrian and motor vehicle access at a rail transit station and for road improvements. The House had approved this measure last week on a roll call vote of 74-30-0. The IAR was NEUTRAL on SB 478 which has now been sent to the Governor for his consideration.
- The General Assembly adjourned on Friday, October 12th with no indication of the specific date that they will reconvene. However, it is speculated that the House and Senate will return the last week of October.
For more information, contact Greg St. Aubin, Director of IAR Governmental Affairs, gstaubin@iar.org, or Julie Sullivan, Assistant Director, Legislative and Political Affairs, jsullivan@iar.org.
Contact information for members of the House and Senate, notice of committee hearings, text of legislation and roll call votes are all available on the Illinois General Assembly’s Web site, www.ilga.gov.
~Soren Kierkegaard
- On Tuesday, October 9th the IAR attended the House Mass Transit Committee subject matter hearing in Chicago that was held to solicit public testimony on the need for long term operations and capital funding for mass transit in Illinois. At this hearing, officials from the RTA and the various service boards once again testified to spell out their funding needs and potential reductions that would occur without significant revenue increases. The transit agencies testified that in their latest “doomsday” scenario, effective November 4th, deep service cuts and fare increases would occur. The CTA indicated, for example, that fares would increase to $3. This hearing also focused on some alternatives to the current proposed increase in the regional sales tax and the city of Chicago’s real estate transfer tax- such as the idea floated by the Governor’s office to tax commercial parking spaces. There was no resolution at the hearing and discussions continue.
- The General Assembly was in session this week Wednesday-Friday.
- There was NO action on either of the bills dealing with mass transit funding. As noted, the two bills, SB 572 (in the House) and HB 3667 (in the Senate) include both a regional sales tax increase and the authority for a real estate transfer tax increase in the city of Chicago. The language in both SB 572 and HB 3667 STRONGLY OPPOSED BY THE IAR is the authority for the Chicago city council to increase its real estate transfer tax by $3 per $1,000 for funding the CTA pension bond without following the law which requires a public hearing and voter approval by referendum. The House of Representatives rejected this proposal in early September but we anticipate that the issue will be called again within the next two weeks. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE TO OUR CALLS TO ACTION ON THIS CRITICAL ISSUE. WE NEED TO KEEP THE MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR TO MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR DALEY THAT AN INCREASE IN THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX SHOULD BE REJECTED!
- The Senate took final action on the so called “7% solution” legislation by concurring with action taken by the House last week to override the Governor’s amendatory veto of House Bill 664. As you recall, the Governor had used his amendatory veto power to modify language in HB 664 to increase the assessment cap and to make it permanent (rather than a 3-year phase out). On Friday, the Senate overrode the Governor’s veto on a roll call vote of 55-1-0, with only Senate President Emil Jones voting NO. The House overrode these changes last week on a roll call vote of 92-19-0. The IAR and a broad coalition of business and education groups SUPPORTED the override effort despite the fact that the group OPPOSED the original bill. This override action by the Senate is FINAL action so the provisions of HB 664 are now law. To recap the provisions of HB 664:
- The alternate general homestead exemption (a.k.a. the 7% solution) is extended for an additional three years with an increase in the exemption cap in the first two years. The original 3-year program had a cap established at $20,000 but this three year extension will provide for a cap of $33,000 cap in the first year, a $26,000 cap in the second and then will revert to the current $20,000 cap in the third year;
- Language was also approved for a long-time occupant homestead exemption for qualified properties in any county that adopts the 7% solution (currently only Cook County);
- There are also changes and additions in various exemptions that will apply statewide: an increase in the general homestead exemption; an increase in the senior homestead exemption; a change in the income levels to qualify for the senior freeze or the circuit breaker; a new disabled homestead exemption; a new returning veteran homestead exemption; a new disabled veteran homestead exemption and a provision that would allow a municipality or county to abate some or all of its own taxes on property of a surviving spouse of a fallen police officer, firefighter or rescue worker.
- Property tax bills in all counties must now include information about tax exemptions, abatements and other taxpayer assistance programs;
- A uniform method is established to provide direction to counties for assessing wind farms;
- A county board would be allowed, upon the recommendation of the county treasurer, to waive the interest penalty on delinquent payment of taxes for brownfield sites.
- Lastly, HB 664 creates a 9-member Property Tax Reform and Relief Task Force charged with looking, once again, at the issue of property tax reform and to report its findings to the General Assembly by January 1, 2010.
It is anticipated that tax bills in Cook County, which had been held up pending resolution of this issue, will be sent out to property owners in early November.
- On Wednesday, the House approved a negotiated version of Senate Bill 546 on a roll call vote of 71-40-0 and sent the measure back to the Senate for their consideration. This bill, which would enact a pilot program in Cook County to enhance the information collected by a notary public when notarizing real estate conveyances, is aimed at combating and enhancing the ability to prosecute mortgage fraud. The bill, introduced in February, had been languishing since a House Amendment was filed in May, but was revitalized this week. SB 546, as amended, amends the Illinois Notary Public Act to require that a “notarial record” be created in connection with each notarized document of conveyance. That notarial record would contain extensive information about the person whose signature is being notarized, including a thumbprint of the person. The bill permits a fee of up to $25 for each notarial act relating to real property conveyances in Cook County. The Cook County Recorder of Deeds would retain the completed forms, and the contents of the forms would be exempt from public disclosure. If the bill were to become law it would become effective July 1, 2008, and would “sunset” on July 1, 2011. The measure was negotiated by State Senator John Cullerton and the Illinois State Bar Association among various affected groups. The IAR is currently NEUTRAL on the legislation.
- The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation sprung a surprise amendment on regulated groups on Thursday, October 11th. Senate Amendment #2 to House Bill 2973, which was not available for review until minutes before the hearing before the Senate Financial Institutions Committee, amends the Title Insurance Act to require that in every residential mortgage transaction in the state, the title insurance company, title insurance agent, or independent escrowee handling the transaction must file with the Secretary of IDFPR the names and license numbers of each financial institution, mortgage broker, mortgage banker, real estate licensee, real estate appraiser, and closing agent involved in the transaction, no later than 7 days after the closing. The expressed intent of the Department is that they need the information to further their investigations when they encounter fraudulent mortgage transactions. The IAR, along with the other affected groups, expressed the concern that all of this information might not be readily available to the title insurance agent or company, and that this may lead to further requirements by the title insurance industry prior to closings, thus further delaying and complicating closings. Confidentiality concerns were also raised. Due to the concerns expressed, Senator Iris Martinez, the sponsor of the measure, did NOT call the bill in committee. Later in the afternoon a meeting was held with the sponsor, the Department and all of the affected groups. The consensus was that this issue would be the subject of continued negotiation in the coming weeks.
- Another new issue considered this week was House Bill 2353. On Wednesday, Senator Iris Martinez filed Senate Amendment #3 to HB 2353 which was considered by the Senate Housing and Community Affairs Committee and full Senate on Thursday. HB 2353 amends the Illinois Affordable Housing Act to create the Illinois Housing Affordable Housing Capital Fund to finance projects of the Illinois Affordable Housing Program as authorized by IHDA’s comprehensive plan. The Senate approved HB 2353 on a roll call vote of 38-15-0 and sent to the House for their consideration. The deadline for final consideration by the House is November 2, 2007. This legislation is currently under review by the IAR.
- On Thursday, October 11th the House of Representatives followed earlier Senate action and OVERWHELMINGLY voted to override the Governor’s amendatory changes to Senate Bill 1201 on a roll call vote of 105-7-0. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/votehistory/95/house/09500SB1201_10112007_005000M.pdf This legislation, which is now law, contains language to enable the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) to establish and implement an integrated policy for development and transportation planning. The action by the General Assembly restores a provision removed by the Governor that was essential to our SUPPORT of the measure; i.e. the creation of a Wastewater Committee to deal with facility planning areas (FPAs).
- The Senate also followed the House action in an override of the Governor’s veto of House Bill 3729 on a roll call vote of 58-0-0. This bill, which is now law, amends the Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act to authorize the Illinois Department of Public Health to allow the use of alternative private sewage disposal systems under specific circumstances. The IAR was NEUTRAL on this legislation.
- There was also final legislative action on override motions of the Governor’s TOTAL veto of two bills that extended the life of two specific Tax Increment Financing Districts (TIFs). The veto of House Bill 2036, sponsored by Representative Chapin Rose and Senator Dale Righter, which would extend the life of a TIF in the city of Villa Grove was overridden by the Senate on Thursday on a roll call vote of 56-0-0. The veto of Senate Bill 247, sponsored by Senator Frank Watson and Representative Bob Flider, for the extension of a TIF in the village of Mt. Zion was overridden by the House on Thursday on a roll call vote of 109-3-0. Both bills now become law. In related action, the Senate advanced a new TIF extension measure for the city of DeKalb contained in Senate Amendment #1 to House Bill 1514. This legislation, sponsored by Senator Brad Burzynski and Representative Bob Pritchard, was approved by the Senate on Thursday on a roll call vote of 55-2-0 and must still be acted upon by the House of Representatives. The deadline for final consideration by the House is November 2, 2007. The IAR is NEUTRAL on these bills.
- The Illinois State Senate unanimously concurred with earlier House action on Senate Bill 478. SB 478 amends the Eminent Domain Act to grant the requisite legislation authority to the village of Skokie to use quick-take eminent domain powers for a period of 12 months for the purpose of pedestrian and motor vehicle access at a rail transit station and for road improvements. The House had approved this measure last week on a roll call vote of 74-30-0. The IAR was NEUTRAL on SB 478 which has now been sent to the Governor for his consideration.
- The General Assembly adjourned on Friday, October 12th with no indication of the specific date that they will reconvene. However, it is speculated that the House and Senate will return the last week of October.
For more information, contact Greg St. Aubin, Director of IAR Governmental Affairs, gstaubin@iar.org, or Julie Sullivan, Assistant Director, Legislative and Political Affairs, jsullivan@iar.org.
Contact information for members of the House and Senate, notice of committee hearings, text of legislation and roll call votes are all available on the Illinois General Assembly’s Web site, www.ilga.gov.
New Legislative Breakfast Dates
Don't Miss Our Next Two Legislative Breakfast Series Programs!
November 2nd State Senator Dan Kotowski (D-33)RANWC Arlington Heights Location 9am to 10am
November 9th State Senator Michael Bond (D-31)RANWC Libertyville Location
9am to 10am
The Senators will speak to our members on issues from Springfield. Many topics have a direct impact on the real estate industry. Breakfast will be served. Please arrive on time as the Senators will depart at 10:00am sharp.This is a free event. Please R.S.V.P to Jeff Metzger at 847-506-5031 or Jeff@ranwc.com by 11/05/07.
November 2nd State Senator Dan Kotowski (D-33)RANWC Arlington Heights Location 9am to 10am
November 9th State Senator Michael Bond (D-31)RANWC Libertyville Location
9am to 10am
The Senators will speak to our members on issues from Springfield. Many topics have a direct impact on the real estate industry. Breakfast will be served. Please arrive on time as the Senators will depart at 10:00am sharp.This is a free event. Please R.S.V.P to Jeff Metzger at 847-506-5031 or Jeff@ranwc.com by 11/05/07.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Springfield Update
“The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.”
~Theodore Roosevelt
Quorum Call is distributed Fridays when the Illinois General Assembly is in session. For more information, contact Greg St. Aubin, Director of IAR Governmental Affairs, gstaubin@iar.org, or Julie Sullivan, Assistant Director, Legislative and Political Affairs, jsullivan@iar.org. Full text of legislation cited in this newsletter can be found at www.ilga.gov.
- The Illinois House of Representatives held a day-long “Committee of the Whole” hearing on Monday to allow public testimony from those negatively affected by the dramatic budget cuts of the Governor. Later in the week the House overrode nearly all of the $463 million cut from the budget and sent the budget bill to the Senate for their consideration of the cuts. While the Senate President, Senator Emil Jones, had earlier indicated that he would not support efforts to override any of the reductions there may be some movement on that position. Any action would have to occur next week in the Senate.
- Limited action this week on the legislation dealing with mass transit funding as the Senate sponsor filed an additional amendment to House Bill 3667 but did not call the bill for a hearing or vote. The House Mass Transit Committee has scheduled yet another hearing next Tuesday, October 9th in Chicago. The IAR will participate in this hearing which is expected to focus on the capital projects proposal and funding options. While discussion continues at the Statehouse for other funding alternatives none of those alternatives has been drafted as amendments to either of the pending bills. As a reminder, there are two nearly duplicate bills pending on the mass transit package- SB 572 (in the House) and HB 3667 (in the Senate) which include both a regional sales tax increase and the authority for a real estate transfer tax increase in the city of Chicago. BOTH bills contain the identical language STRONGLY OPPOSED BY THE IAR creating the glaring exception in existing law for the city of Chicago to increase its real estate transfer tax without a public hearing and without voter approval. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE TO OUR CALLS TO ACTION ON THIS CRITICAL ISSUE. WE NEED TO KEEP THE MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR TO MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR DALEY THAT AN INCREASE IN THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX SHOULD BE REJECTED!
- The House and the Senate took alternate paths this week on the property tax exemptions package, which included the so called “7% solution” provisions for Cook County. As we reported last week, the Governor had used his amendatory veto power to modify language in House Bill 664 that had been negotiated between the chambers earlier to increase the assessment cap and to make it permanent (rather than a 3-year phase out). Representative Barbara Flynn Currie, the Majority Leader successfully pursued an override of these changes on Wednesday afternoon and the House approved the motion to override on a roll call vote of 92-19-0 (71 votes were needed for passage). This override effort was SUPPORTED by the broad coalition originally opposed to the bill (including IAR) because of the objection to the Governor’s changes making the 7% solution permanent and increasing the cap amount. The following link is the roll call vote on the override motion:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/votehistory/95/house/09500HB0664_10032007_016000M.pdf The Senate, however, embraced the Governor’s changes and codified the changes in an amendment to House Bill 315. On Tuesday afternoon the Senate Executive Committee voted to send House Bill 315 to the full Senate for their consideration by a vote of 8-4-1. The General Assembly adjourned for the week with the issue unresolved. The Senate did NOT move their version of the bill and it is unclear if they will consider the override motion on HB 664 next week.
- The Senate OVERWHELMINGLY voted to override the Governor’s amendatory changes to Senate Bill 1201 on a roll call vote of 53-1-0 (http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/votehistory/95/senate/09500SB1201_10032007_009000M.pdf). As you recall, this legislation contained language necessitated by the legislation from 2005 that combined two planning entities (the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission and the Chicago Area Transportation Study) in the Chicago metropolitan area that created a special unit of local government- the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). This special district is now charged with many of the functions carried out by the former entities dealing with the establishment and implementation of an integrated policy for development and transportation planning. The Governor opted to remove an important provision of SB 1201 that was essential to our support of the measure; i.e. the creation of a Wastewater Committee to deal with facility planning areas (FPAs). In order for this bill to become law over the objections of the Governor the override motion must also be approved in the House which is expected to occur next week.
- Another bill vetoed by the Governor was House Bill 3729. This bill amends the Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act to authorize the Illinois Department of Public Health to allow the use of alternative private sewage disposal systems under specific circumstances. The Governor did not specify his reasons for the veto beyond that he did not agree with “some aspects” of the legislation. The House unanimously overrode the Governor on a roll call vote of 113-0-0. The override motion must be acted upon by the Senate next week. The IAR was NEUTRAL on this legislation.
- There was also legislative action on override motions of the Governor’s TOTAL veto of two bills that extended the life of two specific Tax Increment Financing Districts (TIFs). This action was taken by the Governor despite the fact that he had signed into law similar legislation for other communities. The veto of House Bill 2036, sponsored by Representative Chapin Rose and Senator Dale Righter, which would extend the life of a TIF in the city of Villa Grove was overridden on Tuesday by the House on a roll call vote of 110-3-0. The motion now must be considered by the Senate. The veto of Senate Bill 247, sponsored by Senator Frank Watson and Representative Bob Flider, for the extension of a TIF in the village of Mt. Zion was overridden by the Senate on Wednesday on a roll call vote of 54-0-0. This motion must now be acted upon by the House. The IAR was NEUTRAL on these bills.
- The General Assembly will reconvene next week on Wednesday, October 10th and are scheduled to be in session the remainder of the week.
For more information, contact Greg St. Aubin, Director of IAR Governmental Affairs, gstaubin@iar.org, or Julie Sullivan, Assistant Director, Legislative and Political Affairs, jsullivan@iar.org.
~Theodore Roosevelt
Quorum Call is distributed Fridays when the Illinois General Assembly is in session. For more information, contact Greg St. Aubin, Director of IAR Governmental Affairs, gstaubin@iar.org, or Julie Sullivan, Assistant Director, Legislative and Political Affairs, jsullivan@iar.org. Full text of legislation cited in this newsletter can be found at www.ilga.gov.
- The Illinois House of Representatives held a day-long “Committee of the Whole” hearing on Monday to allow public testimony from those negatively affected by the dramatic budget cuts of the Governor. Later in the week the House overrode nearly all of the $463 million cut from the budget and sent the budget bill to the Senate for their consideration of the cuts. While the Senate President, Senator Emil Jones, had earlier indicated that he would not support efforts to override any of the reductions there may be some movement on that position. Any action would have to occur next week in the Senate.
- Limited action this week on the legislation dealing with mass transit funding as the Senate sponsor filed an additional amendment to House Bill 3667 but did not call the bill for a hearing or vote. The House Mass Transit Committee has scheduled yet another hearing next Tuesday, October 9th in Chicago. The IAR will participate in this hearing which is expected to focus on the capital projects proposal and funding options. While discussion continues at the Statehouse for other funding alternatives none of those alternatives has been drafted as amendments to either of the pending bills. As a reminder, there are two nearly duplicate bills pending on the mass transit package- SB 572 (in the House) and HB 3667 (in the Senate) which include both a regional sales tax increase and the authority for a real estate transfer tax increase in the city of Chicago. BOTH bills contain the identical language STRONGLY OPPOSED BY THE IAR creating the glaring exception in existing law for the city of Chicago to increase its real estate transfer tax without a public hearing and without voter approval. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE TO OUR CALLS TO ACTION ON THIS CRITICAL ISSUE. WE NEED TO KEEP THE MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR TO MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR DALEY THAT AN INCREASE IN THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX SHOULD BE REJECTED!
- The House and the Senate took alternate paths this week on the property tax exemptions package, which included the so called “7% solution” provisions for Cook County. As we reported last week, the Governor had used his amendatory veto power to modify language in House Bill 664 that had been negotiated between the chambers earlier to increase the assessment cap and to make it permanent (rather than a 3-year phase out). Representative Barbara Flynn Currie, the Majority Leader successfully pursued an override of these changes on Wednesday afternoon and the House approved the motion to override on a roll call vote of 92-19-0 (71 votes were needed for passage). This override effort was SUPPORTED by the broad coalition originally opposed to the bill (including IAR) because of the objection to the Governor’s changes making the 7% solution permanent and increasing the cap amount. The following link is the roll call vote on the override motion:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/votehistory/95/house/09500HB0664_10032007_016000M.pdf The Senate, however, embraced the Governor’s changes and codified the changes in an amendment to House Bill 315. On Tuesday afternoon the Senate Executive Committee voted to send House Bill 315 to the full Senate for their consideration by a vote of 8-4-1. The General Assembly adjourned for the week with the issue unresolved. The Senate did NOT move their version of the bill and it is unclear if they will consider the override motion on HB 664 next week.
- The Senate OVERWHELMINGLY voted to override the Governor’s amendatory changes to Senate Bill 1201 on a roll call vote of 53-1-0 (http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/votehistory/95/senate/09500SB1201_10032007_009000M.pdf). As you recall, this legislation contained language necessitated by the legislation from 2005 that combined two planning entities (the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission and the Chicago Area Transportation Study) in the Chicago metropolitan area that created a special unit of local government- the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). This special district is now charged with many of the functions carried out by the former entities dealing with the establishment and implementation of an integrated policy for development and transportation planning. The Governor opted to remove an important provision of SB 1201 that was essential to our support of the measure; i.e. the creation of a Wastewater Committee to deal with facility planning areas (FPAs). In order for this bill to become law over the objections of the Governor the override motion must also be approved in the House which is expected to occur next week.
- Another bill vetoed by the Governor was House Bill 3729. This bill amends the Private Sewage Disposal Licensing Act to authorize the Illinois Department of Public Health to allow the use of alternative private sewage disposal systems under specific circumstances. The Governor did not specify his reasons for the veto beyond that he did not agree with “some aspects” of the legislation. The House unanimously overrode the Governor on a roll call vote of 113-0-0. The override motion must be acted upon by the Senate next week. The IAR was NEUTRAL on this legislation.
- There was also legislative action on override motions of the Governor’s TOTAL veto of two bills that extended the life of two specific Tax Increment Financing Districts (TIFs). This action was taken by the Governor despite the fact that he had signed into law similar legislation for other communities. The veto of House Bill 2036, sponsored by Representative Chapin Rose and Senator Dale Righter, which would extend the life of a TIF in the city of Villa Grove was overridden on Tuesday by the House on a roll call vote of 110-3-0. The motion now must be considered by the Senate. The veto of Senate Bill 247, sponsored by Senator Frank Watson and Representative Bob Flider, for the extension of a TIF in the village of Mt. Zion was overridden by the Senate on Wednesday on a roll call vote of 54-0-0. This motion must now be acted upon by the House. The IAR was NEUTRAL on these bills.
- The General Assembly will reconvene next week on Wednesday, October 10th and are scheduled to be in session the remainder of the week.
For more information, contact Greg St. Aubin, Director of IAR Governmental Affairs, gstaubin@iar.org, or Julie Sullivan, Assistant Director, Legislative and Political Affairs, jsullivan@iar.org.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Vernon Hills
From the Daily Herald
Letters warning of jail to cease
Developer no longer has to point out juvenile jail to its condo shoppers
By Mick Zawislak Daily Herald Staff
Published: 10/2/2007 12:32 AM
When it comes to housing, Vernon Hills officials believe in truth in advertising.
That's why the village sometimes requires developers to include a "letter of awareness" in literature for would-be buyers.
For the exclusive River's Edge condos on the southeast side of town, Weiss Development was required to highlight two points.
One was the access to the property was right-turn-in/right-turn-out from Milwaukee Avenue and may stay that way. The other noted the property immediately north is the Depke juvenile justice complex, housing a juvenile detention center.
That initially wasn't a problem for developers Helen and Jerry Weiss. But with the struggling real estate market, the couple argued that referring to the Depke center was not helping.
The village board has informally agreed and will eliminate the need for the letter.
The couple recently told trustees the letter initially served as another bit of information buyers would factor into their decisions.
"In its totality, (the location of Depke center is) no more negative than the tollway," said Helen Weiss, the company's principal.
But once the sales office opened on site, some began to wonder why the juvenile facility was singled out, since it's well-identified and is visible from the street.
"There's a hidden agenda in people's minds -- what is this letter really saying?" said Jerry Weiss. "It raises red flags."
The development is on 5 acres adjacent to the Half Day forest preserve, with prices ranging from $350,000 to $538,000. The site is one of natural beauty and the views are a big selling point, Helen Weiss said. She said 70 percent of the units have been sold, but the pool of buyers has shrunk to a "disturbingly low level." Twelve units remain.
"Everybody asks what's on the north and we present it. But an awareness letter? I don't know what you're protecting people from," she told the village board.
Mayor Roger Byrne said the letters are meant to protect buyers, noting one instance in which a sales model at another development did not identify a sewage treatment plant.
"We've developed this mentality and it's a healthy one," he said. Yet as the Depke center is obvious, he didn't consider the Weiss' request to strike the reference unreasonable.
The letter is a village policy that can be changed, not a requirement.
The board voted 6-1 to remove the reference to Depke. Trustee Thom Koch dissented.
"You still should point stuff out to people. That's just how I feel," he said.
In a second vote, the board eliminated the letter of awareness for the project, agreeing Milwaukee Avenue access also was a case of what you see is what you get.
Letters warning of jail to cease
Developer no longer has to point out juvenile jail to its condo shoppers
By Mick Zawislak Daily Herald Staff
Published: 10/2/2007 12:32 AM
When it comes to housing, Vernon Hills officials believe in truth in advertising.
That's why the village sometimes requires developers to include a "letter of awareness" in literature for would-be buyers.
For the exclusive River's Edge condos on the southeast side of town, Weiss Development was required to highlight two points.
One was the access to the property was right-turn-in/right-turn-out from Milwaukee Avenue and may stay that way. The other noted the property immediately north is the Depke juvenile justice complex, housing a juvenile detention center.
That initially wasn't a problem for developers Helen and Jerry Weiss. But with the struggling real estate market, the couple argued that referring to the Depke center was not helping.
The village board has informally agreed and will eliminate the need for the letter.
The couple recently told trustees the letter initially served as another bit of information buyers would factor into their decisions.
"In its totality, (the location of Depke center is) no more negative than the tollway," said Helen Weiss, the company's principal.
But once the sales office opened on site, some began to wonder why the juvenile facility was singled out, since it's well-identified and is visible from the street.
"There's a hidden agenda in people's minds -- what is this letter really saying?" said Jerry Weiss. "It raises red flags."
The development is on 5 acres adjacent to the Half Day forest preserve, with prices ranging from $350,000 to $538,000. The site is one of natural beauty and the views are a big selling point, Helen Weiss said. She said 70 percent of the units have been sold, but the pool of buyers has shrunk to a "disturbingly low level." Twelve units remain.
"Everybody asks what's on the north and we present it. But an awareness letter? I don't know what you're protecting people from," she told the village board.
Mayor Roger Byrne said the letters are meant to protect buyers, noting one instance in which a sales model at another development did not identify a sewage treatment plant.
"We've developed this mentality and it's a healthy one," he said. Yet as the Depke center is obvious, he didn't consider the Weiss' request to strike the reference unreasonable.
The letter is a village policy that can be changed, not a requirement.
The board voted 6-1 to remove the reference to Depke. Trustee Thom Koch dissented.
"You still should point stuff out to people. That's just how I feel," he said.
In a second vote, the board eliminated the letter of awareness for the project, agreeing Milwaukee Avenue access also was a case of what you see is what you get.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Cook County Tax Relief????
From the Daily Herald
Cook County tax relief may end after this year
Homeowners could face bigger bills if lawmakers fail to pass new measure
By Joseph Ryan Daily Herald Staff
Published: 9/28/2007 12:22 AM
The average homeowner in Northwest Cook County could be on the hook for $1,500 more in property taxes next year if lawmakers allow a relief measure to fail in the coming weeks, says county Assessor James Houlihan.
"It is unfortunate that this is part of the Springfield chaos," Houlihan told the Daily Herald editorial board Thursday.
Cook County tax bills for next year -- not the ones hitting mailboxes this fall -- hang in the balance of a showdown with Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Houlihan on one side and Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan on the other.
Both sides favor some form of property tax relief that will stave off the jolting hikes in house values from the rising markets.
A relief measure meant to accomplish the same thing was approved three years ago and it protects homeowners in Northwest Cook County communities who are currently receiving reassessment increases of 26 percent or more. However, it expires when next year's bills come out.
But the battle for next year is over the details -- a disagreement that threatens to, as they say, throw the baby out with the bath water.
Blagojevich and Houlihan want a measure that will grant a $40,000 homestead exemption permanently as a way to equalize property taxes countywide and limit the amount of increases for homes with values that jump considerably over a short time period.
But Madigan and many other lawmakers favor a plan to phase out the exemption over the next three years because they argue the plan shifts the tax burden onto businesses and owners of lower-cost homes. Plus, they point to a cooling housing market as a sign relief won't be needed in the next few years.
Madigan's version of the plan was approved by lawmakers earlier this year, but Blagojevich nixed it and sent back another version that makes the higher exemptions permanent.
Madigan isn't going along with the new version and has vowed to fight it. And if the plan fails, no tax relief will be coming along with the tax bills next year.
Cook County tax relief may end after this year
Homeowners could face bigger bills if lawmakers fail to pass new measure
By Joseph Ryan Daily Herald Staff
Published: 9/28/2007 12:22 AM
The average homeowner in Northwest Cook County could be on the hook for $1,500 more in property taxes next year if lawmakers allow a relief measure to fail in the coming weeks, says county Assessor James Houlihan.
"It is unfortunate that this is part of the Springfield chaos," Houlihan told the Daily Herald editorial board Thursday.
Cook County tax bills for next year -- not the ones hitting mailboxes this fall -- hang in the balance of a showdown with Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Houlihan on one side and Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan on the other.
Both sides favor some form of property tax relief that will stave off the jolting hikes in house values from the rising markets.
A relief measure meant to accomplish the same thing was approved three years ago and it protects homeowners in Northwest Cook County communities who are currently receiving reassessment increases of 26 percent or more. However, it expires when next year's bills come out.
But the battle for next year is over the details -- a disagreement that threatens to, as they say, throw the baby out with the bath water.
Blagojevich and Houlihan want a measure that will grant a $40,000 homestead exemption permanently as a way to equalize property taxes countywide and limit the amount of increases for homes with values that jump considerably over a short time period.
But Madigan and many other lawmakers favor a plan to phase out the exemption over the next three years because they argue the plan shifts the tax burden onto businesses and owners of lower-cost homes. Plus, they point to a cooling housing market as a sign relief won't be needed in the next few years.
Madigan's version of the plan was approved by lawmakers earlier this year, but Blagojevich nixed it and sent back another version that makes the higher exemptions permanent.
Madigan isn't going along with the new version and has vowed to fight it. And if the plan fails, no tax relief will be coming along with the tax bills next year.
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Members meet with Senator Murphy after Legislative Breakfast
