Amendment 1 will cost typical McHenry County homeowner $2,626

By Bryce Hill

06/20/2022

See how much more you can expect to pay in property taxes unless voters reject the first question atop Illinois’ ballot Nov. 8.

TAGS: Amendment 1, McHenry County

What to know about voting early or by mail before April 6 in McHenry County

By Patrick Andriesen

03/25/2021

McHenry County voters have calendar dates to watch if they are voting early or by mail ahead of the April 6 election. Here’s what they need to know.

TAGS: early voting, election, McHenry County, vote-by-mail

Will County board approves new $12M gas tax atop doubled state tax

By Vincent Caruso

12/20/2019

Will County became the first county to use new taxing authority under Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s capital plan, adding a new countywide gas tax of 4 cents per gallon atop state and local gas taxes.

TAGS: capital plan, collar counties, DuPage County, excise tax, gas tax, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, JB Pritzker, Joliet, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County, sales tax, Springfield, tax hikes, tax increase, Will County

McHenry County home values down 33%, property taxes up 0.4% since recession

By Vincent Caruso

09/05/2019

Without true pension reform, McHenry County homeowners will only continue to see the gap between their property taxes and home values grow.

TAGS: McHenry County, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

New law empowers McHenry County voters to consolidate townships

08/12/2019

A new law relaxes requirements for McHenry County voters looking to dissolve their townships by referendum, clearing a path toward greater efficiency, less waste and lower property taxes.

TAGS: consolidation, David McSweeney, JB Pritzker, local government consolidation, McHenry County

How shock at McHenry County tax bills is fueling a revolution

12/21/2018

Frustration over high taxes and government waste in Illinois need more than an angry social media post or a moving van. Some residents of McHenry County, Illinois, acted, and are winning reforms.

TAGS: McHenry County, property taxes, taxes

Bipartisan township consolidation bill heads to governor’s desk

By Vincent Caruso

11/30/2018

The bill would make it easier for McHenry County residents to dissolve the county’s 17 townships at the ballot box – and find tax relief through cost savings.

TAGS: Allen Skillicorn, consolidation, David McSweeney, McHenry County, Sam Yingling, townships

McHenry County township consolidation bill advances to Senate floor

By Vincent Caruso

11/17/2018

The bill would make it easier for McHenry County residents to dissolve the county’s 17 townships at the ballot box – and find relief through tax savings.

TAGS: Allen Skillicorn, consolidation, David McSweeney, local government consolidation, McHenry County, Sam Yingling

Amid controversy, political township couple banks nearly $100K in pension benefits

08/17/2018

Voted out of office in 2017 amid allegations of patronage and waste, Algonquin Township’s former highway commissioner has since found work at neighboring townships – while collecting a handsome pension from his former employer.

TAGS: Algonquin Township, McHenry County

Nepotistic hires highlight township government waste

06/18/2018

Two McHenry County highway commissioners hired each other’s sons to township government positions in 2017. Despite concerns of nepotism, these practices are not uncommon in township government.

TAGS: Algonquin Township, Andrew Rosencrans, Bob Miller, consolidation, corruption, David McSweeney, Jim Condon, Leda Drain, local government consolidation, McHenry County, Mike Lesperance, municipal pensions, patronage, pensions