McHenry County realtors face daunting task – selling homes with sky-high property tax bills

By Amanda McDonald

03/01/2018

Local realtors are having a difficult time convincing clients not only to move to the county, but to stay.

East St. Louis Township hires politician to shovel inch of snow

02/02/2018

East St. Louis Township paid $550 to a politician, who had previously spent four years in federal prison for tax evasion, to clear an inch of snow from the township's parking lot - a task he didn't even complete.

TAGS: consolidation, corruption, East St. Louis, local government consolidation, townships

3 McHenry County townships now under investigation

01/25/2018

The McHenry County state's attorney's office is investigating Nunda and Grafton townships for illegal misuse of taxpayer money, making them the second and third townships - after Algonquin Township - to be under investigation in McHenry County.

TAGS: corruption, townships

New bill empowers voters to eliminate McHenry County townships

01/19/2018

House Bill 4244 would give McHenry County voters an easier path to having a choice in eliminating their township governments, encouraging consolidation in a county where residents pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, townships

It can be done: Northern Illinois village cuts property tax levy 10 percent

By Amanda McDonald

01/15/2018

The village of Lakewood is making encouraging reforms in a county where residents pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation.

TAGS: property taxes, taxes

Illinois overrun with local governments, but consolidation still proving difficult

By Amanda McDonald

01/13/2018

One community in northern Illinois’ McHenry County is a case study on the glacial pace of consolidation in a state with the most units of local government – and some of the highest property taxes – in the nation.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, property taxes, townships

State lawmaker plans to introduce township consolidation bill

12/19/2017

State Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, is working on the framework for a bill that would dramatically improve taxpayers’ ability to eliminate township governments, of which Illinois has about 1,400.

TAGS: consolidation, David McSweeney, local government consolidation, townships

Local advocate for property tax reform faces dangerous backlash

By Amanda McDonald

12/17/2017

Local barber Bob Anderson has endured two attempts at intimidation since being elected to the McHenry Township Board on a platform of consolidation.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, McHenry County, property taxes

Advocate for lower property taxes faces dangerous backlash

By Amanda McDonald

11/14/2017

Local barber Bob Anderson has endured two attempts at intimidation since being elected to the McHenry Township Board on a platform of consolidation.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, property taxes

Abundance of governments is one driver of collar county property taxes

10/12/2017

Consolidating governments in the collar counties could help lower residents’ high property taxes.

TAGS: consolidation, local government, local government consolidation, property taxes

McHenry County

McHenry County realtors face daunting task – selling homes with sky-high property tax bills

East St. Louis Township hires politician to shovel inch of snow

3 McHenry County townships now under investigation

New bill empowers voters to eliminate McHenry County townships

It can be done: Northern Illinois village cuts property tax levy 10 percent

Illinois overrun with local governments, but consolidation still proving difficult

State lawmaker plans to introduce township consolidation bill

Local advocate for property tax reform faces dangerous backlash

Advocate for lower property taxes faces dangerous backlash

Abundance of governments is one driver of collar county property taxes

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students