Assessment Update and Lake County News, August 31st

The Lake County Treasurer, Robert Skidmore, would like to remind taxpayers to please pay their 2009 2nd installment property tax payment by September 3rd to avoid additional interest (1.5% per month). Payments can be made in person at the Lake County Treasurer's office, at most lake county banks or on line by e-check or credit card (additional fee is charged to user by the provider). Visit the Treasurer's website for more information www.lakecountyil.gov/treasurer.

Assessment Notice

Homeowners in Ela Township will be receiving their assessment notices in the month of September, probably in the latter half of the month. Other Lake County residents will be receiving their blue assessment notices over the next few months. Taxpayers are encouraged to discuss their questions regarding their property assessment valuation with their local township assessor's office.

Remember that you only have 30 days from the publication date to appeal your property assessment valuation. Fremont Township homeowners appeal filing deadline is September 20^th. I will provide Ela Township homeowners with our appeal filing deadline once our assessments are mailed.

Changes to Your Assessment Notice

Lake County has once again improved the notice by adding a lot more information. The new notice will provide basic assessed valuation information, property characteristics, provides a basic example of how a tax bill is calculated, an illustration of the assessment cycle and the tax district levy process, along with information on homestead exemptions.

Sample Assessment Notice

Looking for help in evaluating your 2010 assessment value?

When you receive your assessment notice, there are three primary resources to turn to for background information. The first source for information on your assessment valuation is your local township assessor's office. They determine the base assessment valuation for your property and can provide the best insight.

The second source for property assessment information is the County's website, http://www.lakecountyil.gov/assessor which displaysbasic property characteristic and assessment valuation information compiled from the local assessor's records. This website also provides search and comparison tools that can help a taxpayer evaluate their property assessment valuation.

Finally, if you would like an additional outlet for one-on-one assistance evaluating your assessment valuation, the Chief County Assessment Office will once again be conducting tax assessment help centers this fall at three locations across the County. Watch your local newspapers and the County website for the schedule.

Reasons for an Appeal

You have a reasonable appeal if you can support any of the following claims:

The assessment is based on a factual error (e.g. incorrect square footage).*
The assessment is greater than 1/3 of the property's recent sale price.
The assessment is greater than 1/3 of the property's market value.
The assessment is higher than the assessment of comparable properties.
Matters of law (e.g. carrying forward prior year residential appeal results, preferential assessment and farmland valuation).

5 Steps to Appeal a Property Assessment

1. Review assessment notice and use web assessment tools to compare property assessments.

How to use the web assessment tools (verify your assessment information and create a comparison grid)

2. Contact your local township assessor's office

3. Research and collect evidence to support your appeal.

Reasons for an Appeal

Appeal Forms

Board of Review Rules

4. Lake County Board of Review Hearing

Appeal presentations are limited to 15 minutes

5. Board of Review Notice of Findings (Results).

If you don't agree with the Board of Review Notice of Findings, you can appeal the State Property Tax Appeal Boardwithin 30 days from the date on the notice.

What happens in a Board of Review hearing?

Hearings will be conducted in the following format: The appellant or his/her representative may present testimony regarding the assessment and shall be required to answer any questions of the Board. The township assessor or a representative from his/her office may also be present to give evidence concerning the property and its assessment. Each party may then present closing or rebuttal remarks and then the hearing will close. The Board will consider the evidence and testimony and generally announce their decision at that time.

Because of the volume of complaints before the Board, most hearings are scheduled at 15-minute intervals. All presentations by the appellant and the assessor, along with questions that may be asked by the Board, must be completed within this time frame.

Buffalo Grove Road Closure (Rt. 22 involved)

Buffalo Grove Road to Close for Concrete Patching
Starting Tuesday, September 7

The Lake County Division of Transportation will close Buffalo Grove Road (County Route W-14) from Aptakisic Road (County Route A-44) to Main Street in Buffalo Grove for four weeks. The closure is required to complete concrete patching repairs and will happen in four stages to allow local traffic access to the residences and businesses.

Closure: Tuesday, September 7 - Friday, October 1, 2010.

During all four stages of this repair work, the lanes being detoured will have a signed detour in place and the road closure for each stage will begin at 7 A.M.

News Release and Detour Map (detour maps on page 3 and 4)

Stage 1: September 7- 10

The first stage of the road closure and detour will begin on Tuesday, September 7, with the northbound lane of Buffalo Grove Rd closed to all trafficfrom Illinois Route 22, Half Day Road to Main Street. Northbound traffic will be detoured east on Illinois Route 22 to Main Street. The first stage should be completed on September 10.

Stage 2: September 13 - 17

The second stage will begin on Monday, September 13 with the southbound lane on Buffalo Grove Road from Main Street to Illinois Route 22 being closed to all traffic. The southbound traffic will be detoured south on Main Street to Illinois Route 22. The second stage repair work should be completed on Friday, September 17.

Stage 3: September 20 - 24

The third stage of the concrete patching will begin on September 20, with northbound Buffalo Grove Road closed from Aptakisic Road to Illinois Route 22. For this closure, northbound traffic will be detoured using Aptakisic Road (County Route A-44), Prairie Road (County Route W-17), and Illinois Route 22. This stage should be completed by Friday, September 24.

Stage 4: September 27 - October 1

The fourth and final stage will begin on September 27, with southbound traffic from Illinois Route 22 to Aptakisic Road. This traffic will be detoured east on Illinois Route 22 to Prairie Road, to Aptakisic Road. The fourth stage is scheduled for completion on October 1. Access for the school located at the corner of Buffalo Grove Road and Illinois Route 22 will be from Illinois Route 22 during stages 3 and 4.

For more information on the project or other construction projects in Lake County, go to www.lakecountyil.gov/Transportation. For Real Time Traffic Information, tune into 1620 AM or check www.lakecountypassage.com.

Wind Energy

County Board Members Take 'Whirlwind' Tour of Wind Energy Facilities

More and more wind turbines are appearing across our landscape as businesses, homeowners and schools are harnessing clean, free wind energy. In response to this trend, Lake County organized a task force made up of Lake County communities to develop a comprehensive model ordinance that establishes uniform standards for the siting of wind energy facilities. Using the model as its guide, the County is proposing changes to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) for the placement of wind facilities in the unincorporated areas. The public recently had an opportunity to provide input into these changes. In advance of considering this issue, County board members wanted to learn more about these facilities and they did just that in this whirlwind tour. Watch the Video