Taxpayers, be wary of new assessments

As we go through these challenging economic times with our lower investments and property values, there is a danger we must all be aware of: Currently, most of our township assessors are in the process of re-evaluating the 2009 assessments, which will determine our 2010 property tax bills.

Most assessed values, if not all, should be considerably lower due to the economic climate. Naturally, you should expect a lower tax bill as a result. However, backroom deals between county officials, municipalities and local government entities could falsely inflate our assessed values through the county's so-called multiplier.

As an elected official in Aurora, a city that cannot afford a loss in revenue, I fully expect the fraudulent inflation of property values by the county to subvert the township assessor's professional assessment to avoid politicians having to face taxpayers and ask for a tax increase. I call upon Kane County residents to demand elected officials to stop this type of action, be honest about the bloated costs of government and explain why the public should be asked to make further sacrifice while politicians continue their addiction to spending.

Taxpayers, who are already under severe pressure from the state of Illinois and years of irresponsible spending by all levels of government, should not be hit again during the dark of night. The solution is not for local government to keep extracting money from your wallet or checking account, but to prove how they are reducing the cost of government and apply the same fiscal restraints all businesses and families are dealing with.

As property values have declined, demand your county officials to not artificially inflate values and multiply the impact on your tax bill to feed the spending habits of local governments.

Rick Lawrence

4th Ward alderman, city of Aurora