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| NewsSunday, August 19, 2007 11:51 PM CDT |
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Effort to bring tax caps gains steam
EUREKA — After failing to make the ballot four times in the past 10 years, supporters of a tax caps referendum are more confident. “I think it is going to pass this time,” board member Marcus Adams said after a meeting of the Woodford County Board’s finance committee. Members voted 3-2 to pass the legislation to the full board on Tuesday. If the board passes the measure, Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) will be a ballot referendum in the Nov. 4, 2008, general election. PTELL limits taxing bodies to annual increases of 5 percent or the inflation rate, whichever is lower. According to the Illinois Department of Revenue, that inflation rate has ranged from 1.6 to 3.4 percent in the past 10 years. Ken Maurer, superintendent of Metamora Township High School, told the committee that approving tax caps would increase taxes. Boards that are currently not taxing at the maximum rate likely will raise the tax levy in the first year to protect against future shortfalls, he said. “We would have one levy to take advantage of that or not take advantage of that and it is a difficult recommendation to make,” said Maurer. “It could be a huge burden to the taxpayers.” County board member Gary Jones took exception to that position, calling it a threat. “To me, that is asking for a gunfight in the street,” said Jones. “There is no justification for that. Folks who take that position had better bring a gun because it’s not going to be a knife fight.” Opponents of tax caps have argued voters already have a say in the taxation process by electing officials for each board. “They’ve got the vote there,” said board member Terry Pille. “I’m not sure I want to put a limitation on them.” Aside from advocates and opponents of tax caps, board member Tom Janssen represents a third potential position. He is opposed to tax caps but favors putting the issue on the ballot. Janssen said state lawmakers could have made voting on PTELL mandatory instead of passing the buck to county boards. “I think it is ignorant what the state legislature did,” said Janssen. “To have the county board decide whether people should vote on this is asinine.” Committee members voting to recommend a PTELL referendum were Adams, Jones and Janssen. Voting against were Pille and Caroline Schertz. E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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