Will Co. eyes pay freeze for elected officials

by Stewart Warren, Herald News
March 4, 2010

...Will County Treasurer Pat McGuire, D-Joliet, wants to be re-elected in November. If he keeps his seat, his salary will be frozen. But that's OK.

"I'm satisfied with my pay. I'm proud of my work," he said.

Like most of the county's other elected officials, he makes $93,116 and gets a separate $6,500 stipend from the state. But the state money is going to be cut by 34 percent to $4,196, McGuire said. He doesn't mind.

"I know that taxpayers sacrifice to pay their property taxes," McGuire said. "They are going without vacations, new cars and eating out."

He's also trying to lower the cost of running his office. All but one of his 18 employees volunteered to take six unpaid days off from work this year, McGuire said. That is a 2.3 percent reduction in their salaries.

"I am proud that my employees exercised the opportunity to reduce their pay to control the cost of government," he said.

250-plus turn out for tax forum
Kosel hosts forum in Homer Glen to educate on property assessment

by Erin Traynor, Homer Horizon
September 14, 2009

With a deadline to appeal their 2008 assessment quickly approaching, more than 250 residents crowded into a Homer Glen church Tuesday, Sept. 8, to attend a property assessment education forum hosted by State Rep. Renée Kosel (R-New Lenox).

Kosel, in her sixth term serving the 81st District, enlisted the help of Will County Treasurer Pat McGuire and Will County Supervisor of Assessments Rhonda Novak to address concerns, answer questions, and steer their constituents to sources of help and information.

Residents from Homer Glen, Lockport, New Lenox, Frankfort and other surrounding communities filled the seats of Cross of Glory Lutheran Church in Homer Glen. Many clutched overstuffed manila envelopes and copies of their tax bills and picked up copies of informational brochures supplied by the Will County Treasurer and Supervisor of Assessment offices.

“Property assessment] needs to be transparent,” Kosel told the crowd. “It is a process that can be complicated and confusing, so we hope to address your concerns this evening.”

McGuire went on to give general information about the responsibilities of his office, which collects taxes on commercial and residential properties in Will County and distributes funds to the 252 taxing districts, stating that over $1.5 billion dollars had been paid out so far this year to schools, libraries, park districts, senior citizens and other service providers.

McGuire gave information about his office’s Web site, www.willcountytreasuer.com, where tax payers can go to find out about their tax bills, parcel information, and even see exactly how much money each taxing district gets.

McGuire also said that all property tax collected stays in Will County. “None of your money goes downstate or to Chicago,” he said.

The second installment of 2008 property taxes was due on Thursday, Sept. 3, and McGuire explained that, by law, taxes uncollected by Nov. 3 are sold at an auction and that the Web site contained information on late fees and resources if someone was experiencing trouble paying their taxes.

Next up was Supervisor of Assessments Rhonda Novak, who offered a presentation about the assessment process and addressed why most assessments did not decrease despite the declining real estate values.

By law, assessed values are determined through an equation with information from the U.S. Department of Revenue and are based on three years of sales figures, Novak said.

Novak walked the audience through her office’s Web site, www.willcountysoa.com, and said that people questioning their assessment should contact their local township assessor’s office.

“You elect your township assessor — they are there to help you and want to make sure your assessment is accurate,” Novak said, noting that information needed to address an assessment or to file and appeal with the Will County Board of Review is all available on the Web site or at local offices.

She also stressed the importance of ensuring that tax payers were getting every exemption available to them, such as the Homestead Exemption and Senior Exemption and said changes could be made to those without filing an appeal if the information was not correct.

The forum then moved on to a question and answer period, with the three elected officials fielding questions that were submitted on index cards by audience members throughout the meeting.

The first audience question was addressed to Kosel, asking what she and her fellow lawmakers were doing to fund schools in a different way than the collection of property tax.

Kosel stated that every year proposals are made and “there has yet to be a proposal where residents do not pay more and get less.”

She also said she was “hopeful” that grant money would be coming to fund a new facility for Lockport Township High School District 205.

The second question asked the three officials what they were doing to lower taxes and address reckless spending by government. McGuire answered first, stating his office cut their annual budget by 10 percent and also cut pay raises for employees and that 19 of 20 employees agreed to furlough days.

Kosel echoed McGuire’s words, stating her all legislators in Illinois did not receive pay raises and agreed to furlough days and that her staff in attendance that evening were “volunteering their time.”

“We know you’re making painful discussions around your kitchen tables and your voice is being heard,” said Kosel, who then went on to reference a Labor Day tax rally held earlier that week in New Lenox that was attended by an estimated 10,000 people voicing their concerns over taxes and government spending. “That is a loud message, believe me.”

The officials concluded the meeting by stating that three more forums would be held this year and encouraged residents to visit the Web sites or contact their elected officials for more information.

“We are here to serve you,” Kosel said. “That is the simple fact.”

Read Pat's Remarks to the Illinois Reform Commission:

JOLIET -- Will County Treasurer Pat McGuire and 10 other Northern Illinois treasurers met to discuss how to help financially hard-pressed homeowners.

McGuire and his staff hosted the spring meeting of Illinois County Treasurer's Association Zone IV at Joliet Junior College's City Center Campus. The assembled treasurers, representing Illinois' largest counties including DuPage, Lake, Kane and Will, came from as far as Mount Carroll.

Helping homeowners wracked by the current economic crisis was the No. 1 topic discussed.

"Deputy treasurer Michael Steward outlined our office's work identifying local, state and federal agencies able to give budget advice and financial assistance to Will County families," McGuire said. "We then heard what's working in other counties. We'll begin recommending those remedies to Will County families."

McGuire encourages Will County property owners seeking help to visit www.will countytreasurer.com and click on "Financial Education," "Free Financial Counseling," "Getting Through Tough Financial Times," and "Letter to Taxpayers."

Property owners also may call Steward at 815-740-4692.

First Midwest Bank was a major sponsor of the meeting. Other sponsors were Charter One, Amalgamated Bank and Joseph Meyer & Associates.

McGuire is secretary-treasurer of the association's Zone IV.