February 2, 2012   Please remember, the assessed value on this coming year’s tax bill was for January 1, 2011. No sales that occurred in 2011 are considered in that assessment used to determine the bill.  The assessment was based on 2008, 2009, & 2010 sales; this three year average is mandated by state statue.  Assessments increase or decrease within a neighborhood based on the three prior years' sales. If necessary, assessment changes are made within a neighborhood based on style, location, or other criteria.   The Township Assessor is required by law to uniformly assess properties at a median level of 33 1/3% (one third) of market value. If necessary, assessment changes are made within a neighborhood based on style, location, or other criteria. Equitable assessments ensure a fair distribution of the property tax burden among all property owners. As Township Assessor my office and I only place the assessed value on the property; I do not set any levies this is done by the individual Taxing Bodies. I do not set the tax rates; this is done by the Will County Clerk’s Office. I do not collect the taxes; this is done by the Will County Treasurer’s Office. The Homer Township Assessor’s Office places the assessed value on the property. All assessments are finalized before any levies or tax rates are determined. I can’t set the assessment based upon the tax rate.   This assessed value is then used to distribute the tax burden. The Assessor’s Office has no control over all the taxing bodies listed on anyone’s tax bill. You as a homeowner/taxpayer have a say in this. All the taxing bodies have budget and levy meetings open to the public. You as a taxpayer can speak and voice your opinion. You as a taxpayer elect those who serve on these taxing bodies. You as a taxpayer elect those who set the levies.   I have heard on numerous occasions that if the assessments were lowered the taxes would go down or with this economy the assessments need to be lowered so the taxes can decrease. This is not a valid statement. Lowering all the assessments in Homer Township will not decrease taxes. If all assessments were cut in half and the taxing bodies didn’t want a penny more or less than the prior year everyone’s tax bill would remain the same. The rate would simply be doubled by the Will County Clerk’s Office so the revenue collected would be the same. In order for the property taxes to decrease the individual taxing bodies (i.e. schools, fire departments, village/city, park districts, etc) must request fewer funds and lower their levies. If the taxing bodies request the same or increased funds taxes will not go down regardless of what happens to the assessments.         Sincerely,      Karen Szynkowski, C.I.A.O.      Homer Township Assessor