McHenry Times

McHenry County issued the following announcement on Aug. 2.

Sixty percent of McHenry County’s eligible homeowners applied for a rebate from the Valley Hi Nursing Home fund surplus.

As of Friday morning, McHenry County has received 52,777 applications requesting more than $9.1 million of the $15 million that the County Board allocated for the rebate program; the two-month application period ended at midnight Aug. 1. Homeowners who qualify will recoup just under 30 percent of county government’s share of last year’s property tax bill.

“I knew that we’d get a lot of applicants, but the end result is nothing short of amazing,” County Board Chairman Jack Franks, D-Marengo, said. “This is a win-win for everyone. Homeowners will get a check to spend or invest, and the remaining $6 million will be returned to Valley Hi, which will be expanding its services and still be left with a very healthy $25 million fund reserve.”

The final number of applicants will uptick slightly as remaining paper applications arrive in the mail and are processed. As of Friday, the McHenry County Treasurer’s Office has processed more than 24,800 requests.

To be eligible for the rebate, homeowners had to have owned and occupied their home on April 16, 2019, taken the homestead exemption, and had to have paid last year’s property tax bill in full. Rejected applicants are being notified by mail, and have 30 days from receipt of the notice to appeal in writing to the Treasurer’s Office. Checks will be mailed in early October.

“The strong interest in this rebate sends a strong message to other local governments that they need to follow our example. McHenry County over the past two years has reduced its property tax levy by more than $18 million. It has significantly reduced its recording, court, and permit fees. And now, it is rebating more than $9 million in excess funds that will help struggling homeowners pay bills, fill prescriptions, buy groceries or meet other life needs.

“There is no taxing body in McHenry County, or anywhere else, that has no fat to trim or waste to eliminate. McHenry County is leading the way by showing that government can ease the burden on taxpayers without sacrificing quality of service.”

Original source can be found here.