Mr. Smith" is an 81 yr old Lisle resident and taxpayer. He has lived here a long time. He knows a lot of people in town, so, he asked that his "real name" not be used in this story.
"Mr. Smith" is one of the senior citizens in Lisle who has seen a 28% increase in his property tax bill in the past 3 years.
"Mr. Smith" qualified for, and received, a senior freeze exemption, a senior homestead exemption, and a homeowner's exemption on his property tax bill.
"Mr. Smith," like many seniors, lives on a fixed income. In order to qualify for a senior freeze, he submits an affidavit every year that his household income is below the threshold. He derives his income mostly from social security and some interest on savings and investments. He does not collect a pension.
"Mr. Smith" says that his social security payment went up less than 2% this past year for cost of living increase, (up about $500/yr) but the cost of his Medicare supplement insurance went up, as did the cost of water, the cost of gasoline, food and his property tax bill. His income from interest has dropped, too, over recent years since interest rates fell.
"Mr. Smith" has cut back on other expenditures and if the housing market were better, he says he would consider selling his home.
In 2010, "Mr. Smith" paid his 2009 property tax bill of $4,245.
This year, he paid $5,425 in property taxes - 27.8% more.
Just this past year, "Mr. Smith" has seen a 9.1% increase in his property tax bill - from $4,975 to $5,425. Property taxes alone more than ate up the small annual increase in his social security payment. He had been using his savings to pay for everyday costs that have increased. He worries about having enough money to live in his home for another 10-15 years.
Below you will find a summary of "Mr. Smith's" property tax increases from 2009 to 2012.
Just reminder, the property tax is billed and due the year after the assessed year - the 2012 property tax was due in 2013.
Tax Year 2012
$ 307,000 Fair Cash Value
$ 102,330 Equalized Value
$ 6,000 Residential Exemption
$ 4,000 Senior Exemption
$ 21,750 Senior Freeze Exemption
$ 70,580 Net Taxable Value
7.6868 Tax Rate
$ 5,425 Tax Due
Tax Year 2011
$ 326,400 Fair Cash Value
$ 108,800 Equalized Value
$ 6,000 Residential Exemption
$ 4,000 Senior Exemption
$ 28,220 Senior Freeze Exemption
$ 70,580 Net Taxable Value
7.0482 Tax Rate
$ 4,975 Tax Due
Tax Year 2010
$ 348,120 Fair Cash Value
$ 116,040 Equalized Value
$ 6,000 Residential Exemption
$ 4,000 Senior Exemption
$ 35,460 Senior Freeze Exemption
$ 70,580 Net Taxable Value
6.5662 Tax Rate
$ 4,634 Tax Due
Tax Year 2009
$ 366,410 Fair Cash Value
$ 122,140 Equalized Value
$ 6,000 Residential Exemption
$ 4,000 Senior Exemption
$ 41,560 Senior Freeze Exemption
$ 70,580 Net Taxable Value
6.0138 Tax Rate
$ 4,245 Tax Due
When asked if he has contacted any local elected officials with his concerns about property taxes, "Mr. Smith" sighed and said that over the years he has come to learn that they simply don't care, don't listen and don't act. He said that he was very disturbed when an elected board laughed and belittled a long-time friend who expressed his concerns at a meeting about another issue a few years ago.
"Society doesn't respect seniors these days, at least not in the way I was taught as a kid." - Mr. Smith.
Tax Rates:
- 2012 7.6868
- 2011 7.0482
- 2010 6.5662
- 2009 6.0138
Property assessments for 2013 will be lowered 3.75% across the board in Lisle Township. But since "Mr. Smith" is on senior freeze, he will see another hefty increase in property taxes unless all the taxing bodies reduce their tax levies to maintain a flat tax rate.
(Note: Slight adjustments were made to the numbers to protect "Mr. Smith's" identity and privacy at his request. The information was obtained and verified by the DuPage County Treasurer's Office website tax database. LINK HERE)
- originally posted October 1, 2013 on Lisle Patch
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