Wind Turbines Reduce Property Taxes for Bureau Co Residents

Local governments and the wind industry have long-known that wind development can reduce property taxes for residents near the projects, and an article in the LaSalle News Tribune outlines just how residents of one Bureau County town are going to benefit:

Thanks to the dozens of wind turbines that have gone up around [the Village of] Ohio, the grade school and high school are looking forward to bringing their tax rates down.

Ohio’s tax rates have been high. Last year the combined rate for the grade and high school districts was 7.6806, but in anticipation of receiving more wind farm tax dollars next year, that’s going to change.

“This year the proposed (combined) rate will be approximately 5.9,” said Sharon Sweger, superintendent of both districts

The rate at the grade school will drop from 3.6486 to about 3, while the rate at the high school will fall from 4.032 to about 2.9, Sweger said.

“That will make our rate similar to surrounding districts,” Sweger said.

Big Sky has substantially increased property values around Ohio, Sweger said, almost doubling the districts’ equalized assessed valuation.

The schools have been waiting for this a long time and had long planned to lower their tax rates once those new tax dollars started coming in.

“Both boards were committed,” Sweger said.

As the districts’ local income grows, they will lose some state aid, she said. However, since local dollars have become more dependable in this economy, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

“We can count on local money coming in. The state hasn’t been as reliable,” Sweger said.

The Ohio districts received a very small payment this year from some of the turbines for one month, but they should see their first big sum of wind farm money this summer, Sweger said.

Both boards held hearings this week before approving their final levy extensions. At the high school, the board approved the levy extension of $1,059,775, up from $619,959 last year. The grade school board approved its levy extension at $1,062,411, up from $542,580 last year.

“Trying to capture that wind turbine money, obviously those numbers went up,” Sweger said.

Comments

[JReilly]

Good to see Kevin allowed to post a comment to this article, as he has shut off all other recent articles from anyone who would provide more insight on the important topic of wind energy and what these companies are trying to do to our rural population.

As for this article, however, I have just a few questions for any reader to consider before blindly accepting it as a postiive result from the wind turbines that have buried the little town of Ohio, IL.

- “That will make our rate similar to surrounding districts,” Sweger said. Why isn't it already similar to surrounding districts?

- "in anticipation of receiving more wind farm tax dollars next year, that’s going to change" - So this is all in anticipation of something happening, not that it has. Ever hear of a wind company suing a school district to get money back? Hmmm.... Yep! I have! Ask someone around Princeton.

- "Big Sky has substantially increased property values around Ohio, Sweger said, almost doubling the districts’ equalized assessed valuation." - Really??? What property values are they making this claim about? Definitely not the houses sitting amongst the turbines with only a 750 foot setback from their homes!

- What numbers do you suppose may be going down? Check out the enrollment numbers for the schools in Ohio. Interesting...

Folks, don't simply accept everything you read (especially on this web site) as something coming from one who is being forthright and honest. If it actually were, Kevin would allow comments on every story he posts.

Let's see how long he lets this comment stay online.

Happy New Year and God Bless!