Politics & Government

A Second Look: Which Towns Pay Most in Taxes and Fees?

A new chart from the City of Evanston ranks Glenview as the lowest taxed burb of 13 nearby towns.

Last month, several Patch sites throughout the northern suburbs published a comparative look at which town's residents pay the most in taxes and fees. The article was based on information provided by the city of Park Ridge, which released an annual ranking of what residents of 13 nearby towns pay annually for their municipal services.

"By considering all the monies residents pay, including property taxes and fees, it attempts to create an apples-to-apples comparison and determine who gets hit hardest in the pocketbook," read the original article.

But Evanston authorities are now pointing out that it wasn't quite an apples to apples comparison. This is because Evanston's taxes include funding for the library and park district, while residents of other municipalities pay additional taxes to separate library, parks and sometimes, fire-district taxing bodies, according to City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz.

Find out what's happening in Glenviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The original chart compared things like garbage and yard waste charges, residential water bills, and city sewage charges, but not items such as parks and libraries.

Evanston's Administrative Services Department created what they feel is a more accurate chart. Posted to the upper right, the new chart indicates that Oak Parkwhose residents pay taxes to the city in addition to library and park feeshad the highest property tax rate in 2009. Glenview had the lowest (the original figures ranked Glenview as No. 3 lowest and listed Niles as the least taxed burb). 

Find out what's happening in Glenviewwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Both the original and new charts are posted on the right. Click to view and compare them.


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