Chicago and its taxes; is it dying?

[greg775]

I had a friend of mine call me tonight and tell me one of his coworkers is going to move out of the city because of incredible property tax hikes. She is going to move to one of the cities where there are no state taxes.

 

Is this a true concern in the great city of Chicago? Is our city doomed or not? Let's say you lived on 103rd and Trumbull. What would your taxes cost you as a working stiff for a full year in one of those modest homes. Any figures for me?

 

What are your thoughts about Chicago going broke? Is the city in deep financial trouble in terms of turning into a wasteland in the city itself like Detroit or not?

Edited January 19, 2017 by greg775

[NorthSideSox72]

I had a friend of mine call me tonight and tell me one of his coworkers is going to move out of the city because of incredible property tax hikes. She is going to move to one of the cities where there are no state taxes.

 

Is this a true concern in the great city of Chicago? Is our city doomed or not? Let's say you lived on 103rd and Trumbull. What would your taxes cost you as a working stiff for a full year in one of those modest homes. Any figures for me?

 

What are your thoughts about Chicago going broke? Is the city in deep financial trouble in terms of turning into a wasteland in the city itself like Detroit or not?

No it's nothing like Detroit. No the property taxes are not dramatically higher than other large cities. No the city is not dying or anything of the sort.

 

But yes, taxes are generally high, and the city has financial issues. But the financial risk is not about current tax rates. It's about unfunded obligations and current debt, but even that is less of an issue for the city than it is for the state. State of Illinois is the government in the biggest trouble financially.

 

[G&T]

As far as I can tell, Chicago taxes are substantially less than you would pay in Madison, WI. The problem with taxes is not the amount you pay, it's whether you feel you get something for it. Here, we have quality public transportation (that people actually use for commutes), ample bike paths (which people actually use for commutes), clean parks, libraries, effective/progressive policing (regardless of specific incidents to the contrary), affordable housing initiatives, and a very accessible government. Schools here are good, but have problems like a lot of cities.

 

People may complain about all the things I listed, but the City generally does a good job at working toward making it a livable City for everyone. So even though we have very high taxes, and high home values, people will pay with minimal complaint.

 

Obviously Chicago has arts, culture and so many great things to offer, but i'm not sure most Chicagoans feel like those things are accessible. Parking, transportation, everything is expensive. If people can't access the things their taxes pay for, then they will complain.

[bmags]

They are going to move to Kansas for their incredibly low taxes that Gov. Brownback has given them. I heard that's going well greg?

[StrangeSox]

Kansas sucks, but so does Illinois and we're losing population because of it.

[Soxbadger]

As far as I can tell, Chicago taxes are substantially less than you would pay in Madison, WI. The problem with taxes is not the amount you pay, it's whether you feel you get something for it. Here, we have quality public transportation (that people actually use for commutes), ample bike paths (which people actually use for commutes), clean parks, libraries, effective/progressive policing (regardless of specific incidents to the contrary), affordable housing initiatives, and a very accessible government. Schools here are good, but have problems like a lot of cities.

 

People may complain about all the things I listed, but the City generally does a good job at working toward making it a livable City for everyone. So even though we have very high taxes, and high home values, people will pay with minimal complaint.

 

Obviously Chicago has arts, culture and so many great things to offer, but i'm not sure most Chicagoans feel like those things are accessible. Parking, transportation, everything is expensive. If people can't access the things their taxes pay for, then they will complain.

 

I havent lived in Madison for a long time, but in my experience Chicago public transportation is world class and no where comparable to Madison. As for usage, CTA is actually heavily used. ( http://www.transitchicago.com/assets/1/rid...2015_Annual.pdf ) Between rail and bus you were looking at over 1.5 mil riders per day in 2015. Chicago has a much more extensive park system as well. That being said, you could be right that access to the public transportation may be vastly different if you live in Lincoln Park as compared to the southside.

 

The problem is stratification in Chicago. Rent rates are soaring. And its starting to become unaffordable unless you are in the upper middle to upper class. Otherwise you could live 5-10 miles out of the city and get something significantly cheaper.

 

So to answer Greg's question, it is the exact opposite. Chicago is experiencing a rental boom and increased property values.

[Harry Chappas]

Chicago is odd. Everything north of the Eisenhower expressway is booming while everything south is faltering. It is a tale of two of cities with the middle class only existing because of residency requirements of city workers.

 

Property taxes are not an issue in Chicago although they are tending that way, it is the fees/fines in Chicago and taxes associated with cook county and the state that are troubling.

 

The largest issue with Chicago and then the state are teachers unions and their pensions. The escalator steps in teachers pensions make that model unsustainable which it has been for years. That is where the city and then the state are getting killed.

 

The state is an absolute debacle and that resides solely with Madigan and Culloton who will kick the can down the rode until they are out of office. Madigan has been speaker for over 30 years and Illinois is one of if not the most poorly run states in the union yet there he is front and center.

 

My belief is that pensions and unions are killing this state and city.

 

Waste and bureaucratic BS are killing the county.

 

All three failing are what is driving folks out of the state.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[bmags]

Kansas sucks, but so does Illinois and we're losing population because of it.

 

Chicago has a lot of manmade problems, but a lot of those manmade problems are made worse by the fact that people have shown to enjoy living in warmer climates. Pensions become a huge problem when people that fund it move away, less so when they are moving here. The only midwest city you can point to as growing consistently is Minnesota.

 

Indiana, a fairly well run state, should be destroying Illinois in population growth. But it faces the same problem we do, it isn't warm.

 

If we tackle the pensions and make strides in preventing violence, Chicago should just make sure it provides lots of housing and grab the run-off.

[BigSqwert]

Tax situation is certainly no better out here in Seattle but I did leave because of the weather and lack of nature in Chicago.

[bmags]

When I said "growing consistently" that is inaccurate, meant to mean growing at high levels. Indiana is growing. Chicago is growing. Illnois outside of college towns is shrinking.

[southsider2k5]

Chicago has a lot of manmade problems, but a lot of those manmade problems are made worse by the fact that people have shown to enjoy living in warmer climates. Pensions become a huge problem when people that fund it move away, less so when they are moving here. The only midwest city you can point to as growing consistently is Minnesota.

 

Indiana, a fairly well run state, should be destroying Illinois in population growth. But it faces the same problem we do, it isn't warm.

 

If we tackle the pensions and make strides in preventing violence, Chicago should just make sure it provides lots of housing and grab the run-off.

 

Illinois led the US in population loss. Indiana actually gained about the same amount of population as Illinois lost. Indianapolis has gained almost all of that number.

 

Chicago has been declining in population for decades now, and reportedly has accelerated in recent years.

[bmags]

Illinois led the US in population loss. Indiana actually gained about the same amount of population as Illinois lost. Indianapolis has gained almost all of that number.

 

Chicago has been declining in population for decades now, and reportedly has accelerated in recent years.

 

Certainly. But look at this list (and not the map, which is only to 2013)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._...ion_growth_rate

 

I'm not quite sure if there has been an energy boom in Idaho, but it's easy to spot the outliers to energy booms in a place like South Dakota, but the trend is clear. Not to diminish if all of those 200 k growth in indiana went to Illinois that that would have no impact, but even if Chicago fixed all of its problems, and you'd still be clawing to get where Minnesota is in terms of growth and you aren't only barely in the top half. Weather is a huge indicator right now.

[caulfield12]

Certainly. But look at this list (and not the map, which is only to 2013)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._...ion_growth_rate

 

I'm not quite sure if there has been an energy boom in Idaho, but it's easy to spot the outliers to energy booms in a place like South Dakota, but the trend is clear. Not to diminish if all of those 200 k growth in indiana went to Illinois that that would have no impact, but even if Chicago fixed all of its problems, and you'd still be clawing to get where Minnesota is in terms of growth and you aren't only barely in the top half. Weather is a huge indicator right now.

 

So why is Minnesota doing so well with even more brutal winters and their own unique set of immigrant/refugee problems?

 

It can't be the Mall of America, as malls are dying before our very eyes. Actually, the deterioration of the suburban mall is yet another form of blight in the Midwest, like abandoned Wal Marts and one or two screen movie theatres.

Edited January 19, 2017 by caulfield12

[greg775]

Thanks for the excellent responses. I wonder why that woman told my friend she couldn't afford the property taxes. Thanks again. The one pot shot about Kansas. I'm not acting like Kansas is any good. I was just wondering if my favorite city of Chicago was in deep trouble or not.

 

Could somebody estimate for me the taxes you'd pay with a modest house on 103rd and Trumbull? Mt. Greenwood? What would the house be worth and what would a working stiff have to pay in taxes to live there?? Thank you very much.

[BigSqwert]

Could somebody estimate for me the taxes you'd pay with a modest house on 103rd and Trumbull? Mt. Greenwood? What would the house be worth and what would a working stiff have to pay in taxes to live there?? Thank you very much.

 

Why don't you just look up some houses around there on redfin?

[Jerksticks]

It would be cool if one day being a teacher was something you did after your main career was over. Like after you acquire wisdom from living in the world for many decades. Kids would benefit so much more if teaching was more voluntary from older, wiser people.

 

Right now you have all these fall-down-blackout-drunk sluts from s***ty state schools becoming teachers at 22 who burn the candle at both ends. I know that is a HUGE & RIDICULOUS rambling generalization but we all know plenty of these ladies. And I get it, we need too many of them to probably ever weed out the junk. But maybe one day there will be the following headlines during a teachers' strike:

 

"10,000 55-70 yr. old Chicagoans volunteer to teach for the rest of the year while teachers' union forces teachers to strike."

 

"After 1 day of 'The Replacements'- Chicago kids are more interested in school than ever before!"

 

"Kids gaining wisdom & role models at school for the first time ever new study finds."

 

"Ambition discovered at local highschool. Thought to have gone extinct decades ago."

 

"Life lessons, successes & failures, woven into english class at local school. Attendance skyrockets."

 

 

Boom. Pension problem fixed in Jerksticks' Dreamland. No longer a job, but a way to give back once your nest empties.

[Quin]

It would be cool if one day being a teacher was something you did after your main career was over. Like after you acquire wisdom from living in the world for many decades. Kids would benefit so much more if teaching was more voluntary from older, wiser people.

 

Right now you have all these fall-down-blackout-drunk sluts from s***ty state schools becoming teachers at 22 who burn the candle at both ends. I know that is a HUGE & RIDICULOUS rambling generalization but we all know plenty of these ladies. And I get it, we need too many of them to probably ever weed out the junk. But maybe one day there will be the following headlines during a teachers' strike:

 

"10,000 55-70 yr. old Chicagoans volunteer to teach for the rest of the year while teachers' union forces teachers to strike."

 

"After 1 day of 'The Replacements'- Chicago kids are more interested in school than ever before!"

 

"Kids gaining wisdom & role models at school for the first time ever new study finds."

 

"Ambition discovered at local highschool. Thought to have gone extinct decades ago."

 

"Life lessons, successes & failures, woven into english class at local school. Attendance skyrockets."

 

 

Boom. Pension problem fixed in Jerksticks' Dreamland. No longer a job, but a way to give back once your nest empties.

 

Age does not grant wisdom, which does not grant the ability to teach.

[StrangeSox]

That is one of the more ridiculous ideas I've ever heard.

[LittleHurt05]

Thanks for the excellent responses. I wonder why that woman told my friend she couldn't afford the property taxes. Thanks again. The one pot shot about Kansas. I'm not acting like Kansas is any good. I was just wondering if my favorite city of Chicago was in deep trouble or not.

 

Could somebody estimate for me the taxes you'd pay with a modest house on 103rd and Trumbull? Mt. Greenwood? What would the house be worth and what would a working stiff have to pay in taxes to live there?? Thank you very much.

 

A few clicks of your mouse and taps on your keyboard and you can find any property tax bill on any house in the entire County of Cook.

 

Go to Cook County Assessor's: http://www.cookcountyassessor.com/

Search by address, block, neighborhood, etc., pick a home, find the estimated market value and PIN number.

 

Then go to Cook County Treasurer's: http://www.cookcountytreasurer.com/

Enter said PIN number, and voila, you can see exactly how much that home paid in property taxes.

[RockRaines]

My taxes in oak park are 400% higher than what they were in the city of Chicago. Your friends have no idea what they are talking about.

[RockRaines]

That is one of the more ridiculous ideas I've ever heard.

Its also next to impossible to get a teaching job around here if you are extremely qualified.

[Dick Allen]

I have lived in the Gold Coast for more than 20 years, and the property taxes haven't been outrageous. They did go up about 25% last year and are supposed to keep rising, but getting nickled and dimed for everything is starting to get old. Gas costs more in Chicago because of taxes. If you want a bag at the grocery store now, that will cost you. I am glad I am not a big soda drinker, a penny an ounce tax is coming in 6 months. A co worker drinks 12 diet pepsis a day. That will cost him an additional $1.44 a day or over $500 a year. But all that still isn't enough to get me to move.

 

Public transportation has really improved the last few years. The bike lanes are great. The parks are nice. The city is clean. Around me there seems to be construction every block, but other places obviously, not so much.

 

I know of several people who left after a Chiberia winter a couple of years ago. I don't blame them, that was brutal, and as each year goes by, cold bothers me more and more. But even the cold isn't enough to get me to move.

 

What is scaring the s*** out of me is the violence. 4 people have been shot within 2 blocks of my home the last 6 months.One died in the middle of Clark St. and they didn't even bother washing off the blood. Had to wait a few days for rain to take care of it. 3 women have been attacked. Obviously there are more violent areas in the city, but it is starting to spread. It has gotten to the point where around me some of the wealthier residence have hired private security to work the streets of our neighborhood. On our block that's 3 nights a week. I won't let my wife walk our dogs at night the other 4 nights. I can't imagine how the people who are living in the neighborhoods that make the news every night with shootings cope. 5 years ago, I would have said I am never going to move unless I'm old and need to for health reasons. But it's getting to the point where I don't want to be too late and either get shot or have my wife shot or attacked. I don't want to live scared, and never have, but I'm starting to get a bit nervous.

[GoSox05]

It would be cool if one day being a teacher was something you did after your main career was over. Like after you acquire wisdom from living in the world for many decades. Kids would benefit so much more if teaching was more voluntary from older, wiser people.

 

Right now you have all these fall-down-blackout-drunk sluts from s***ty state schools becoming teachers at 22 who burn the candle at both ends. I know that is a HUGE & RIDICULOUS rambling generalization but we all know plenty of these ladies. And I get it, we need too many of them to probably ever weed out the junk. But maybe one day there will be the following headlines during a teachers' strike:

 

"10,000 55-70 yr. old Chicagoans volunteer to teach for the rest of the year while teachers' union forces teachers to strike."

 

"After 1 day of 'The Replacements'- Chicago kids are more interested in school than ever before!"

 

"Kids gaining wisdom & role models at school for the first time ever new study finds."

 

"Ambition discovered at local highschool. Thought to have gone extinct decades ago."

 

"Life lessons, successes & failures, woven into english class at local school. Attendance skyrockets."

 

 

Boom. Pension problem fixed in Jerksticks' Dreamland. No longer a job, but a way to give back once your nest empties.

 

 

Holy s***! This is good stuff.

[RockRaines]

I have lived in the Gold Coast for more than 20 years, and the property taxes haven't been outrageous. They did go up about 25% last year and are supposed to keep rising, but getting nickled and dimed for everything is starting to get old. Gas costs more in Chicago because of taxes. If you want a bag at the grocery store now, that will cost you. I am glad I am not a big soda drinker, a penny an ounce tax is coming in 6 months. A co worker drinks 12 diet pepsis a day. That will cost him an additional $1.44 a day or over $500 a year. But all that still isn't enough to get me to move.

 

Public transportation has really improved the last few years. The bike lanes are great. The parks are nice. The city is clean. Around me there seems to be construction every block, but other places obviously, not so much.

 

I know of several people who left after a Chiberia winter a couple of years ago. I don't blame them, that was brutal, and as each year goes by, cold bothers me more and more. But even the cold isn't enough to get me to move.

 

What is scaring the s*** out of me is the violence. 4 people have been shot within 2 blocks of my home the last 6 months.One died in the middle of Clark St. and they didn't even bother washing off the blood. Had to wait a few days for rain to take care of it. 3 women have been attacked. Obviously there are more violent areas in the city, but it is starting to spread. It has gotten to the point where around me some of the wealthier residence have hired private security to work the streets of our neighborhood. On our block that's 3 nights a week. I won't let my wife walk our dogs at night the other 4 nights. I can't imagine how the people who are living in the neighborhoods that make the news every night with shootings cope. 5 years ago, I would have said I am never going to move unless I'm old and need to for health reasons. But it's getting to the point where I don't want to be too late and either get shot or have my wife shot or attacked. I don't want to live scared, and never have, but I'm starting to get a bit nervous.

Technically Chicago isnt even in the top 30 for murders per capita (last time I looked) so its not extremely violent considering its the 3rd largest city. Gun violence is obviously the largest issue as the other violent crimes are down. There is no reason to live scared.

[RockRaines]

Heres one comparing larger cities instead of mine where I looked at all