Prenzler desires tax cap on Madison County poll in November

EDWARDSVILLE – Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler wants the Madison County Board to place a Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) referendum on the Nov. 8 ballot.

The bid comes a week after the county board voted last week to remove some of Prenzler’s powers, citing “inept” management and a series of controversial and costly personnel issues. Prenzler has maintained the main issue for the board’s action was PTELL and his support of challengers to sitting board members.

The board’s executive committee is set for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday before the regular county board at 5 p.m. Both meetings will be in the County Board Room in the Administration Building. As of Friday morning, agendas were not available for either meeting.

On Thursday, Prenzler said PTELL will be discussed at the executive committee and he expects the referendum to be on the board agenda. A second referendum, an advisory referendum on judicial circuit subdivisions, already has been approved by the county board for the Nov. 8 ballot.

Prenzler has made lower taxes and tax reform major points in his campaigns and administration. At the county level, he noted the property tax rate for Madison County has decreased about 29 percent, to 59 cents per $100 assessed value from 73 cents in 2014. That includes the passage of referendums capping the county’s tax rate.

However, the county has no control over the other taxing districts. It has often been noted that the bulk of property taxes goes to other taxing bodies, primarily schools.

Even if rates do not change, taxes can increase because of increases in assessed value. Prenzler said PTELL can help cushion the impact of inflation on taxes. 

PTELL limits the total dollar amount certain property taxes may increase from year to year, based on the Consumer Price Index or 5 percent, whichever is lower. Larger increases can be made with voter approval.

Prenzler has unsuccessfully pushed for a PTELL referendum in Madison County a number of times. The current high inflation rate now makes the timing important, he said.

“You have housing prices going higher and higher,” he said. “If taxing districts leave their rates the same, that increasing of the housing value is really a burden on people.

“How have I dealt with that politically?” he said. “I think PTELL should be on the ballot. I think taxing districts should restrain themselves.”

County board members had said they need more information and are concerned that, if approved, the referendum could initially create much higher property taxes for many residents.

Prenzler acknowledged that in the June 28 Republican primary he supported candidates opposed to putting a PTELL referendum on the ballot.

“It wasn’t personal,” he said, “It was policy. PTELL is not nirvana; it’s not perfect. But it’s the only tool we have in the toolbox.”

On July 6 the county board voted 19-6, with three members absent, to transfer much of the chairman’s powers, including that to appoint department heads, to a chairperson pro tem. Mike Walters, R-Godfrey, is the current chair pro tem. But the ordinance approved last week calls for an election among board members for a new chair pro tem and vice president pro tem at the following board meeting.

That person would also be responsible to “implement the decisions and policies of the board” and take over control of many of the executive functions in running the county.