© 2024 WNIJ and WNIU
Northern Public Radio
801 N 1st St.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-9000
Northern Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

DeKalb County Overpaid $75K by State in Personal Property Replacement Taxes

DeKalb County

A ledger error by the Illinois Department of Revenue has resulted in thousands of taxing districts, including DeKalb County, to be overpaid for their 2014 Personal Property Replacement Taxes.

The Personal Property Replacement funds are disbursed to local governments annually to compensate for not being able to tax personal property.  Because of the state's error, DeKalb County will have to pay back almost $75,000.  Similar errors have happened with sales tax in the past, and the county repaid by accepting smaller annual contributions for a several years.  However, County Administrator Gary Hanson says he’s doesn’t yet know how the state wants this money returned.  

"It’s just really frustrating that the state is very delinquent in paying various monies to local units of government. Now, when they say they want the money back, it seems like they could just as well let us keep that money and offset other money that they owe us," he said. 

The funds go to both county governments and smaller organizations such as emergency services and education.  Sycamore School Superintendent Kathy Countryman says, with a budget deficit-reduction plan in place, her portion of the $75,000 overpayment will complicate the balance sheets.

“That’s been one of the things that we have struggled with over the past few years with regard to state funding.  This additional piece is something that will have to be carefully considered on how this will impact the district," she says. 

The money to be paid back will draw on reserves, so Hanson says County residents are unlikely to feel an immediate effect.  That isn't necessarily the case with the rest of the state. 

A full listof affected counties and municipal districts, as well as how much they must pay back, is available at the website of the Illinois Department of Revenue.