Tracie Von Bergen

Changes coming to McHenry County property tax bills, both in how they look and ways to pay. But they won't remove the "ugh" of taxes, one board member quipped.

McHenry County sought to regulate solar farms with a set of conditions but, after being sued, is now repealing them.

The list of candidates for next year’s elections began to take shape this week. On the ballot next year are countywide offices, two county-level judicial vacancies and seats on the McHenry County Board and in the Illinois House and Congress.

The $247 million McHenry County budget was approved along with a levy that will raise property taxes slightly for homeowners and businesses.

Half of the McHenry County Board is new, with seven incumbents losing their seats in November. Eight of the previous board’s members opted against running for their seat this year.

The McHenry County Board approved raising its portion of residents' property taxes, which will add about $14 onto a $7,000 bill.

With the polls now closed in Illinois, the count can begin to see which candidates will take the 18 open seats on the McHenry County Board.

The race for Illinois governor won’t be the only one on Tuesday’s ballot. With the redrawing of the state’s political maps, the make-up of the entire McHenry County Board and both the U.S. and Illinois houses of representatives will be determined, along several other races.

Three McHenry County Board candidates running in District 8 – Democrat Jack Kaskel and incumbent Republicans Larry Smith and Tracie Von Bergen – weighed in on how the county should handle more than $1.2 million in new costs created by recent legislation.