$2.31 PER $100

Ottawa Township High School is not the only taxing body that is forecasting a drop in the local tax rate.

It always sounds like good news to taxpayers when the tax rate is going down.

But in reality is kind of like a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Tax rates, the assessments and everything in between are always confusing.

But in a nutshell, just because the tax rate is going down doesn't mean the tax bill that local property owners get next year will be lower than the last one.

For instance, using hypothetical figures, if your property had an assessed value of $30,000 last year -- meaning your house had a market value of $90,000 and the tax rate was $2.33 per $100 assessed valuation, then you had a tax of $699. Let's say the tax rate for next year goes down to $2.31 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, but the market value of your house went up to $99,000. That means your tax bill for one segment of your tax bill will go up to $762.30.

So just beware that when a governmental body says the tax rate is going down, it doesn't necessarily mean everything is peachy or that your tax bill will be less next year than it was this year. The only way that would happen is if the value of your property didn't change.

See what we mean by a wolf in sheep's clothing?

LEAF VACUUMING

PROGRAM BEGINS

Ottawa city officials have issued several press releases over the last few weeks about the very popular leaf and yard waste collection service and the leaf-vacuuming project. With October featuring unusually warm temperatures, Mother Nature didn't comply with city's established schedule for dealing with the annual rites of autumn.

Fortunately, the city was quick to analyze the situation and responded by altering the vacuuming schedule and adding collection dates -- including one on Saturday, Dec. 1. That might seem to be awfully late in the calendar to still be worried about garden waste, but city leaders have answered the residents' call for action.

Leaf collection may seem an insignificant cause when compared to property tax, capital improvements and public safety. But local government is a service industry, and this is a service Ottawans have come to expect. A big thumbs up to city officials for responding and showing taxpayers their voices will be heard.

IN OTHER BUSINESS,

THE COUNCIL ...

During Wednesday's Streator City Council meeting, the council approved a design plan for a new parking lot south of Streator Township High School.

The proposal came up at a previous meeting but was tabled. The parking lot is needed for two reasons -- to provide parking for students, staff and visitors and to clean up the area that is proposed for the lot. Its current condition is more of an eyesore than anything else.

We had advocated that the council vote on the issue instead of letting it hang around longer. Delays in the high school reconstruction have plagued the project ever since it was conceived.

Finally, with approval of the parking lot, the project can proceed and get done. It's been overdue.

DEDICATION LANDMARK

REACHED AT SPRING LAKE

It has been said that when volunteers get together, great things can happen.

That is what it has taken to achieve improvement to Spring Lake Park at the west edge of Streator.

Since April, about 200 volunteers have chipped in by cutting back brush off the trails, making signs to mark trails, cleaning and disposing of trash and building the wooden bridge.

No one would recognize it as the same place as a year ago when it was overgrown by brush and trash and not an inviting place.

While some efforts were made in the past to clean up the area, improvements didn't reach the fervor of today until the city announced plans to sell the property -- perhaps to a developer.

Now it is closer to becoming a welcome respite for those seeking to be one with nature.

Thanks to the volunteers who have worked on the project.

One of the comments on our Web site at www.mywebtimes.com brings additional recognition to Karl Fennick.

"It should be noted that without the engineering expertise and dedication of Karl Fennick, the bridge would not have become a reality. His design on paper became a reality only through his guidance and perseverance."