WOODSTOCK, Ill. – McHenry County Treasurer Donna Kurtz, County Clerk and Recorder Joe Tirio, and Chief Assessment Officer Alex Benitez are teaming up to hold a series of property tax workshops to educate the public.

The workshops, which will be held in October and November, will teach people the ABCs of property taxes: how to understand property tax bills and available exemptions, know the impact of increasing assessments, protect their property with fraud alerts, and understand how tax levies, budgets, and elections affect property taxes.

 “Property tax bills can seem complicated– especially when it comes to understanding what you are paying for, and whether you are being overcharged,” Kurtz said. “That’s why Joe, Alex and I are coming together to explain property taxes.  Given the burden that property taxes impose on household budgets, we want to make sure that people are taking every exemption they are entitled to, in order to lighten the burden.”

 The workshops are offered at no charge, though some of the libraries require registration. The workshops will take place at the following locations and dates: 

• 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22 – Woodstock Public Library, 414 W. Judd St., Phone: 815-338-0542, Woodstock Public Library registration page
• 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28 – Johnsburg Public Library, 300 N. Johnsburg Road, Phone: 815-344-0077, Johnsburg Public Library registration page
• 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5 – McHenry Public Library, 809 Front St., Phone: (815) 385-0036, McHenry Public Library registration page
• 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10, Crystal Lake Public Library, 126 W. Paddock St., Phone: 815-459-1687, Crystal Lake Public Library registration page
• 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12 – Algonquin Area Public Library, 115 Eastgate Drive, Phone: 847-658-4343, Algonquin Area Public Library registration page
• 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov 13 – Huntley Area Public Library, 11000 Ruth Road, Phone: 847-669-5386

 Both Harvard Public Library and Marengo-Union Library will have workshops scheduled in January and February 2026.

With cases of property fraud and identity theft on the rise, Tirio wants to make people aware of his office’s Property Fraud Alert. The free subscription service offers personal notification to the subscriber via email, text or telephone if a document is recorded in their name. To sign up for the service, visit www.propertyfraudalert.com, or call 800-334-4110.

“While it’s important for people to understand property taxes and the ways they can seek relief, it’s equally vital that they understand the growing problem of property fraud – bad actors trying to file fake liens or forged deed transfers,” Tirio said. “Through McHenry County, property owners can be made aware if fraudulent documents have been filed in their name.”

Benitez is looking forward to making the assessment process understandable – his office’s mission is to administer accurate, fair, uniform and timely assessments of all property in McHenry County in accordance with state law.

“Assessments are complicated, and many people don’t understand them,” Benitez said. “I look forward to meeting with taxpayers to explain, as simply as possible, the assessment process and the role assessments play in how residential property tax bills are calculated.”