It is Property Tax Season Again...

And concerns are being raised again regarding the special charge of $100 for the Lake District.

Check HERE for answers to your questions (FAQs) or HERE (WI State Statute Chapter 33)

* The special charge applies to the parcel (s) not the people. Thus, the special charge has nothing to do with whether the parcel owners "use" the lake/river.

* The Lake District did not determine the boundaries of the lake district. The boundaries were formed by the Rock County Board of Supervisors - after a public hearing - in 1999. Since there was no precise method to determine the "perfect" boundary for the lake district, the sanitation district boundary was the generally agreed upon boundary.

* The sanitation district boundary includes homes that are NOT connected to sewer.

* State Statutes does provide for a "Petition for Detachment." Please read Chapter 33 before proceeding.

* State law requires that the Lake District collect ONLY the amount of tax dollars that it intends to spend the following calendar year. Cash Reserves are not permitted. Thus, the Lake District is a zero-sum taxing authority.

* With exceptions, the Lake District is a local unit of government - like the Edgerton City Council.

* The $100 per parcel special charge was passed unanimously by the electors at the Annual Meeting held this past July, at the Fort Atkinson High School Auditorium.

* Every parcel owner within the Lake District boundary receives an Annual Newsletter -- EVERY year -- explaining the budget (and the new special charge amount) for the following calendar year.

* EVERY parcel owner has the right to vote on the special charge amount, EVERY year.

* Roughly 4,000 parcels are within the Lake District boundary. At $100 per parcel, roughly $400,000 will be collected from property owners in 2007.

* The special charge amount will not remain at $100 per parcel next year - NOR will that amount increase. State Law requires that the Lake District justify AND spend their revenues to zero balance. The Lake District cannot justify spending $400,000 in 2008.

* $400,000 is being spent on the preparation and process of the Contested Case Hearing. Dollars are allocated for PhDs from UW-Madison, attorneys that are experts in administrative law proceedings and water level disputes, on research on navigable waters created by impoundments (Dams), and many expert witnesses.

* The cost of proceeding with the Contested Case Hearing was voted and supported by an overwhelming majority of electors from the past several annual meetings.