Businesses Speak Up About Taxes at Marion County Board Meeting
Tax hikes may keep perspective businesses out of Marion County and current business to move out of the county
Editor: Tony Angeloni
With taxes issues reaching a fever pitch in Montgomery and Effingham counties, taxpayers are making their voices heard. With record crowds filling local halls, local counties and the State of Illinois as a whole are being called to the carpet for having the highest effective property tax rates in the country. This issue was a topic of conversation at the Marion County Board Meeting with a full gallery in attendance. Questions were raised and local businesses brought their questions to the County Board and directed them not only at the board, but in the direction of the Supervisor of Assessments, Mark Miller for answers.
Neil Smith of Little Egypt Golf Carts in Salem addressed the board about the excessive valuation of his property as well as the other lots he owns. Smith explained that he had already sold one plot to Dr. Ted Vanacker who had planned to build a doctors office on the land, but with the taxes around $60,000, that was more than he thought they would be, stating that in other towns for the same plot of land, you’d pay around $14,000. Smith said that the project is on hold. Smith then questioned, “How do you attract businesses that way?”
Smith went on to say that the 10 year property tax abatement that was promised under the Enterprise Zone, that he was supposed to receive for his business was not applied due to 1 form not being filled out. Mr . Smith was not notified until after the deadline had passed, though the issue was resolved with the issuing of a Certificate of Error for this year, with help from Salem Economic Development Director, Leah Dellicarpini. But it begs the question, why was he not notified of his forms not filled out completely?
Smith then questioned the formula that the county is using to come up with the tax assessments and found no rhyme or reason as to how they are generated. “I see no evidence of fairness, consistency or formulation, all I see is confusion, Smith said.
Neil Smith then asked for a vote of no confidence on the Supervisor of Assessments Mark Miller stating “I request the board have a vote of confidence on the tax assessment performance. If he fails that vote, you should ask for his resignation. Opposite that, you get a commitment that he’s going to work with some auditors from this board to completely review everything that’s happened in that office, how all the property valuations have been done. It needs to be done, not just for business, but individuals. As the clapping from those in the gallery died down, the meeting continued with the next speaker.
Roy Landers of Iron Saddle Ranch and Landers Towing in Salem addressed the board, echoing what Neil Smith had spoke on adding that property taxes have been a “nightmare” and that he had to cut back on projects he had planned for the Iron Saddle Ranch due to the excessive taxes levied in the county. Landers said that he had planned to cover the arena they have at the ranch, to host weekend events, but the math didn’t add up. “With $150,000 in property taxes, there’s no way. So we backed up and actually started buying in other counties and other areas. We’re moving out because of it, because we cant do it anymore here.” Landers stated.
Paul Jones of Big R in Salem spoke next and agreed with Smith and Landers also saying that “We need a store that’s twice as big as what we’ve got, offering more products, more employment, just to benefit the community. As they said we can’t even begin to entertain it because of what the taxes are here.” Jones went on to say, “ I’m all about paying our fair share of taxes, but the taxes across the board in this town are not fair.”
Salem Economic Development Director Leah Dellicarpini was in attendance at the meeting and wished to speak on some of what Neil Smith brought up during his address to the Board. Dellicarpini ran down the timeline of events that transpired between the city and the county in regards to the tax abatement, stating that on December 22, 2022, Smith’s application for the abatement was submitted to Leah’s predecessor, complete to his knowledge and she forwards said paperwork to the Supervisor of Assessments Mark Miller on December 30, 2022. Fast Forward to June 24, 2025, after emails between County Clerk, Steve Fox, Smith, Miller and new Economic Development Director Leah Dellicarpini about the Enterprise Zone, the construction, development, improvements to the land, and even if the property is in the Enterprise Zone, Leah states that Mark Miller emailed her that “he didn’t have an enterprise zone application” noting that the application was sent back in December of 2022. Coming to the conclusion there was a missing 2nd page of the application that had not been filled out.
Dellicarpini went on to say “When someone like Neil decides he wants to make an investment of that size, and we are working together with the county, there is hopefully a level of trust there that things are going to work as they should. And that our LOCAL developers and our LOCAL business owners are going to be treated fairly.” She also stated that she “carried the water “on this completely on helping Neil Smith.
Supervisor of Assessments Mark Miller addressed the complaints saying that large property tax multipliers of late are because of homes selling well above their values due to the shortage of houses. Miller gave examples of houses sold in the past 60 days as evidence of his claim of houses selling over their value. Miller offered no explanation as to why Mr. Smith’s application was not seen at the time of submission, and why he wasn’t told about a missing page to his application.
County Board Chairman Steven Whritenour addressed the formula for assessments by saying that the county is looking at have Property Evaluation and Tax Advisors take a look at the assessments. Whritenour went on to say that the company has nothing to do with Marion County and that they have gone through other counties in the state.
So what does this all mean? Well if you are a business looking to set shop in Marion County, you might look elsewhere for the time being. If you are looking to move to Marion County to enjoy all that Southern Illinois has to offer, you may look a couple counties over. Until change is brought to Marion County, it looks like the status quo will be in place. When the actions of one outweigh the needs and problems of the many; it makes for a sad state of affairs or in this case a sad county. A county board can only do so much and its up to the individuals in the county to let their voices be heard, contact Chariman Whritenour to get on the meeting agenda and explain, not yell, curse or scream your points to the listening body, but come prepared and explain why this is the place you call home, this is a place you decided to set shop and do business in. Keep calling out the injustices that has befallen a lot of the residents in Marion and the surrounding counties with their taxes. Fight by protesting your tax bill and have it reviewed. Let those in charge know that these dart throwing tax hikes are not right. This is a good start, but there is still change that needs to happen sooner rather than later.
If not, there will be no shortage of homes and businesses for sale in Marion County.
