The patch is wrong in the first part of their article. The golf course part of a country club is open space but not the portion where the club house stands. When you read further in their article you'll find what is accurate. The patch wrote a sensationalized headline. Amateur hour.

I don't belong to one so I'm most certainly will not pay their taxes! Absurd!

The country clubs will then be declared “open lands”? Nice. That'll give us a bunch of new parks where we can take walks, fly kites, play baseball, and maybe belly up to the bar of the clubhouse for a dry martini after a swim in the pool.

No?

Oh, wait. This is Illinois, where criminals and politicians work hand-in-glove to steal money from struggling middle class families. Imagine that, courts declare it “open land,” but it isn't open land at all. Just try to take a walk on the “open land.” The designation is just a legal gimmick to allow politically connected people dodge the very taxes that keep going higher and higher for everyone else. It's the same protection that dirty Illinois politicians gave convicted Highland Park racketeer Mickey Segal to allow him to avoid taxes on his 14-acre lakefront estate. I think a journalist once tried to walk onto Segal's “open land” and nearly got arrested.

This is unbelieveble! Does this mean that any owner of unimproved land have tax exemptions because it is open space? This is a private business, not a forest preserve which is supported by taxes. If the local taxpayers are supporting these private entities are we not then entilted to their use as we are with all other publicly supported land?

"Somebody will have to pick up this money..."? It's called dues and they're paid for by their membership... This is so 'Let them eat cake' Lake County nuts, it'll probably pass...

More welfare for the Wealthy

Perhaps its time to have dist 113 put up for sale the existing land, on St Johns and W. Park Ave, and sell it to developers. Then purchase Bob-O-Link via and put a new state of the art educational complex on its site.
Or will we have more welfare for the wealthy?

This is ridiculous. Private Country Clubs should be charged for their property tax. This law needs to change (contact your state rep). Years ago we were representing the City of Evanston on how to deal with Property Tax issues surrounding Northwestern University (the University does pay the city for their pro-rata share of their city-services they utilize). Therefore if Northwestern University wanted to swoop in and buy a large building, they could successfully petition to have it removed from the property tax roles if the building was fully utilized by the University. Evanston residents absorbed the property tax increases.

These private clubs fall under a similar law where non-profits, houses of worship, clubs, organizations, and other entities can apply for property-tax-exempt status to be removed from the tax rolls. There needs to be a line drawn in the law where these entities must pay their portion of property taxes if they are not open to the public. A private country club that is NOT open to the general public should NOT be included in these laws. Places of worship, certain clubs, and other entities who open themselves up to membership and the general public should continue to receive their property-tax exemption.

On the Northwestern University case, the City agreed with the University regarding their charter (tax free east of Sheridan road), but we lost the battle claiming their infrastructure west of Sheridan because of the law.

I think the golf course portion should remain unassessed, or very lightly assessed, while the clubhouses should be taxed.

The last thing we want is to force these private clubs to close because of a new huge tax burden, and see the land parceled off to developers at the expense of our open spaces. Where there are golf courses, there are fewer moms in minivans clogging up our roads and using our infrastructure.

Does anyone want the open spaces to be developed because that's what would happen. That's why the city of highland park bought what is now highland park country club.

I would not want the golf courses sold off for development to pay taxes (e.g. Downton Abbey -almost) but in return they should be required to follow the non-discrimination laws as applied to publicly operated golf courses. Also they should allow the general public one day bi-weekly to play. It would be interesting to see how many police/fire/ambulance calls have been made to these private courses in comparison to the public courses. Some city and county services are "insurance", e.g. fire/police/ems and they should pay some minimum amount. If that amount is covered by the taxes on structures, fine. Think of a gold course turned condo development and the referendums which would have to be passed by D113 and D112 to cover children moving in to those new developments.

If they are to be off the tax rolls
Them they should REALLY be open space and serve as Forest Preserve
Plant more trees and let it go natural

You have to be kidding? A private club is just that Private! It is a business entity, just like mine. I pay my property taxes on my building and land and so should they! This is criminal that we should be burdened with any of their operating costs. They should pay their full share on the land and the buildings. Raise your dues!

Can my backyard be open land?

Country clubs should pay their fair share of taxes, no doubt. Asking them to chip in a little more than previous years does not seem unfair. However, the hostility toward private clubs and their members is classless. Why is it ok for most owners of private residences to appeal their tax assessment, but when a private country club files an appeal it is suddenly welfare for the wealthy. Lets call it what it is. Their taxes were raised. ONE club filed an appeal. It doesn't warrant such a response. Nor is it even much of a news story in my opinion.

Bill we are not being treated as equals here. I have applealed my taxes on several occasions. The assessor willl only negotiate a lesser value on the property improvements (house, garage, etc.) The land value (actual real estate) is set and its value will not be changed in an appeal. I was told by assessors that one reason my tax is high is because I have a 250' deep lot. This is what many of us are argueing about...that clubs' land value has fallen to zero and they are now are trying to have the improvements fall to zero as well. So how is this fair when residents pay for the value of their land but the clubs do not? What am I missing?

Susan, I appealed mine twice! I sure wouldn't want anyone accusing me of asking for welfare, for simply exercising my right to have my appeal heard. You and I had our appeals heard. Now Onwentsia is doing the same thing. Hearing their appeal would be treating them as equals in my view.
As far as ANY private club and how they are taxed, you can look for a lot of changes in the coming years. Lets treat them all the same shall we? I'm a golfer. And I sure do get defensive when I hear these negative comments about golfers and their impact to this community. These clubs raise a lot of money for charity. I'm fairly certain that you have NO IDEA of the positive impacts of living in a golf rich community. They let the local schools play, they host major amatuer golfing events among many other things (not to mention the rich history, and historical significance of the 100 + year old courses we have the pleasure of living near). One such historical course has been lost in HP already. Golfers are good people (99 % of the time). Take it easy on us please!

You did not have to tell any of us that you golf as your comments are crystal clear. Perhaps memebers are afraid that their fees will rise to pay the tax burden? I have not bashed golfers nor have I recommended that any of the clubs be developed. And yes, an appeal hearing should be everyone's right....unfortunately....what respondants are upset about is the unequal outcome of those appeals....especially now with not too future tax hikes to pay for district #113, #112, HP Theater, beach devlopment, and on and on. Imagine if we had to rebate tax dollars to these clubs! And I am happy that the private clubs are so benelevant though I am sure that they are taking advantage of tax deductions there as well.
I grew up attending a private club and hold equity in it now as well. Being in another county, I really don't know if it had taken advantage of the open space provision but I will find out! Bottom line its just not fair.....

ooopppss..mistype meant to say benevolent..

I'm not a member of any private club. I'm a "public" golfer. The fact that I golf is totally relevant to this conversation. I see what golf does to a community, and to a young kid who picks up the game early (like I wish I did). When I see golf, and golfers in general taking a tongue lashing from commentators, I like to tell them how I feel about the game, and the courses we live near.
No you didn't bash any golfers, nor did I say you did. But others have. For two and a half years I have read the negative comments about "closing" public golf courses. Now a private club is asking for welfare because they have the NERVE to appeal their taxes.
Lets not be confused. They own an extremely large and valuable piece of land. When the tax code changes, they owe it to themselves to have their side of the story heard. If you had a piece of land like this, you would do the same thing. But it's about everyone being treated equal, right?

Yes I agree...they have the NERVE to appeal thier taxes on the improvements when they already have a 0% tax rate on the land....EXACTLY!!!! That is what is NOT FAIR!!! Plus this sets a precedent for other land parcels which should be taxed...as you said...YOU WOULD DO THE SAME THING. I am sure many will if this appeal wins.

Fair enough. We'll agree to disagree on that. Again, I think they should pay a little more. And I don't blame them for arguing about "how much more". It seems hypocritical to criticize them for doing the same thing you and I did. And it's disturbing that so many people jump at such a story when "wealthy golfers" are introduced into the equation. There's lots of people getting massive tax breaks with large parcels of land around here. Where are the stories about them? I'm saying when the community "picks" on the golfers, you're "picking" on the wrong people. And you're wasting your time too, because we aren't going anywhere.
Have a good weekend, Susan. I do respect your opinion even though I disagree at the level of outrage.

The clubs were singled out because they are the subject of this article. Being a golfer you are taking this personally. Any group getting this preferential treatment would receive the same wrath. I hope others are singled out and this tax evasion, whether legal or not, can be recified in favor of the taxpayers. Thanks for the jousts!

everyone should follow the link to the Illinois Apellate Court decision. They explain the tax law in very clear terms. The Clubs buildings are sitting on open space and therefore according to the law should be treated as open space and therefore not taxable. The only way to change the law must be done in the State Legislature.

And this is the intent of the PATCH article: to inform the taxpayers of another wrong against them. Seemingly, this is why the state liegislature is looking into it for change!

What is the definition of open space? Is it not when a group of people get together and purchase land thus preventing its development? Is is certrainly not "your back yard". This is what private club members (and their founding members) have done. Homes would most likely be there right now had they not done what they do. When is the last time the wounded warriors, The First Tee and Parkinsons foundation played 18 holes in your back yard raising unknown amounts for their cause? When is the last time the US amatuer open was held in your back yard? I think its wrong to call it tax evasion. I think its wrong to say they are asking for welfare. I think their entitled to an appeal. Just like everyone else.

The issue IS NOT THE APPEAL...they appealed......ITS THE OUTCOME THAT IS WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!! These are PRIVATE BUSINESSES! If they choose to have charities play on the land...fine....their choice....but they are also taking advantage of lenient tax laws in doing so as well. No citizen should be liable for a private business's assets. THIS IS THE CRUX OF THIS ARTICLE

Perhaps it's time (or well past it) to treat these 'let-them-eat-cake' proposals with the same amount of laughter as we do indignation.... It's 2013 and we're still using the word "allow"?? Come on folks, laughing in the face of a bully, deflates and defeats him - anger only fuels their fire.
Picture the next public Q and A either one way or the other... "Laughed out of office" sure beats the hell out of, "in a divisive, hotly contested election..."