Title Page & Abstract
An Interview with Mark Armstrong
Part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Education is Key-IL Public School Funding Oral History project
Interview # EF-A-L-2018-080
Mark Armstrong, Kane County Supervisor of Assessments, was interviewed on the date listed below as part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library’s Education is Key – Public School Funding Oral History project.
Interview dates & location:
Date: Dec. 5, 2018 Location: Geneva, Illinois
Interview Format: Digital audio
Interviewer: Philip Pogue, ALPL volunteer
Interview being processed.
Transcription by: _________________________
Edited by: _______________________________
Total Pages: ______ Total Time: 1:59 / 1. 98 hrs.
Accessioned into the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Archives on July 2, 2019.
The interview is archived at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois.
© 2018 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Abstract
Mark Armstrong, Public School Funding, EF-A-L-2019-080
Biographical Information/Overview of Interview: Mark Armstrong was born in Streator, Illinois in April 1964. He graduated from Streator High School in 1982, where he participated as an All-State band member and was very active with the Key Club, leading to some traveling exchanges. Mark then attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, and became involved with appraising hardware. That interest continued as he worked for Bulthuis Reality Consultants from 1987-2006. In that capacity, he took part in real estate appraisals and litigation. Mark also served on the St. Charles Planning Commission from 1997-2006. He then became a member of the Kane County Board of Review in 2004. In 2006, Mark became the Kane County Supervisor of Assessments, a position he still held at the time of the interview. Mark is both a Certified Illinois Assessing Officer and an Illinois Certified General Real Estate Appraiser. In 2018, he received the Marshall Theroux Memorial Award in recognition of high ethical standards, professional achievement, and dedication to the service of others. He also has served as the Legislative chairman for the County Assessment Officer Association and the Legislative Chairman for the County Officials Association. As a legislative chair, Mark authored several bills related to property assessment and also testified before the Illinois state Senate and House. Mark is also an instructor and course developer for the Illinois Property Assessment Institute and has led seminars for the Illinois Municipal League the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Department of Revenue, the Illinois Government Finance Officers Association, and various bar associations.
This interview covers the duties of the Supervisors of Assessments during the property tax yearly cycle. Armstrong discusses assessor training requirements, the role of the Board of Review, the assessment complaint process, the property tax appeals board, the county and state multipliers and the various types of property to be assessed. He also addresses the role of township assessors and the relationships with the Illinois Department of Revenue, the county clerk and county treasurer. Armstrong defined many of the terms associated with assessments during the discussion. Various types of exemptions were also covered as well as the percentage of property tax in Kane County that goes to support public schools.
Subject Headings/Key Words: property taxes and school support; Supervisor of Assessments; property tax assessment terminology; assessments for farmland, commercial, industrial and residential properties; property tax exemptions, including sr. homestead (income), veterans, returning veterans, disabled, etc; county and state multipliers; Board of Review; Kane County property taxes
Notes to the Reader: Readers of the oral history memoir should bear in mind that this is a transcript of the spoken word, and that the interviewer, interviewee and editor sought to preserve the informal, conversational style that is inherent in such historical sources. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library is not responsible for the factual accuracy of the memoir, nor for the views expressed therein. We leave these for the reader to judge.
COPYRIGHT
The following material can be used for educational and other non-commercial purposes without the written permission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. “Fair use” criteria of Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 must be followed. These materials are not to be deposited in other repositories, nor used for resale or commercial purposes without the authorization from the Audio-Visual Curator at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 N. 6th Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701. Telephone (217) 785-7955