Cook County Homeowners Face Soaring Property Taxes Amidst Recent Reassessment
Dispute Erupts Between Cook County Assessor and Board of Review Over Tax Increases
According to the report of ABC 7 Chicago, homeowners in Cook County’s south and southwest suburbs are seeing their property tax bills soar this year, even though the area was recently reassessed. The increases are due to higher property values and the end of temporary COVID-19 discounts. For example, Emma Archibong’s tax bill went up by $2,000 compared to last year. The Cook County Assessor, Fritz Kaegi, said this is because of higher property values and fewer exemptions.
There’s disagreement between the Cook County Assessor and the Board of Review about why the bills are so high. Kaegi blames the Board of Review for reducing taxes on commercial properties, which he says shifted the tax burden to homeowners. The Board of Review says they only adjusted commercial properties based on their data and insists their cuts were needed.
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$1,000+ Property Tax Hike: Cook County Residents Reeling from Unanticipated Increases (PHOTO: NBC Chicago)
How to Handle High Property Taxes in Cook County – Check for Exemptions and Consider Future Appeals
Residents are advised to check their bills for any missing exemptions and consider appealing their assessments for future years. It’s too late to appeal this year’s taxes, but homeowners can set up payment plans if they can’t pay their bills in full. This situation shows ongoing problems with property tax assessments in Cook County.
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