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News From
Illinois House of Representatives
Residents Urged to Appeal Unfair Property Assessments
Local State Officials Sponsor Property Tax Seminar
Palatine, IL … State Representatives Suzanne “Suzie” Bassi (R-Palatine) and Sidney H. Mathias (R-Arlington Heights) along with State Senator Matt Murphy (R-??) are sponsoring a Property Tax Seminar to teach homeowners how to take charge of their assessments.
The Property Tax Seminar will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, at the Rolling Meadows Senior Center, 3705 Pheasant Dr., Rolling Meadows.
“With the increasing tax burden being placed on homeowners due to rising assessment levels of residential properties, families are scrambling as they figure out a way to pay their tax bill,” said Rep. Bassi. “Illinois families are facing high taxes and increasing gas prices and electric rates. It’s time to educate homeowners on their rights and teach them how to file a free property tax assessment appeal that could ultimately save them thousands of dollars.”
Rep. Bassi said that even though the deadline to appeal to the county assessor is past, there are two other offices in which homeowners can make an appeal. “The first level of appeal would be the Cook County Assessor, if you miss that deadline, all is not lost. You still have two more levels. Cook County Board of Review, which you don’t need to go to the county assessor first. Then if you don’t like the county’s decision, then you can go to Property Tax Appeal Board,” she said.
During the hour-long seminar, homeowners will learn:
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Exactly what the information on their tax bill means.
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The three levels of appeal at the local, county and state levels.
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How to make a winning appeal for FREE.
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Additional cost saving benefits for seniors, the disabled and veterans through recently passed legislation.
Cook County homeowners are currently experiencing extremely high property tax assessments due to new development in many communities.
“My district office has received hundreds of calls from residents worried about how they are going to pay thousands of dollars more for their property taxes,” said Rep. Mathias. “Throughout the years, I’ve been a huge proponent of placing a cap on how much assessments can increase on an annual basis. Without the cap, many families would be priced out of their homes.”
Earlier this month, the General Assembly passed House Bill 664 that provides financial relief to Cook County homeowners through a tax cap extension and a variety of exemptions. However, the bill awaits the Governor’s approval.
If signed into law by the Governor, the 7-percent assessment cap will be extended for another three years on residential property.
The tax cap was originally approved in 2004, however, it was only temporary and recently expired. Without the extension and passage by the Governor, Cook County homeowners face anywhere from an 11-percent to a 24-percent increase in their property taxes.
House Bill 664 also provides additional exemptions for long-term homeowners, senior citizens, the disabled, returning and disabled veterans and creates tax relief for spouses of fallen police officers, firefighters, and EMTs.
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