Homeowners Across Chicago Brace for Higher Property Taxes


Cook County property owners will be getting new property tax bills in the next few days.

Depending on where you live, you may see a steep increase – especially if your residential or commercial property is in the northern or central parts of Chicago, according to a report released by the office of Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough.

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Average single-family dwellings in those areas will see a property tax increase of more than 11%, the report indicates.

Those properties were assessed by the office of former Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios, whose assessment system was the subject of a 2017 Chicago Tribune investigation detailing how some properties in wealthier neighborhoods were undervalued, while properties in poorer parts of the city were overvalued.

The blistering report played a role in Berrios’ loss in November to current Assessor Fritz Kaegi, who will now likely answer to homeowners who are unhappy with higher property taxes.

And it seems the phones in Kaegi’s office are already ringing off the hook.

After criticism from Cook County Inspector General Patrick Blanchard, Kaegi’s office backed off a recent request for staffing help from Cook County commissioners.

The assessor’s office may need a helping hand, according to an audit by trade group the International Association of Assessing Officers that found the assessor’s office understaffed and in need of tech updates to better analyze multitudes of county data.

Kaegi joins us to discuss the county’s property assessment system.


Related stories:

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi Pushes for More Reform

How Fritz Kaegi Plans to Transform the Cook County Assessor’s Office

The 2 Chicagos: What a New Poll Says About the City and Its Residents


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