Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi will speak at an Oct. 1 town hall-style meeting to discuss property tax reform and a proposal in Springfield that will bring more fairness to the property tax system. The program from 6 to 7:30 p.m. will be at South Suburban College, 15800 State St. in South Holland.
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi will speak at an Oct. 1 town hall-style meeting to discuss property tax reform and a proposal in Springfield that will bring more fairness to the property tax system.
The program from 6 to 7:30 p.m. will be at South Suburban College, 15800 State St. in South Holland.
The meeting is hosted by Illinois Sen. Toi Hutchinson, D-Chicago Heights; Rep. Will Davis, D- Homewood; Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin, D-Olympia Fields; and Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller.
The meeting will offer an update on reforms in the assessor’s office and a look at what’s to come on issues like vacancy, data modernization and legislative property tax reform measures.
“We continue to take steps to make Cook County’s property tax system fairer for taxpayers,” Kaegi said. “A key part of this is passing Senate Bill 1379, the Data Modernization Bill, which will help ensure no property owner pays more than his or her fair share in taxes. It’s no cost to taxpayers and the first, best step in legislative property tax reform.”
The ability to collect data at the beginning of the assessment process will bring Cook County and other counties in Illinois, who choose to opt-in to this practice, in-line with professional practices used by assessors in at least 17 other states, according to Kaegi’s office.
The assessor also believes it will help eliminate uncertainty and hidden costs in the current assessment system, which often deters institutional investment and weakens local economies.
The bill cleared the Illinois Senate with a supermajority and now must be called for a vote in the Illinois House.
“There is broad support for the bill. Working people, real estate investors, community organizations and south suburban mayors are all in favor because the bill provides more transparency in assessments and less uncertainty in the market,” Kaegi said.