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Cook County Homeowners Confront Soaring Tax Bills as Deadline Nears

Deep cuts for large commercial parcels, coupled with a downtown value slump, have shifted more of the levy onto South and West Side homeowners.

Overview

  • The Cook County Treasurer reports a citywide median bill jump of about 16.7%, with West Garfield Park up roughly 133%, North Lawndale about 99%, and Englewood more than 80%.
  • Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s office held packed West Side sessions where residents sought exemptions and filed appeals as faith leaders and local officials urged a freeze or rollback.
  • The Board of Review reopened 24 townships for appeals, offering another path to seek reductions, though changes typically will not affect amounts due this month.
  • Second‑installment property tax bills, mailed Nov. 14 after a delay, are due Dec. 15, and the Treasurer will open payment‑plan enrollment on Dec. 16.
  • Kaegi attributes the burden shift to sustained Board of Review reductions for large downtown commercial properties and is urging a state ‘circuit breaker’ credit for steep year‑over‑year increases.