Overview
- Long lines formed at the Cook County Assessor’s Office after delayed second-installment bills arrived with a Dec. 15 due date and a next payment due April 1, compressing household budgets.
- Assessor data show extreme neighborhood spikes, including average increases of 133% in West Garfield Park, 99% in North Lawndale, and more than 80% in Englewood.
- Treasurer Maria Pappas reports downtown commercial buildings are paying about $129 million less this cycle, reflecting valuation declines that redistributed costs to residents.
- The Cook County Board of Review has reopened the 2025 appeals window and says it follows market data, with any reductions applying to next year’s bill.
- Officials urge owners to verify exemptions and consider payment plans, while residents and clergy on the South and West sides warn the higher bills could displace vulnerable households.