Officials Give Homeowners 'Road Map' to Decrease Property Taxes

Several local representatives are working hand-in-hand with residents tonight to ease the pain of high property taxes.  

Lake View Township homeowners are invited to a property tax appeal workshop Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Ann Sather Restaurant, 909 W. Belmont Ave. in next door Lake View.

The session is part of a collaborative effort by State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer, the Lake View Citizens’ Council, the Cook County Assessor’s Office, Senate President John Cullerton, and Ald. Tom Tunney (44th).

The event comes in the nick of time, as the deadline for appeals in Lake View Township is May 2, 2013.

“High property taxes continue to be a significant financial burden on local residents,” Feigenholtz said, according to a news release. “These no-cost workshops give 12th district property owners the road map and tools they need to lower their property taxes.”

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Residents will learn about the appeal process and how to successfully appeal their bills and staff members from the assessor’s office will be on hand to answer questions.

“This seminar is an excellent opportunity for homeowners to understand how to read their property tax bills and effectively lower them through the appeals process,” Feigenholtz said. “I encourage all local homeowners to attend, whether or not they are already planning on appealing their current bill.”

Feigenholtz recently co-sponsored Senate Bill 1894 to allow for lower property tax rates by increasing the Senior Homestead Exemption for seniors aged 65 years and and older from $4,000 to $5,000. The bill also includes increasing the general Homestead Exemption for all homeowners—regardless of age—from $6,000 to $7,000.

Attendees should bring a copy of their most recent property tax bill. Lake View Township encompasses the area bounded by Fullerton, Devon, Lake Michigan, and Western Avenue/Chicago River. 

More information on the appeal process and the appropriate forms can be found by contacting the Cook County Assessor’s Office at 312-443-7550 or visiting its website.

For more information on the workshop, contact Feigenholtz’s constituent services office at 773-296-4141 or sara@staterepsara.com.

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