As the Cook County property tax payment deadline looms, residents across Chicago, particularly on the South and West sides, are grappling with staggering increases in their bills. A recent ABC7 Chicago report highlights the distress of individuals like Abraham House-El, a retiree from North Lawndale who's had to pick up rideshare work just to contend with his property tax, which jumped nearly 99%. "It's got to change. We cannot go on like this. You will not tax us out of the community; we are here to stay," House-El told ABC7 Chicago.
Meanwhile, folks are lining up outside the Cook County Assessor's Office in search of reprieve and answers after receiving their bills. One resident, Gerald Soukal, detailed to CBS News Chicago how his property tax in Garfield Ridge doubled, "My tax bill had doubled. It went from $9,600 to $19,100," sharing the stark predicament faced by many in his neighborhood. In response to the outcry from the community and clergy, the Cook County Board of Review has decided to reopen the 2025 appeals window, providing a slight glimmer of hope for those looking to contest their steep assessments. The move comes after property owners and small business operators raised alarms over how to possibly keep up with such drastic hikes.
These increases are not only causing hardships for homeowners but are also deeply affecting local businesses. Malcolm Crawford of the Sankofa Cultural Arts and Business Center in Austin is one such individual feeling the squeeze, as his property taxes leaped by $10,000. "I'm supposed to come up with this money by the 15th, and then March the first I'm going to get another bill for the same thing. No how we as business owners are going to be able to service our community," Crawford lamented to ABC7 Chicago.
The root cause of these hikes can be partly attributed to a significant decrease in assessed values of downtown commercial properties, necessitating that homeowners disproportionately shoulder the tax burden. According to Angelina Romero, spokeswoman for the Cook County Assessor's Office, it's a challenging situation where "It's a zero-sum game. When one group pays less, everyone else picks up the tab." Residents were further frustrated by the timing of bill deliveries, which were delayed due to a technology upgrade and thus provided little time for financial planning. Faced with yet another looming payment due by April 1, many are unsure how to navigate these sudden financial waters.
Property owners with concerns can appeal their assessments, and while this won't affect the current billing cycle, it could offer some relief in the following year. "Everyone should have a fair system, a fair shot at proper assessments," George Cardenas, Cook County Board of Review Chairman, echoed in an ABC7 Chicago interview. In the interim, those unable to pay may establish payment plans or seek adjustments from the assessor's office if they're eligible for exemptions not currently recognized on their bills.
