The 2023 reassessment of Cook County has stayed in the minds of taxpayers like an ever-present shadow and has been one of the most impactful events for taxpayers in Illinois as a whole. While high property taxes are the norm in Illinois, especially Cook County, 2023 was when the wheels really fell off. Targeting the southern suburbs and the urban core of Chicago itself, the reassessment saw property values rise to a staggering degree. Even worse, individual properties saw spikes as high as 500%, some even experienced a 700% increase to their taxable value. As this was aimed at most middle-class and working people, this wrought devastation on people attempting to keep their homes or businesses. It was this disaster that truly brought property tax appeals to the forefront. After it was revealed that the properties of working people and minorities were disproportionally targeted, people demanded a change. Unfortunately, politics... Read More

Lake County is becoming one of the most in-demand living areas in the country. Home to both exclusive neighborhoods and rural towns, Lake County is a microcosm of Illinois and marks a transition point between Cook County and the rest of the state. The county has long straddled two worlds, though parts of it are quickly being subsumed by Cook County or are being changed by people fleeing Chicago. This is certainly a mixed blessing, as more people bring a better economy to the region, especially high-end areas. It is transforming the culture, at least in places, and some traditional areas are under threat from gentrification. Wauconda Township is far enough on the western edge of Lake County to be outside of comfortable commuting distance from Chicago. While this has protected a lot of the small-town charm, it has been unable to keep property values from rising. While the collar... Read More

The 2025 reassessment of northern Cook County has been one for the record books. While not like the earth-shattering disaster of the 2023 reassessment of the core of Chicago, taxpayers across the north have seen ridiculous values placed on their homes and businesses. Coupled with rising tax rates, the upcoming tax bills are going to be the highest ever seen in the area. This is not a gradual ramping up of costs either, but a hard spike that is instantly transforming many properties from long-term investments to unaffordable anchors around the necks of taxpayers. Leyden Township is at the heart of these value surges. Homeowners are experiencing a 21% rise in value, while business owners are seeing an increase of 42% in total taxable value. While any exemptions in place are helping, the only alternative to lower these untenable values is a property tax appeal. These have already paid dividends... Read More

For the past few decades, Lake County has established itself as the premier suburb of Chicago. Boasting some of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Illinois, Lake County has generally been seen as a haven for the wealthy. While many townships follow this model, Waukegan Township does not. Once an industrial center, this area is now home to many middle-class towns and villages, along with many working families. While independent, Chicago does still have an influence on Waukegan Township and the surrounding area. The issue of out-of-control property taxes in Cook County has been making its way north over the previous decades and even far-flung rural areas are feeling the strain. As the area becomes more suburbanized, homes and businesses have seen their assessed values increase. With gentrification rampant, many traditional communities are looking for a way to stand against the tide. Property tax appeals are becoming more important than ever... Read More

Lake County trails only DuPage County when it comes to the collar counties around Chicago. Like many of its collar county brethren, Lake is a combination of suburban areas, rural communities, and post-industrial towns. Fremont Township embodies this varied economic and cultural tapestry well, while having a charm all its own. Like most of the county, Fremont Township walks a line between being independent and being influenced by Chicago. One thing that Fremont Township cannot escape is rising property values and taxes. Thanks to the growing mess in Cook County and the general state of taxes across Illinois, both homes and businesses are seeing their values spike. As populations, demographics, and economies shift, this may become a larger problem every year. The collar counties have turned to property tax appeals to balance things out, and Fremont is no exception. O’Connor will explore how values are being impacted and how taxpayers... Read More