Press Releases :

Hundreds Show Up for Assessment Appeal Forum

 by Caroline Connors

More than 300 people flocked to Mt. Greenwood Park on May 24 in an attempt to reduce their property tax assessments.

In all, more than 200 appeals applications were filed with the Cook County Board of Review between 6 and 8 p.m., said Phil Utterback, outreach director with the Board of Review. The high number of appeals is in keeping with a trend throughout the county, which has seen an increase of approximately 100,000 appeals over last year, he said.

The event was hosted by the 19th Ward and the Board of Review, an agency independent of the Cook County Assessor (the assessor sets the valuation for tax purposes on all real estate located in Cook County). Residents of Lake Township, which includes Beverly, Morgan Park and Mt. Greenwood, have until June 21 to file appeals for their property tax assessments, and the event was designed to facilitate that process, Utterback said.

Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Brendan Houlihan spoke at the program, explaining the appeals process, while members of his staff circulated among attendees at Mt. Greenwood Park and answered questions. Houlihan said his goal with the outreach programs is to inform homeowners of the options available to them when they disagree with the assessments on their property tax bills.

“Businesses do this every year, and homeowners can do it, too,” Houlihan said.