Cook County and Property Taxes
All properties in Cook County are reassessed on a triennial schedule. Every three years, the new valuations – along with appeals, exemptions, local tax levies, and assessments of nearby properties – determine the amount of future property tax bills.
The Assessor’s Office, the Board of Review, the Cook County Clerk, and the Cook County Treasurer all play a role in the property tax system.
In addition to setting property values, the Assessor’s Office collaborates with other government agencies to stimulate economic growth, develop tax relief proposals, increase the amount of affordable housing in the county, and make the tax system more equitable.
Cook County Townships
For the purposes of reassessment scheduling, the 30 townships within Cook County are divided into three groups: north/northwest suburbs, south/southwest suburbs, and the City of Chicago.
Each township’s government provides a set of core services to its residents. These usually include road maintenance, issuance of building permits, and processing of tax exemption applications. All of these functions are financed by property tax revenue.
Some township governments offer community mental health services and social programs. They also maintain recreational areas and perform other functions beyond the core services. Property tax revenue is a source of funding for these local programs and services as well.
Taxpayers can access statistics about their township via the Cook County Assessor’s Office website, including median sales ranges for different property classes of residential real estate.
North and Northwest Suburbs
The townships of Barrington, Elk Grove, Evanston, Hanover, Leyden, Maine, New Trier, Niles, Northfield, Norwood Park, Palatine, Schaumburg, and Wheeling all fall into the north suburbs grouping.
2016 and 2019 were the last two reassessment years for these townships. They will be reassessed again in 2022.
Some cities in the north and northwest suburbs are split between multiple townships. While others are fully contained within a single township.
If you’re uncertain of which township your city is in, here are a few cities that are located within the 13 north/northwest suburban townships:
- Barrington Township – includes Barrington (in town), Barrington Hills, South Barrington, East Dundee (north side), Inverness (west side), Hoffman Estates (northwest side)
- Elk Grove Township – includes Elk Grove Village
- Evanston Township – includes Evanston
- Hanover Township – includes Streamwood (west side), Bartlett, Hanover Park (west side), Hoffman Estates (west side)
- Leyden Township – includes Schiller Park, Franklin Park, Northlake (north side), River Grove, Elmwood Park, and Melrose Park (north side)
- Maine Township – includes Des Plaines (east side), Park Ridge (north side), and Niles (west side)
- New Trier Township – includes Winnetka, Glencoe, Kenilworth, and Wilmette
- Niles Township – includes Niles (east side), Golf, Morton Grove (east side), Skokie, and Lincolnwood
- Northfield Township – includes Northbrook, Deerfield, and Glenview
- Norwood Park Township – includes Norridge and Harwood Heights
- Palatine Township – includes Inverness (east side), Palatine, Rolling Meadows (north side), Deer Park, and Hoffman Estates (northeast side)
- Schaumburg Township – includes Roselle, Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, and Hanover Park (east side)
- Wheeling Township – includes Buffalo Grove, Wheeling, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect (north side), and Prospect Heights
Property taxes unappealing…we can help!
Appealing your property taxes is one way to ensure that the amount you pay is fair whether you live in the north/northwest suburbs, south/southwest suburbs, or in the City of Chicago.
At present, Illinois is second only to New Jersey with the highest effective property tax rates in the United States. Cook County residents saw a 10% increase to the average 2017 property tax bill with suburban tax increases coming in as high as 6.5%. 2018 also saw property tax increases throughout the Chicagoland area.
Staying on top of your assessment notices and researching local appeal procedures can help homeowners avoid being overburdened with property taxes.
Appeal.Tax can prepare your property tax appeal and handle it from start to finish. There is no fee unless a reduction is obtained. And we only charge a small portion of the overall tax savings secured.
Since 2015, we’ve saved Illinois property owners over $100 million in reduced property taxes.
Contact Appeal.Tax today to discuss your Association, residential, or commercial property tax appeal. Tax Attorney Timothy Jacobs can be reached at 847-777-7270 or tjacobs@ksnlaw.com.