Property tax bills rise again. Or, another day in Crook County

Your property value may be tanking, but not according to the Cook County Assessors office. Bills will soon be arriving with double digit increases for some, says today’s Chicago Tribune.

Most Cook County residents are in for another round of sticker shock when new property tax bills arrive in the mail in a few days, with the median increase in many suburbs topping 10 percent and, in a handful, 20 percent.

Median increases in many city neighborhoods will also hit double digits, with some lower income areas seeing the highest percentage spike. The median rise in the West Garfield Park neighborhood will top 46 percent, according to figures provided to the Tribune by Cook County Assessor James Houlihan.

What this, you say? We’ve been told that property taxes aren’t being raised to make up the budget deficit. That’s true, technically. But in a sneaky attempt to get around this, Cook County Assessor James Houlihan raises the assessed value of our property, resulting in higher bills. When property value was going up, higher assesed values were hard to dispute. But now, with actual home prices plummeting, telling me my home is actually worth more is pretty ridiculous.

Home owners can appeal, but the deadline to that was in September, before the actual bills are sent. The County mails notifications to homeowners and we’re supposed to send in our appeals then. Fat lot of good it does though. I appealed by the deadline and provided documentation that other condo units in my building sold for significantly less than my new assessed value.

Here’s the answer:

Our appeals department has analyzed your assessment appeal and supporting documentation. Our analysis indicates valuation should remain as originally proposed.

This is due to a sale analysis of your property.

Just another reason people call it “Crook County.”

Double-digit property tax increases in city, Cook County suburbs — chicagotribune.com.