As you can see (from the picture), like many of you, I was denied a reduction on the assessment of my home.  After further review, I feel like I am being assessed fairly, and will take no further action.  HOWEVER, if you feel you are still not being assessed fairly, there are still options for you.  You can use the comparables you have and appeal to the Cook County Board of Review PTAB Board, and you may hire a lawyer for this process.  Also, if your mortgage company or bank asked you to pay more into your escrow, like mine did, you may ask them to spread that payment out over 2-3 years.   i have talked to many banks in the area and they said they are willing to spread out the one time payment that is being asked. As always if you have any questions please feel free to call or email or stop by my office at anytime.

Determining how to get your tax bill calculated as shown on your second installment property tax bill  (Keep in mind the state equalizer and tax rate will change next year) :

Example with a $200,000 Property Value:

 

$200,000    (example)       ----Property Value           (Insert your new assessed value, as shown on your decision letter)

X      10%                             ---- Assessment level

____________________

 

$20,000                               ----Assessed Value (AV)

 

X   2.9627                             ---- State equalizer

____________________

 

$59,254                                 ---- Equalized Assessed Value (EAV)

 

_   10,000                              ---- Homeowners Exemption

_____________________

 

$49,254

X   14.655%                               ---- Tax Rate

_____________________

$7,218.17                               = Total Taxes Paid

I also wanted to let you know that I met with Cook County Assessor Elect Fritz Kaegi this past Saturday morning.  We had a good long talk and I see many progressive ideas coming.  I see positive changes and improvements to issues that have plagued the Assessor's Office for decades.  

                                                                     

I was also encouraged that he is going to advocate for a reform on the way our schools are funded.  He agreed with me that we need to change how we found our schools.  As I have spoken about many times and at a recent school board meeting, we need our General Assembly to stop putting the burden of funding our schools on homeowners and do what most states do to fund their schools.  Michigan for example, went from 60% funded by homeowners to 20%.  We also talked about incentives for landlords to rent out their vacant storefronts to bring more property taxes into the community and lessen the burden on homeowners. I look forward to working with Fritz Kaegi in the future and I remain hopeful for the future of Berwyn Township and Cook County. 

Thank you.

Berwyn Assessor David Avila