Bridget Gainer, 10th District Cook County Commissioner
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Property Taxes & Assessments

Important 2013 Property Tax Dates
April 22, 2013

  • May 2, 2013: Last day to appeal for Lakeview Township by the Cook County Assessor's Office.
  • July 1, 2013 (tentative): 2012 Second Installment Property Tax Bills (the "yellow form") to be mailed.
  • July 31, 2013: Jefferson Township open for appeals by the Cook County Assessor's Office.
  • August 1, 2013 (tentative): 2012 Second Installment Property Tax Bills due.
  • August 28, 2013: North Chicago Township open for appeals by the Cook County Assessor's Office.
  • August 31, 2013 (tentative): Last day to appeal for Jefferson Township by the Cook County Assessor's Office.
  • September 28, 2013 (tentative): Last day to appeal for North Chicago Township by the Cook County Assessor's Office.

47th Ward Property Tax Appeal Workshop: April 24, 2013
April 19, 2013

Wednesday, April 24 - 47th Ward.jpg

40th & 48th Ward Property Tax Appeal Workshop: April 18, 2013
April 18, 2013

Thursday, April 18 - 40th Ward, 48th Ward.jpg

Lakeview Township Open for Appeals
April 2, 2013

Starting April 2nd 2013, the Cook County Assessor has opened property tax appeals for Lakeview Township. Your property tax assessment, or property value, is the first factor used to calculate your property tax bill. Homeowners have the opportunity to appeal their property tax assessment to ensure it is fair and accurate. 

The most common reasons to appeal include:
  • Lack of Uniformity: the assessed value of your property is not in line with other similar properties in your neighborhood.
  • Over-Valuation: the proposed assessed valuation of your property is higher than its actual price.
  • Property Description Error: this may be an error in the description of your property that adversely effects the assessed valuation or your property has been damaged by a fire, flood, or other casualty and/or part of all of the building has been demolished. 
To assist homeowners with filing appeals and to answer any property tax questions, we have worked with our local Aldermen to arrange for my staff to have satellite office hours throughout the district. During scheduled office hours, my staff will be available to answer property tax questions and homeowners may file their appeal. Please bring your most recent property tax bill (the "yellow form") and any additional documents, such as a recent appraisal, that may be helpful for your appeal.

Have questions or need additional assistance?
  • Contact my office at 312-603-4210 or email Info@BridgetGainer.com.

2013 Lakeview Township Office Hours.jpg

2012 Property Tax Exemptions & First Installment Bill
February 28, 2013

The Cook County Assessor's Office has mailed out the first installment of the 2012 property tax bill. Payment of the first installment is due by March 1, 2013.

Have questions or need additional assistance? 
  • Please contact my office at 312-603-4210 or email Info@BridgetGainer.com.
Exemption Applications
2012 Applications for the Homeowner, Senior Citizen and Senior Free are now available. Please ensure you apply for eligible exemptions. All eligible exemptions you qualify for will result in a deduction on your second-installment property tax bill - to be issued summer 2013. 

How To Pay Your First Installment Property Tax Bill due March 1, 2013:

Online

By Mail

  • Mail must be postmarked March 1, 2013 to avoid any penalties and sent to: Cook County Treasurer, PO Box 805436, Chicago IL 60602-4116

Important Instructions If You Pay Your Property Tax Bill By Mail

  • Check should be addressed to: "Cook County Treasurer."
  • Make sure your check includes on the top: Property Index Number and Property Address.
  • Make sure you include in the memo section of the check: "2012/1st Installment."
  • On the envelope itself: write your PIN and Volume Number.
  • Send only the tax bill payment coupon with your check and keep the top portion of the tax bill for your records.

At Your Local Chase Bank

  • For your convenience, tax bill payments are accepted at any of the 400-plus Chase Bank locations throughout Chicagoland. There is no additional fee to pay at any Chase Bank locations.

At Your Local Community Bank

  • As part of the County Treasurer's community bank outreach program, you may pay your property tax bill at your community bank. You must have an account at the bank. For the complete list of community banks accepting property tax bill payments, click here.

In Person

  • You may pay your tax bill at the Cook County Treasurer's Office, located at 118 North Clark Street, Room 112 (City Hall/County Building).

Questions about your property tax or how to appeal your assessment? 
Check out my easy-to-use guides for all Cook County residents:

Property Tax Appeal Workshop for North Chicago Township
January 25, 2013

North Chicago Township BoR Workshop

Appeal Your Property Tax Assessment: Jefferson, Lakeview, & North Chicago Townships
September 19, 2012

Appeal Your Property Tax Assessment
The Cook County Assessor's Office and the Cook County Board of Review will be accepting appeals of property tax assessments for Jefferson, Lakeview, and North Chicago townships. Your property tax assessment or property value is the first factor used to calculate your property tax bill. Homeowners have the opportunity to appeal their property tax assessment to ensure they have a fair and accurate tax bill in the future. You may appeal your assessed value for any of the following reasons: 
  • Lack of Uniformity: the assessed value of your property is not in line with other similar properties in your neighborhood. 
  • Over-Valuation: the proposed assessed valuation of your property is higher than its actual price. 
  • Property Description Error: this may be an error in the description of your property that adversely effects the assessed valuation or your property has been damaged by a fire, flood, or other casualty and/or part of all of the building has been demolished. 
Appeal Assistance Office Hours & Workshops
For each property tax township, I have arranged my staff to available at your local Alderman's office and workshops across the 10th District. For both office hours and workshops, please bring your most recent "Notice of Proposed Assessment" and any other additional documents you may deem important to file your appeal. Staff will be available to answer any questions you may have with the appeals process and to assist all homeowners in filing a successful appeal. You may view my full schedule of appeals assistance office hours and workshops by clicking here.

Commissioner Gainer's Appeal Outreach

Appeal Workshops
In collaboration with the Cook County Assessor's Office, the Cook County Board of Review (Commissioner Michael Cabonargi - 2nd District) and various Elected Officials, appeal workshops will be held for Jefferson, Lakeview, and North Chicago Townships. Staff from the Assessor's Office, Board of Review Commissioner Cabonargi, and various Elected Officials' offices will be available to assist homeowners. Homeowners may complete and submit their appeal at their township workshop. Please bring your 2012 "Notice of Proposed Assessment" letter, your most recent property tax bill (the "yellow form"), or any additional documents you deem important to your appeal.
Your Property Tax Township
Cook County is divided into multiple townships, with each township open for appeals by the Assessor's Office and Board of Review at different times. To find out which township your property belongs to, review the top-right corner of your most recent property tax bill where it is labeled or enter your Property Index Number or PIN at CookCountyPropertyInfo.com. For maps of property tax township within the 10th's district, click on the link below: 
If you need assistance with your appeal or have questions about the appeals process, please call 312-603-4210 or email Info@BridgetGainer.com.

Property Tax Bills due August 1, 2012
July 31, 2012

2011 Second Installment Property Tax Bill
Cook County Homeowners have received their 2011 Second Installment Property Tax Bills in the mail. Be sure to review your bill for any errors and to ensure all eligible exemptions are listed. In general, any exemption for which you have previously applied and qualified for along with any prior change in assessed value will be reflected on your second installment tax bill.
  • For a complete list of possible exemptions please visit the Cook County Assessor's website here.
How To Pay Your Property Tax Bill due Wednesday, August 1st
Online
By Mail
  • Mail must be postmarked August 1, 2012 to avoid any penalties and sent to: Cook County Treasurer PO Box 805436 Chicago IL 60602-4116
Reminders If You Pay By Mail
  1. Check should be addressed to: "Cook County Treasurer."
  2. Make sure your check includes on the top: Property Index Number and Property Address.
  3. Make sure you include in the memo section: 2011/2nd Installment.
  4. On the envelope itself: write your PIN and Volume Number.
  5. Send only the tax bill payment coupon with your check and keep the top portion of the tax bill for your records. 
At Your Local Chase Bank
  • For your convenience, tax bill payments are accepted at any of the 400-plus Chase Bank locations throughout Chicagoland. There is no additional fee to pay at any Chase Bank locations. 
At Your Local Community Bank
  • As part of the County Treasurer's community bank outreach program, you may pay your tax bill at your local community bank if you have a bank account with them. For the complete list of community banks accepting property tax bill payments, click here.
In Person
  • You may pay your tax bill at the Cook County Treasurer's Office, located at 118 North Clark Street, Room 112 (City Hall/County Building). 
Questions? Contact My Office 
If you are need of any assistance when it comes to property taxes or assessments, please call my office at 312-603-4210 or email Info@BridgetGainer.com. My office will be happy to assist you with your request.

Property Tax Assistance Office Hours at Your Alderman's Office
From July 17 to July 20 2012, I have arranged my staff to be available in ward offices throughout the Tenth District. Bring your 2011 second installment property tax bill (the "yellow form") to your local ward office so we can ensure you have an accurate bill with all eligible exemptions.

Tuesday, July 17
Wednesday, July 18
Thursday, July 19
Friday, July 20
Citizen Guides to Property Tax Bills & Appealing Your Property Tax Assessment 
In addition to above information, I have created the Citizens' Guide to Property Tax Bills that can be found on my website. This step-by-step guide walks a homeowner through the process the County took to determine each property tax bill. I have also created a separate Citizens' Guide to Appealing Your Property Tax Assessment which explains how to appeal your property tax assessment with both the County Assessor's Office and the County Board of Review.
Upcoming Appeal Workshops for Lakeview, Jefferson, & North Chicago Townships 
The Cook County Assessor's Office will be accepting property tax assessment appeals for Jefferson Township on August 17 2012 and North Township on September 14 2012. The Cook County Board of Review will start accepting appeals for Lakeview Township by mid-September 2012 (date to be determined). I will work with the Assessor's Office and Board of Review to host workshops to assist homeowners to file a successful appeal. Please check my website consistently for appeal workshop dates and locations.
  • To find out which township your home is located in, please review the upper-right hand corner of your property tax bill where the information is located or visit www.CookCountyPropertyInfo.com, click on "Search by PIN," and enter your 14 digit PIN.
Cook County Board of Review Accepting Appeals CountyWide by July 16
Beginning July 16 2012, all Cook County homeowners may file their property tax assessment appeals online at CookCountyBoardOfReview.com regardless of when your township opens. The Board of Review will hold the appeal application until the property tax township is open and the application will be reviewed along with other applications from the township. The filing of an appeal may reduce the assessed value of a property for a future tax bill and does not remove the obligation to pay the current 2011 second installment property tax bill in full and on time. 

CookCountyPropertyInfo.com 
The Cook County Property Information Portal is a collaborative effort that combines property tax information from the Cook County Assessor's Office, Board of Review, Clerk's Office, Recorder of Deeds, and the Treasurer's Office into one unified website. Enter your individual PIN to access comprehensive information about your property such as appeal or exemption opportunities and your taxing bodies (schools, libraries, etc) financial information. 
Cook County Taxing Body Debt Disclosure Report
There are 526 school districts, municipal governments and other taxing bodies throughout Cook County. County Treasurer Maria Pappas with Board President Preckwinkle have published information about these local governments in 138-page document that accompanied the July 1, 2012 Sunday print editions of the Chicago Tribune and other Chicago-area newspapers. 
  • If you missed it, you can find the report here. 
  • This report provides clear information on budget and debt figures for municipalities, school districts, police and fire districts, library districts and other units of government through the County. 
Follow Me on Facebook, Twitter, & EveryBlock
I will be providing consistent updates on workshops, important deadlines, and property tax assistance office hours on all of my social media outlets: 

Citizens' Guide to Property Tax Bills & Appealing Your Assessment
June 28, 2012

Each year, I receive more requests from homeowners about how to navigate their property tax bill. In response, I have organized an easy-to-use guide that walks a homeowner through the steps the County took to determine each property tax bill. My office is available via email or phone to answer specific questions. 

I'm also happy to offer a separate user-friendly guide to appeal your property tax assessment. It is your right as a homeowner to appeal if you believe your property tax assessment was done incorrectly or is not accurate. The Citizens' Guide to Appealing Property Tax Assessments explains how to appeal at both the Cook County Assessor's Office and the Cook County Board of Review. 

Property Tax Township Maps
On the upper-right right section of your property tax bill, you will find the property tax township your home is located in. I have included several maps which show the boundaries of each township.

Have Questions? Contact My Office 
Email me Info@BridgetGainer.com or call my office: (312) 603-4210.  

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Lakeview Township Open for Appeals
April 11, 2012

Every year, homeowners have the opportunity to appeal their property tax assessments. As of today and through May 11, 2012, homeowners in Lakeview Township can appeal their property tax assessment. Homeowners may appeal online, by mail, or in person. Please call our office if you have any questions about your property tax bill or the appeal process. If you don't live in Lakeview Township please feel free to call our office to find out when your township opens.

How Do I Know I'm in the Lakeview Township?
The boundaries of Lakeview Township are Fullerton Avenue to the South, Devon Avenue to the North and Western Avenue or the Chicago River. You have two ways to find your township:

  • Find your property tax township on the upper-right corner of your property tax bill.

  • Visit the Cook County Assessor's website (http://www.cookcountyassessor.com) and enter your Property Index Number or PIN.

To Appeal Online:
Visit www.cookcountyassessor.com and enter your Property Identification Number (PIN). To look up your PIN please click here: http://www.cookcountyassessor.com/Property_Search/Property_Search.aspx

To Appeal by Mail:
Complete an official Complaint Form (http://www.cookcountyassessor.com/forms/resappeal.pdf) and mail it to:
Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios
118 North Clark Street, 3rd Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60602
*please write "COMPLAINT FORM" on the envelope.

Appeal in Person:
Visit the Cook County Assessor's office (City Hall) where staff will be available to assist you.
Address: 118 North Clark Street 3rd Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60602
Phone: 312-603-5542
Website: www.cookcountyassessor.com

Workshops by Commissioner Gainer
I will co-hosting two workshops within the 10th District to offer direct assistance to all homeowners. My staff will be available to help you complete your appeal and answer any questions you may have. Please bring your most recent property tax bill to the workshop.

Monday, April 23 2012 - 6:30 PM
Also hosted by: 12th District Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey, 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney, & Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios.
Venue: St. Lukes Church Memorial Hall, 1500 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago IL

Thursday, April 26 2012 - 6:30 PM
Venue: Broadway Armory Park Ballroom, 5917 N Broadway, Chicago IL
Also hosted by: 12th District Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey, 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman, & 12th District State Representative Sara Feigenholtz.

Property Tax Bills are Due March 1, 2012
February 28, 2012

Senior Homeowners, Remember to Apply Annually for 

Senior Freeze & Senior Homeowner Exemptions

Tax Bill Due Date

1st Installment 2011 Property Tax Bills are due this Thursday March 1st 2012. You can make your payment online by clicking here, at any Chase Bank location or at the Cook County Treasurer's Office, 118 N. Clark St. 1st  floor. 

Senior Exemption Forms Now Available

The attached 2011 Senior Homeowner and Senior Freeze exemption forms are now available for completion. As a reminder these forms must be completed every year. Seniors must include a copy of a recent tax bill and a copy of their photo I.D. with their forms. Forms are due by March 28, 2012.

2011 Homeowner Senior Exemption form.pdf

2011 Senior Freeze Exemption form.pdf

Any homeowner born in 1946 or earlier and living in their home as of Jan. 1, 2011 is eligible for the Senior Homeowner exemption. The Senior Freeze exemption is for any homeowner born in 1946 or earlier, who lived in the property on Jan. 1, 20110 and on January 1, 2011 and who has an income below $55,000. It is important to note that any person who turned 65 in 2011 now qualifies for the Senior Homeowner Exemption and possibly the Senior Freeze. 

For anyone interested in learning more about the property tax bill process please find the "Citizens' Guide to Property Tax Bills.pdf" attached as well.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact our office at 312-603-4210 or at Info@BridgetGainer.com. Follow office updates from the Tenth District on Twitter (@BridgetGainer) and Facebook.

Surveying Homeowners in Foreclosure
July 14, 2011

Are you going through a foreclosure? We want to hear from you. By taking a few moments to answer the electronic survey below you will help us determine how the County can better advocate and help you, others and the community. 

Citizens' Guide to Foreclosures in Cook County
July 14, 2011

Learn more about foreclosures in Cook County and their effects. 

English: This is a map which shows the borders...

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Land Banks: Frequently Asked Questions and Background Information
July 13, 2011

Want to know more about land banks? Land Bank FAQ's.pdf.

Creating a Land Bank: HB760
July 13, 2011

Read State Representative Karen Yarbrough's legislation for the creation of a land bank.

HB760

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