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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CALLING FOR A MEETING OF THE LEGISLATION AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEES ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUES
WHEREAS, according to a 2024 Tax Year Bill Analysis, the Cook County Treasurer collects nearly $19.2 billion in property tax dollars from property owners across Cook County (https://www.cookcountytreasurer.com/pdfs/taxbillanalysisandstatistics/taxyear2024analysisenglishversion.pdf); and
WHEREAS, the property tax system involves several separately elected offices including the Cook County Assessor’s Office that sets assessed values and decides appeals; the Board of Review that conducts appeals and revises assessments; the Illinois Department of Revenue that sets the state equalization factor; the Cook County Clerk’s Office that calculates taxable rates based on taxing districts’ property tax levies pass; and the Cook County Treasurer’s Office that prints and mails tax bills, as well as calculates and distributes the collected property tax revenues to taxing districts; and
WHEREAS, there are 685 taxing districts within Cook County, including but not limited to municipalities, townships, school districts, park districts, library districts, road districts, sanitation districts, fire protection districts, pension districts, mental health districts, special service areas, TIF districts, and water commissions (https://www.cookcountytreasurer.com/taxingdistrictsearchbyname.aspx); and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board President and Cook County Board of Commissioners have heard testimony and have received correspondence from numerous taxing entities, predominantly school districts and library districts, about the adverse effects of delayed property tax bills and revenue disbursements; and
WHEREAS, to ensure that future property tax bills and disbursements are made in a timely and reliable manner, it is imperative that the Cook County Assessor, Cook County Board of Review Commissioners, Cook County Clerk, and Cook County Treasurer maintain functional, efficient, and accurate property tax systems; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby request that a meeting of the Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee be convened to update the Board of Commissioners and public at-large on measures that will or are being undertaken to improve processes and oversight within the property tax systems managed and controlled by the Cook County Assessor, Cook County Board of Review Commissioners, Cook County Clerk, and Cook County Treasurer; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Assessor, Cook County Board of Review Commissioners, Cook County Clerk, and Cook County Treasurer are requested to participate in the meeting and provide the updates requested in this Resolution relevant to their work determining and delivering property tax bills, the receipt of property tax collections, and disbursement of property tax collections.
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