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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING COOK COUNTY ASSESSOR JOSEPH BERRIOS
WHEREAS, Joseph Berrios is concluding his tenure as Cook County Assessor to the residents of Cook County on November 30, 2018; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Berrios was born in Chicago on Valentine’s Day, 1952 and is one of seven children; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Berrios, at the age of six, moved with his family to a public housing high-rise in Cabrini-Green; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Berrios is an alumni of Lane Tech High School and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in accounting from the University of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Berrios lives on Chicago’s northwest side and is the father of three children and has three grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Berrios’ life of public service began in 1982 when he was the first Hispanic-American elected to serve in the Illinois General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Berrios served taxpayers at the Cook County Board of Review for 30 years and was elected Commissioner in 1988; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Berrios was elected Cook County Assessor in 2010 and re-elected in 2014; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Berrios shortened the assessment cycle to ensure the timely mailing of tax bills for the first time in 34 years, saving school districts and municipalities tens of millions of dollars; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Berrios’ Erroneous Exemption Unit has collected $37 million and billed $59 million billed to date, after legislation he crafted made this possible - with money being returned to local taxing bodies; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Berrios initiated legislation that became law expanding exemption savings for veterans, homeowners and seniors in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Berrios increased assessment workshops county wide, working with elected officials, organizations and taxpayers; and
WHEREAS Joseph Berrios worked to improve residential assessment modeling, developing and utilizing an improved model for the 2018 City of Chicago reassessment; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners do hereby extend our sincere and grateful appreciation to Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios for his service and our best wishes to him for continued success, happiness, and good health in the years to come.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body, and a suitable copy of same be tendered to Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios.
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