Board of Commissioners of Cook County - File #: 19-2292

• File #: 19-2292
• Version: 2
• Name: URGING THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO AMEND THE PROPERTY TAX CODE REGARDING THE SENIOR CITIZENS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Approved
• File created: 3/11/2019
• In control: Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee
• On agenda: 3/21/2019
• Final action: 4/25/2019
• Title: PROPOSED RESOLUTION URGING THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO AMEND THE PROPERTY TAX CODE REGARDING THE SENIOR CITIZENS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WHEREAS, Cook County senior homeowners may reduce their tax bills by hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year by taking advantage of the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption; and WHEREAS, the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption reduces the Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) of a home, which is multiplied by the tax rate to determine a homeowner's tax bill; and WHEREAS, to receive the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption, an applicant must have owned and occupied the property as of January 1 and must have been 65 years of age or older during the tax year in question; and WHEREAS, under current state law, senior citizen homeowners must re-apply for the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption every year; and WHEREAS, the Illinois General Assembly is currently considering various legislative proposals to eliminate the need for qualifying senior homeowner...
• Sponsors: JOHN P. DALEY, LARRY SUFFREDIN, ALMA E. ANAYA, LUIS ARROYO JR, SCOTT R. BRITTON, DENNIS DEER, BRIDGET DEGNEN, BRIDGET GAINER, BRANDON JOHNSON, BILL LOWRY, DONNA MILLER, STANLEY MOORE, KEVIN B. MORRISON, SEAN M. MORRISON, PETER N. SILVESTRI, DEBORAH SIMS, JEFFREY R. TOBOLSKI

Date	Ver.	Action By	Motion	Result
4/25/2019	1	Board of Commissioners	approve as substituted	Pass
4/24/2019	1	Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee	accept as substituted	Pass
4/24/2019	2	Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee	recommend for approval as substituted	Pass
3/21/2019	1	Board of Commissioners	refer	Pass

title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION

URGING THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO AMEND THE PROPERTY TAX CODE REGARDING THE SENIOR CITIZENS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION

WHEREAS, Cook County senior homeowners may reduce their tax bills by hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year by taking advantage of the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption; and

WHEREAS, the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption reduces the Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) of a home, which is multiplied by the tax rate to determine a homeowner's tax bill; and

WHEREAS, to receive the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption, an applicant must have owned and occupied the property as of January 1 and must have been 65 years of age or older during the tax year in question; and

WHEREAS, under current state law, senior citizen homeowners must re-apply for the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption every year; and

WHEREAS, the Illinois General Assembly is currently considering various legislative proposals to eliminate the need for qualifying senior homeowners already granted the Seniors Citizens Homestead Exemption to reapply annually for the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption; and

WHEREAS, The Cook County Treasurer's office reported thousands of taxpayers who had previously received a senior exemption didn't renew this year and, countywide, seniors can save an average of $300 $772 a year in property taxes with the exemption; and

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of Cook County senior homeowners for the Cook County Board of Commissioners to support efforts by the Illinois General Assembly to streamline and simplify the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption process; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby urge the Illinois General Assembly to amend the Property Tax Code regarding the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption and eliminate the necessity of senior homeowners to apply annually for the exemption; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be te...