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Press Archive - 2003
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December 16, 2003
Chicago, IL The Appellate Court of Illinois [1st dist.] Has
ruled in the matter of Cook County Board of Review vs. Property
Tax Appeal Board [PTAB], et al. The issue addressed was whether
PTAB has the authority to expand the scope of a taxpayer's appeal
to include issues never raised by the taxpayer at the Board of
Review level. The court held that the scope of PTAB's review is
to be confined only to a consideration of the issues raised by
the taxpayer. The court then went on to reaffirm its previous
decision in [Bosch].
This case is merely a reaffirmation of the current case law. This
issue will be ruled upon by the Illinois Supreme Court at some
time in the future.
November 21, 2003
Springfield, IL The Illinois General Assembly has adjourned
without considering Cook County Assessor Houlihan's proposed legislation
[SB 1498] that would limit homeowners' assessment increases to
7% per year.
November 18, 2003
Springfield, IL The Civic Federation, a government watchdog
group, has announced its opposition to a bill put forth by Assessor
Houlihan. The bill would limit assessment increases on single
family dwellings to 7 % a year. The Civic Federation stated that
the bills ramifications are "too unclear to be rushed through
without careful study".
The Chicago Tribune reports that Assessor Houlihan claims
to have enough votes to pass the bill.
November 17, 2003
Chicago, IL The Chicago Sun Times reports that last year, at least
40 suburban Chicago school superintendent's earned more than $200,000.
One of them earned over $353,000 [Palatine SD 15].
November 6, 2003
Chicago, IL The Cook County Assessor is having database problems.
These problems are being manifested by differences in the assessed
valuation on the notices which are being mailed to taxpayers and
the official Assessor's printout. The Assessor's Office has been
notified.
October 28, 2003
Alsip, IL John P. Fitzgerald, Ltd. has been retained by Sprinklerfitters
Union Local 281, U.A. AFL-CIO for the purpose of drafting legislation
which will grant homeowners and condominium owners a tax exemption
for the installation of fire suppression systems.
October 22, 2003
Chicago, IL Cook County Assessor Houlihan has announced plans
to seek legislation creating the Neighborhood Preservation Homeowner
Exemption. Under this plan, homeowners' tax increases would be
capped at 7% per year.
October 21, 2003
Palos Heights, IL Over 400 members of the legal profession
gathered last night to honor Joe Macellaio for his retirement after
20 years on the bench.
October 20, 2003
Chicago, IL Legislation has been introduced
before the Cook County Board, which in part
provides for the consolidation of the property
tax functions of the assessor, clerk, treasurer
and auditor into a new office known as the Office
of Tax Administrator. Passage of this proposal
is doubtful. However, it should result in a stimulating
debate.
October 7, 2003
Chicago, IL Mayor Daley is proposing legislation which will
have a positive effect on homeowners' 2003 tax bills. The proposals
include the following:
*Increase the homeowners' exemption.
*Increase the senior homestead exemption.
*Make the senior homestead exemption permanent after age 75.
*Increase the home improvement exemption.
*Expand the senior citizen assessment freeze.
September 24, 2003
Chicago, IL The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus has launched a
grassroots campaign to persuade the legislature to increase school
funding by shifting the burden away from local property taxes.
September 23, 2003
Chicago, IL. The Cook County Board of Review has issued rules
for filing that contain extensive procedural changes. The new
rules are effective immediately and are designed to make the appeals
process more efficient.
September 15, 2003
Chicago, IL. Lt. Governor Patrick J. Quinn has proposed the
formation of an advocacy group which would represent the interest
of Cook County taxpayers. The proposal was introduced before the
Cook County Board and sent to committee for further study.
August 27, 2003
Chicago, IL The Cook County Treasurer has mailed the 2d installment
2002 tax bills. They are due to be paid by October 1, 2003.
August 25, 2003
Chicago, IL. Cook County Commissioners Forrest Claypool, Mike
Quigley, Larry Suffredin and Anthony J. Peraica have announced
that they will introduce legislation at the next meeting of the
Cook County Board, which will effectively cap tax assessment increases
for long time homeowners.
August 18, 2003
Chicago, IL. The City of Chicago has announced plans to intervene
in 30 suits which are currently pending in the Circuit Court of
Cook County. These suits seek tax refunds for some of the larger
downtown properties.
August 5, 2003
Chicago, IL. John P. Fitzgerald, Ltd. is pleased to announce
that Joseph M. Macellaio has joined the firm. From 1983 to 2003,
Mr. Macellaio served as a Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Prior to that he served as an assistant Cook County State's Attorney
and was engaged in the private practice of law. Mr. Macellaio
brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the firm. His practice
will be in the area of property taxation.
July 24, 2003
Chicago, IL. Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has announced
that over $109 million dollars in property tax overpayments have
been made to her office during the past five years. Taxpayers
may check for an overpayment and apply for a refund at www.cookcountytreasuer.com
June 30, 2003
Chicago, IL. The Appellate Court of Illinois (1st District)
has issued a ruling which clarifies and reaffirms its previous
opinion in Cook County Board of Review vs. Property Tax Appeal
Board, [2002 Ill. App. 730]
June 30, 2003
Addison, IL. Jack Fitzgerald, along with teammates Joe Locallo
Jr., Tom Cerone and Vince Vidmer, has won the 2003 bocce ball contest
at the Justinian Society of Lawyers golf outing.
View our trophy
June 27, 2003
Springfield, IL. The Illinois Department of Revenue has announced
that the tentative 2002 property tax state equalization factor
for Cook County is 2.4364, an increase of 5.4% from the 2001 level.
June 25, 2003
Phoenix, AZ. PropertyTax.com was one of the featured websites
at a lecture entitled "Real Property Valuation Website's for
Property Tax Professionals". The lecture was presented at
the IPT 27th annual conference.
June 24, 2003
Phoenix, AZ. Ann Sundeen, Senior Advisor, Governor's Office
of Management and Budget, addressed the IPT annual conference
in Phoenix, Arizona. While discussing the State of Illinois fiscal
crisis, she stated that part of the Illinois solution is going
to include "adjusting local revenue sharing"
June 12, 2003
Springfield, IL. PTAB Executive Director James W. Chipman
has announced the closing of the PTAB office in Des Plaines, Illinois
and the layoff of 1/2 of the statewide PTAB staff, effective June
30th. These actions are the results of budgetary cutbacks.
June 12, 2003
Chicago, IL. The Cook County Board of Review has raised the
assessments on 4 out of the 10 buildings which the City of Chicago
had argued were underassessed. The 4 properties are:
311 So. Wacker Drive...........................+9%
Marshall Field's Dept. Store.................+8%
CNA Insurance Building........................+5%
Radisson Hotel [Huron Street].............+5%
June 9, 2003
Chicago, IL. The Chicago Board of Education today announced
a tax increase of $209 million for the 2003-2004 fiscal year.
This 4.5% increase is the maximum allowed under state law and
brings the total school budget to $4.8 billion. This is the 7th
consecutive year that the school board has increased the levy
of the maximum rate.
May 29, 2003
Chicago, IL. The Cook County Assessor has announced procedures
for filing assessment complaints on 300 "Unique Properties" located in downtown Chicago.
May 21, 2003
Springfield, IL. The Illinois House of Representatives today
rejected by a vote of 77-27 a bill that would have prohibited
Cook County industrial and commercial property taxpayers from
appealing to the Property Tax Appeals Board.
May 2, 2003
Champaign, IL. Illinois Governor Blagojevich's proposed 2003-2004
budget calls for a 60% reduction in the allocation for the Property
Tax Appeals Board.
April 17, 2003
Chicago, IL. The Cook County Assessor has issued another round
of rules for filing. These new rules will probably have a chilling
effect on the impute taxpayers have with regards to erroneous
assessments. These rules will be effective with the upcoming 2003
triennial reassessment.
The Assessor has also announced several changes to their website
which will make it easier for homeowners to contest their assessments.
The Assessor's office continues the development of a much needed
digital assessment process.
March 4, 2003
Clearwater Beach, FL. Version 4 of PropertyTax.com is
released. This version includes sections dedicated to Cook County
and Affiliate attorneys.
January 22, 2003
Chicago, IL. The Cook County Treasurer has mailed
the 1st installment 2002 tax bills. Payment is due March 4, 2003.
January 16, 2003
Chicago, IL. The Cook County Treasurer has announced that the annual
tax sale for year 2001 will begin on March 10, 2003.
Representatives of the
firm are available for comment to members of the press and will
serve as speakers before professional, civic and community gatherings.
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