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Press Archive - 2004
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December 14, 2004
Chicago, IL The Property Tax Fairness Board
has announced plans to review the assessments
levied upon 41 Chicago properties. If the Board
determines the properties to be underassessed,
underassessment complaints will be filed with
the Cook County Board of Review.
December 6, 2004
Chicago, IL Mr. Larry R. Rogers, Jr. has been
sworn in as a Commissioner of the Cook County
Board of Review.
November 15, 2004
Chicago, IL The 2d installment of the 2003 Cook
County Property Tax bill is due today. Pay it
at any of the Cook County Treasurer's offices, LaSalle
Bank branches, or via wire.
October 13, 2004
Chicago, IL Suit has been filed in the Circuit
Court of Cook County contesting the constitutionality
of the recently enacted 7% tax cap on residential
properties.
October 12, 2004
Chicago, IL The Cook County Treasurer has mailed
the 2d installment 2003 tax bills. They are
due to be paid on November 15, 2004.
October 6, 2004
Chicago, IL The Cook County Board of Review
has begun hearing appeals for tax year 2004.
September 17, 2004
Springfield, IL The Illinois Department of Revenue
has set the 2003 Cook County property tax multiplier
at 2.4598, an increase of 5.3%. This increase
will show up on the second installment 2003
tax bills, scheduled to be mailed later this
year.
September 7, 2004
Chicago, IL The nation's second largest school
district, Chicago Public Schools, reopens today
with a budget of $5.05 billion. The district
derives its revenues as follows: 42% property
tax, 36% state aid and 21% federal aid. Illinois
ranks 48 among states in the amount it contributes
to education funding.
August 25, 2004
Chicago, IL The City of Chicago Corporation
Counsel has announced settlements in underassessment
complaints involving 15 larger downtown Chicago
properties including the Sears Tower, Aon Building,
Prudential Building, Mercantile Exchange and
the Merchandise Mart. Under the terms of the
agreement, neither the building owners nor the
City will contest any assessed valuations, in
any forum, through tax year 2005.
August 25, 2004
Chicago, IL The Cook
County Board of Review has launched its website. The site
contains detailed filing rules and procedures, filing deadlines,
and forms.
August 17, 2004
Galesburg, IL The States Attorney of Knox County, Illinois has announced
that he is considering the merits of a suit against Maytag Corporation
for recovery of real estate tax abatements. Maytag recently announced
the closing of its Galesburg plant and the moving of its manufacturing
to Reynosa, Mexico.
August 16, 2004
Chicago, IL The Chicago Sun Times is doing an expose on the Suburban
Cook County TB District, a taxing body with a budget of over $6
million and 123 reported cases last year.
August 11, 2004
Chicago, IL In an attempt to plug a $40 million budget shortfall,
Chicago Schools CEO Arne Duncan has asked the Board of Education
to approve a levy increase of 2.4%, the maximum allowed under
state law. Since 1995, the average Chicago taxpayer has seen the
school portion of their tax bill increase by 60%. Under the proposed
budget, there will be no programming cuts and spending in several
key areas will be increased.
August 5, 2004
Chicago, IL Several members of the Chicago City Council have put
out feelers about an ordinance which would authorize a fee to
residential homeowners for garbage collection. The City Council
is studying ways to close a $200 million budget gap.
July 13, 2004
Chicago, IL The Cook County Board today passed an ordinance limiting
homeowners' assessment increases to 7% per year.
July 12, 2004
Springfield, IL Governor Blagojevich today signed
SB 1221 into law. The act in effect authorizes
counties to limits homeowners assessment increases
to 7% per year.
June 25, 2004
Palos Heights, IL Suit has been filed against the City of Palos
Heights alleging certain improprieties surrounding the operation
of the Lake Katherine TIF.
June 24, 2004
Vancouver, BC John P. Fitzgerald attended the
IPT 28th Annual Conference and heard presentations
on the subjects of US Economic Activity and
Outlook, Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance and Tax Automation.
May 26, 2004
Chicago, IL Mayor Daley has announced that he is in favor of a
"Class L" designation for the Chicago Board of Trade
building. Class L is a classification for architecturally significant
buildings which offers substantial property tax breaks.
May 25, 2004
Springfield, IL Senate Bill 1221, which expands the homeowners'
exemption, has been passed by both houses and is now waiting for
the Governor's signature.
May 18, 2004
Chicago, IL The City of Chicago has filed underassessment complaints
at the Cook County Board of Review against 15 larger downtown
buildings.
May 10, 2004
Chicago, IL Mayor Daley has announced he is pushing legislation
which bring land-based casinos to Chicago. Such casinos will generate
over $300 million in revenue per year for the City.
May 5, 2004
Springfield, IL The State of Illinois House of Representatives
has passed and sent to the Senate a less drastic version of SB
1498 which increases the homeowners exemption. The bill, known
as SB 2112, is expected to pass.
May 3, 2004
Lynwood, IL The Ho-Chunk Indian Nation is proposing the construction
of a casino containing 3,100 gaming positions, a 800 room hotel
and a water park. When completed, over 5000 jobs will be created
and it is expected that the complex will be the catalyst for an
economic revitalization of the southern suburbs.
April 21, 2004
Springfield, IL A slightly different version of SB 1498 has been
passed in the Senate and sent to the House where approval is expected.
April 16, 2004
Chicago, IL The Appellate Court of Illinois [1st Dist.] has ruled
in a case involving the valuation of leaseholds at O'Hare International
Airport. The Court held that by failing to consider the sales
comparison approach in determining market value of the leasehold
interest, the taxpayer had not met its burden of demonstrating
that the assessment was incorrect by clear and convincing evidence.
United Airlines v. Maria Pappas, et al.
March 31, 2004
Chicago, IL John P. Fitzgerald, Ltd. is pleased to announce that
we have obtained 6B status from Cook County for the former General
Mills manufacturing facility at 106th and Muskegon, Chicago. Our
client, Arro Corporation, will save at least $1,100,000 in tax
dollars over the next twelve years.
March 18, 2004
Chicago, IL Cook County Tax Assessor James M. Houlihan has announced
that State Senate President Emil Jones [D] is supporting SB 1498.
March 18, 2004
Springfield, IL The State Board of Education has released an analysis
showing that 156 school districts are on "financial watch" for 2004, up from 87 school districts during 2003.
Critics contend that school spending is out of control. They maintain
a website at www.thechampion.org
March 17, 2004
Springfield, IL A statewide advisory referendum which calls for
the imposition of a progressive state income tax was overwhelmingly
passed on March 16, 2004. Under the plan, the surplus funds will
be used for education and property tax relief.
March 17, 2004
Chicago, IL Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Robert Shaw
has conceded defeat for reelection in the March 16 Democratic
primary to Mr. Larry R. Rogers Jr. He will take office on December
1, 2004. We congratulate Mr. Rogers and wish him the very best.
February 20, 2004
Springfield, IL SB 1498 has passed the Illinois House of Representatives.
The bill, which was put forth by Tax Assessor James M. Houlihan,
is designed to bring tax relief to single family homeowners.
February 15, 2004
Chicago, IL The Chicago Sun-Times has published an editorial
by Mayor Richard M. Daley which calls for reforms to Cook County
property tax procedures.
Chicago Sun Times
Editorial- pdf
Chicago Sun
Times Article- pdf
February 11, 2004
Chicago, IL Mayor Richard M. Daley has called upon Assessor
Houlihan to review the assessment on every residence in Chicago
before the tax bills go out this fall.
Chicago Tribune Article-
pdf
Chicago Sun Times
Article- pdf
February 4, 2004
Springfield, IL Legislation designed to cap property assessments
[Neighborhood Preservation Act], put forth by Cook County Tax
Assessor James M, Houlihan, failed to pass the Illinois House
of Representatives by a vote of 49 - 61. Apparently, there was
opposition from businesses, school districts and Downstate lawmakers.
Supporters have vowed to put it to another vote within the next
few weeks.
January 26, 2004
Chicago, IL Citizens United for Tax Relief has announced
plans for a rally on January 29, 2004 at the IBEW Local 134 Union
Hall in Chicago. The purpose of the rally is to dramatize support
for SB 1498 AKA the Neighborhood Preservation Act.
January 26, 2004
Chicago, IL The Cook County Treasurer has mailed the 1st installment
of the 2003 tax bills. Payment is due on March 2, 2004.
January 10, 2004
Chicago, IL Mayor Daley has announced his support for the
Neighborhood Preservation Act.
January 9, 2004
Springfield, IL A spokesperson for House
Majority Leader Michael J. Madigan [D. Chicago]
has announced that the Speaker supports Houlihan's
Neighborhood Preservation Act and that Speaker
Madigan will call the bill for a vote.
January 7, 2004
Springfield, IL State Representative Lee A. Daniels [R. Addison]
has announced his support of legislation similar to Senate Bill
1498. The main difference being that it would apply to the entire
6 county Chicago region.
January 2, 2004
Springfield, IL Cook County Assessor James M. Houlihan has
launched a massive public relations effort to get his proposed
Neighborhood Preservation Act [SB 1498] passed into law. If passed,
Cook County homeowners' tax bills will not increase any more than
7% per year. The bill does not limit tax increases on other types
of real estate.
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