Fritzed Again

Statement from Commissioner George A. Cárdenas The Assessor’s latest attempt to blame the Cook County Board of Review (Board) for raising residential property tax bills is not just misleading, it is factually wrong. Let’s start with the basics that the Assessor hopes the public will not learn about the Board: · According to Illinois Statute, the Board is a quasi-judicial entity. · In terms of its responsibilities in the property tax process, the Board does not establish initial assessment values.  The Cook County Assessor does that. · It does not engage in social tax policy.  The Board makes decisions based on evidence, primarily certified financial statements. To be clear, the Board only acts when taxpayers file appeals.  These appeals are made after the Assessor has already made his valuations, mailed notices, and ruled on any appeals to his office.  By the time the process reaches the Board, over-assessments are already baked into the equation. Here is the reality the Assessor refuses to acknowledge: 1. Every dollar the Board reduces in taxable value is a dollar the Assessor over-assessed.  The Board does not “shift burden”.  We correct assessment errors 2. Our decisions are based on evidence and valuation practices that follow national standards, such as the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO). 3. The Assessor controls the valuation model and has made social policy choices, when the Illinois Statute says assessments should be based on “fair cash” (35 ILCS 200/9-145).   Simply, the Covid factor was completely unfounded. 4. Unless an appeal is filed, the Board cannot change an assessment.   At the heart of the matter, the Assessor is attempting to deflect from the consequences of his own assessment methodology, that: · Over-estimated residential market strength in low-income and working-class neighborhoods; · Under-accounted for real vacancies and distress in parts of the commercial market; and · Produced volatility that punishes homeowners who did nothing wrong When errors surface through appeals, the Assessor should blame his practices, rather than decisions based on financial evidence. The Board of Review exists to protect the taxpayers from over-assessment.  If the Assessor believes property taxes in low-income neighborhoods are too high, he should fix the assessment system.   As residential assessments continue to be inflated by the Assessor, the Board will continue to correct them to reflect actual taxable value.  It is for this reason that the Board re-opened its closed townships and provided additional opportunities for homeowners to appeal over-inflated values.  The Assessor needs to focus on his ill-designed assessment methodology, not blame others for his mistakes. George A. Cardenas served as an Alderman for 20 years and is now the District 1 Commissioner at the Cook County Board of Review