Tuesday, March 25, 2003
Special to suffredin.org

Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin encourages Cook County homeowners to apply for property tax relief through Assessor Houlihan's Office. There are two programs that Cook County property owners, age 65 and over, may be eligible for and one program for all other homeowners.

The Senior Citizen Exemption is available to all Cook County homeowners who were born prior to or in the year 1937 and who use their homes as their primary place of residence. This exemption can save qualified senior citizens an average of $250.

The Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze Exemption is available to all Cook County homeowners who were born prior to or in year 1937 and who have a total household income of $40,000 a year or less. The taxpayer must also use his or her home as a primary place of residence. This exemption can protect limited-income senior citizens from increases in a property's assessed value.

The Homeowner Exemption is available to all Cook County taxpayers that reside in their homes and use them as their primary residences. This exemption can save qualified homeowners an average of an additional $500. Those taxpayers who apply for the senior exemptions will automatically receive the Homeowner Exemption.

Seniors who wish to apply for the senior exemptions for the first time this year or non-seniors who wish to apply for the Homeowner Exemption can do so by obtaining the Taxpayer Exemption Booklet. The Assessor's Office mailed these booklets to all County taxpayers. This comprehensive exemption booklet was used for the first time last year and combines all three annual exemption applications in one, easy-to-read booklet.

As required by state law, you must file for these exemptions each year in order to continue to receive the exemptions. The deadline for exemption applications is April 16, 2003.

Homeowners can apply for these exemption programs three ways:

1. In-Person – Applications can be filed in-person at the Assessor's Office in Downtown Chicago at 118 N. Clark, 3^rd Floor, 312-443-7550. In addition, suburban residents may contact their local township assessor's office or the Cook County Assessor's branch offices: Bridgeview: 10200 76^th Avenue, Room 237, 708-974-6451; Markham: 16501 Kedzie Avenue, Room 237, 708-210-4100; Maywood: 1500 Maybrook Square, Room 082, 708-865-6032; Rolling Meadows: 2121 Euclid Avenue, Room 237, 847-818-2444; Skokie: 15600 Old Orchard Road, Room 149, 847-470-7237.

Commissioner Suffredin also has copies of the application available at his district office located at 820 Davis, Suite 104, in Evanston, 847-864-1604.

2. By Mail – The Assessor's Office has mailed applications to all Cook County taxpayers. If you did not receive a copy the information in the mail, the application can be obtained at one of the locations identified above or by calling the Assessor's Office at 312-443-7550. If you apply by mail, do not send originals of the above documents! Please send copies because the documents cannot be returned to you.

3. On-line – Visit the Assessor's website at www.cookcountyassessor.com and click on the exemptions information button.

"These programs provide property owners with valuable money-saving exemptions to which they are entitled. I encourage all homeowners to complete their renewal forms or apply for the first time," said Commissioner Suffredin.

Questions about the exemption programs can be directed to the Assessor's Office at 312-443-7550 or citizens can call Commissioner Suffredin's district office at 847-864-1209.