Monday, July 26, 2004
Special to suffredin.org

Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin, 13th District, announces that property tax seminars have been scheduled for resident of Niles Township who will receive Notices of Proposed Reassessment as part of the Cook County triennial assessment during the week of August 2, 2004. Residents of this township were last reassessed in 2000. Participating in the seminars will be Cook County Assessor Jim Houlihan, Niles Township Assessor Scott Bagnall and local legislators including State Senators Ira Silverstein and Jeff Schoenberg and State Representatives Lou Lang and Beth Coulson.

Three seminars have been scheduled for residents in Morton Grove, Skokie and Lincolnwood for Niles Township residents:

Wednesday, August 4, 2004
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Morton Grove Civic Center
6140 Dempster Street
Morton Grove
(in conjunction with the Morton Grove Town Hall Meeting)

Tuesday, August 10, 2004
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Lincoln Hall Middle School
6855 N. Crawford
Lincolnwood
(Crawford, North of Pratt Ave.)

Monday, August 16, 2004
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Niles West High School
5701 Oakton Street
Skokie

There will be meetings with members of the areas' Chambers of Commerce to discuss commercial properties in August.

Taxpayers are encouraged to bring their assessment notices with them to the seminar. Staff from the Assessor and Commissioner Suffredin's offices will be present to assist residents individually in filing assessment appeals and exemptions.

A short presentation will open each meeting to provide general information on the assessment process, avenues for assessment appeals, resources available for verifying an assessed value is fair and accurate and important property tax exemptions that are available to Cook County residents. Appeal forms are included with the assessment notices and homeowners have 45 days to appeal if they have doubts about the accuracy of their assessment.

"I encourage all Niles Township homeowners to participate in one of our seminars to learn about the property tax system and the appeal process to possibly lessen the impact the assessment may have on their tax bills," stated Commissioner Suffredin. The Commissioner added that it is important for area residents to have opportunities like this to receive information and assistance in their own neighborhoods.

Assessor Houlihan commented, "I feel it is important to provide as much information as possible to homeowners regarding the avenues currently available to them to verify that they are paying no more than their fair share of the tax burden."

Residents who would like more information on the property tax seminars may contact Commissioner Suffredin's office which he shares with State Senator Schoenberg at 847-864-1209 or Assessor Houlihan's office at 312-433-7550.

In addition, Commissioner Suffredin's district office, 820 Davis Street, Evanston, is open to assist taxpayers in person, Monday - Friday, 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Assistance on Saturday mornings is available by appointment only.

The Niles Township Assessor's office is also available to assist taxpayers. The Niles Township Assessor's office can be reached at 847-693-9300.