Pete Pavkovic, 56, of Chicago, said his bill was $500 more than last year’s bill — when he expected it to be $300 less. This was his second trip to the office this week.

“The first time I got here there was probably twice as many people. The guy gave me a number, but I didn’t have my cane. Someone told me they waited four hours and 15 minutes, so I left.”

Kelley Quinn, spokeswoman for the the Cook County assessor, said that the Skokie office saw more than 2,800 people this week — including 891 people on Monday. That is up from 75 on a typical day.

Quinn blamed the surge this week partially on the heat wave last week that kept people indoors.

“As soon as we opened they flocked in. It was all hands on deck; even the assessor helped,” said Quinn. “We hope Monday and Tuesday were the peak.”

Quinn apologized for the long lines but noted, “We must make sure every customer understands their bills. People want recalculations. Recalculations take more then 60 seconds.”

Quinn explained that many seniors are coming in and realizing they had not reapplied for their senior exemption — which is now required.

“They don’t know they have to reapply. People come in anxious but leave happy. They don’t realize they had to reapply.”

Quinn also said that people receiving some exemptions were not capable of also receiving a senior freeze, too — which is why some left unhappy.

The bills must be paid by Aug. 1.