Park Forest officials held a Zoom meeting with the Cook County Assessor's Office (CCAO) in late February to confront the agency on what Village leaders believe are unfair property value assessments.
Village board members spoke out about the discussion with the Assessor’s Office at a Village board meeting last month, vowing to continue to hold Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi and his office accountable.
"We had a Zoom meeting with the Cook County Assessor to really discuss the frustration as it relates to how our properties are assessed and the formula in which they use," Woods said at the March 4 meeting. "We continue to still have these kinds of meetings, as immediate as possible, to really address the situation."
Others joining Woods for the meeting included Trustee Erin Slone, Village Manager Tom Mick, Economic Development & Planning Director Sandra Zoellner, and Assistant Director of Economic Development and Planning Director Andrew Brown. As part of the discussion, Village leaders provided a report comparing the assessed values in Park Forest to the assessed values in other communities over the past ten years.
Village officials highlighted that Park Forest's current equalized assessed value (EAV) has fallen to its lowest point in 30 years while the tax rate, assessed by Cook County, stands at 43.8%. Park Forest leaders suggested that the tax rate is a consequence of value while the Assessor’s Office asserted that the values were a consequence of the tax rate.
The group asked for guidance from the Assessor’s Office but concluded that the Assessor’s Office could not clearly answer why there were so many disparities in property assessments.
One example Park Forest officials pointed to was a disparity between two properties in the Village, located next to each other. With the triennial reassessment, the value of the property at 56 South Street decreased by 45% while the value of the property at 49 North Street increased by 59%.
Speaking on her takeaway from the meeting, Slone said she'd like to see a consistent evaluation.
"[We're not having these conversations] just to be speaking, but we're exchanging data back and forth to make sure that what the assessor has jives with what we have in the Village of Park Forest," Slone said. "[I want residents to know] we are working hard to get to some sort of resolution."
Mindful of the issue of tax in Park Forest, Village leaders approved a zero percent increase to the Village tax levy four of the last six years. The last increase occurred in 2020.
Park Forest officials believe it is time for the Assessor’s Office to do its part to provide Park Forest property owners with relief.
"We are fighting diligently and vigilantly when it comes to the assessment of our properties, especially in Cook County," Woods said.
“This is one of many conversations that we will be having,” Slone added.