Cook County and Rich Township assessors’ offices to be on hand
Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– A meeting for Legacy Square homeowners has been scheduled for December 15. Purpose of the meeting is to provide the residents with information regarding their property tax bills. The meeting will be held at the Dining-on-the-Green Banquet Hall in Downtown Park Forest and will begin at 7 p.m.
Mayor John A. Ostenburg said he has received a number of calls and e-mails from residents of Legacy Square with concerns about the high property tax bills they received. He said the Village staff has invited representatives of the Cook County Assessor’s Office and the Rich Township Assessor’s Office to be on hand and to explain the way in which the tax bills are determined and methods for protesting tax bills.
"We have done this in the past when a large group of residents have expressed concerns," Mayor Ostenburg said. "We’ve had some luck in some cases in helping the residents get their bills reduced."
Mayor Ostenburg said Park Forest property tax bills are high because of the lack of commercial activity in the Village. "We have few commercial property owners paying property tax bills, and very little sales tax being generated, so the residents are forced to pick up the largest share of the bill for schools and Village, township, and county services," he said.
Tax bills are based on the assessed value of the property, which is determined by likely sales value. If property is likely to sell for higher amounts, then the assessed value is greater. New homes, such as those in Legacy Square, are considered to be among those with the highest sales value and thus often receive the highest tax assessments.
Tax bills include funds for municipal services, for schools, and for township and county services.
