Assessor reports appeals and flags impact from state increase to senior assessment-freeze income cap

LaSalle County’s assessor updated the committee on appeal activity and a state-level change to the senior assessment-freeze program.

The assessor said the office received 302 taxpayer appeals by the Dec. 1 deadline; 11 appeals requested reductions in equalized assessed value (EAV) exceeding $100,000 and roughly 147 in-office adjustments were recorded. She also described completing the annual assessors meeting and said 28 people attended the session, including an assistant state’s attorney and several county board members.

On state policy, the assessor noted recently enacted legislation that raises the senior assessment-freeze household-income limit to $75,000 starting in 2026, with additional increases planned in 2027 and 2028. “That will affect, I believe, the tax deferral also through the treasurer's office,” the assessor said, predicting a substantial increase in applicants who previously were slightly over earlier income limits.

The assessor confirmed township multipliers were published following October equalization and said the office will publish materials and slides from the annual meeting to help taxpayers understand the changes.

Next steps: assessor staff will circulate the annual meeting slideshow and continue to process appeals; county offices anticipate a spike in senior-freeze requests when the new income threshold takes effect.