Cook County commissioner explains triennial reassessment, urges residents to use board review

Cook County Commissioner George Cardness told the Village of Riverside Board of Trustees on May 21 that the county's triennial reassessment produced higher taxable values in the village and described the appeals pathway for property owners.

"The assessments came out and, uh, you're not going to be pleased," Cardness said, urging residents to begin appeals promptly. He explained the sequential appeal steps: an initial appeal to the assessor (a 30-day statutory window), review by the county Board of Review, then the Property Tax Appeal Board or circuit court as subsequent options.

Cardness said market forces have pushed single-family and multifamily market values upward, noting investor activity is contributing to increased multifamily values. He described neighborhood codes and township mapping, which were drawn decades ago, as the primary reason adjacent properties can receive different assessments. "The neighborhood codes don't change and haven't changed in decades," he said, and that creates anomalies when housing stock shifts.

The commissioner said the Board of Review is funded to handle appeals and offers one-on-one adjudication: analysts will compare properties using neighborhood-code comparables and make adjustments where uniformity is lacking. He pledged to provide neighborhood-level queries and emphasized his office will prioritize Riverside when its township opens for review.

Arturo Romo, manager of outreach for Cardness, said his team of analysts will visit Riverside to provide presentations, help residents file appeals, and meet with the township assessor when the Board of Review opens for the township.

Why it matters: homeowners who disagree with their new assessments must act quickly to preserve appeal rights. Cardness highlighted the narrow 30-day window to appeal to the assessor and the role of the Board of Review in conducting more detailed, individualized reviews.

Next steps: Cardness's office will prioritize outreach in Riverside and provide a list of comparables and guidance when the township's review period opens.