Committee on Finance July 24, 2019
RESOLUTION
Whereas, property taxation is a function of the government that the public has the right to scrutinize because the process must be accurate, uniform, and fair; and
Whereas, the recent release of Cook County property tax bills for tax year 2018 show that property taxes have increased overall compared to the previous year of 2017, with the average tax bill for single-family homes in the City of Chicago increasing by 2.15%; and
Whereas, many communities within the city of Chicago currently experiencing displacement of long term residents, saw a disproportionately larger increase in the average property tax bill; and
Whereas, based on academic studies examining changes in demographics, socioeconomic data, and local housing markets, the Chicago community areas that are experiencing displacement include, but are not limited to, Logan Square, Uptown, Bronzeville (Grand Boulevard), Pilsen (Near West Side), Avondale, Bridgeport, Irving Park, Rogers Park, Woodlawn, Hyde Park, Albany Park, Humboldt Park; and
Whereas, these same community areas have experienced a dramatic increase in the median tax bill compared to the previous year, with an increase of 24.09% in Logan Square, 19.93% in Uptown, 16.01% in Bronzeville (Grand Boulevard), 13.72% in Pilsen (Near West Side), 11.25% in Avondale, 10.21% in Bridgeport, 10.2% in Irving Park, 9.85% in Rogers Park, 7.31% in Woodlawn, 6.78% in Hyde Park, and 6.03% in Albany Park, 3.6% Humboldt Park; and
Whereas, this dramatic increase in the median property tax bill in the aforementioned community areas increases displacement pressure in those community areas by placing additional burden on longtime homeowners, often causing longtime homeowners to sell, or lose their lifelong homes in the county property tax scavenger sale; and
Whereas, property tax increases in community areas that already have high property values such as Lincoln Square and Lakeview, the pressure for longtime homeowners to sell is even greater; and
Whereas, former Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios, prior to the end of his term stated that the assessor's office would implement the residential property assessment model recommended by the Civic Consulting Alliance for tax year 2018 to address inequities in the property tax assessment formula and model; and
Whereas, current Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi has also committed to implementing the Civic Consulting Alliance's formula; and
Whereas, the assessment model and formula used for tax year 2018 has exacerbated and fueled displacement by placing additional burden on longtime working-class property owners, many of them Black and Latinx; and
Whereas, it is unclear if the Cook County Assessor's office has implemented the property tax assessment model recommended by the Civic Consulting Alliance; and
Whereas, information on how properties are now being assessed is critical in order for the public to understand how they are being taxed; and
Whereas, working-class Chicagoans need and deserve an equitable property tax assessment model and formula that does not fuel displacement; therefore
Be It Resolved, that the Chicago City Council asks Cook County Assessor Kaegi to attend a special meeting of the Council's Committee on Finance to discuss the assessment formula and model; and
Be It Further Resolved, that at this special meeting of the Council's Committee on Finance the Council, Assessor, and assembled experts will discuss additional state, county, and city measures that can be taken to ensure working-class Chicagoans have an equitable property tax system that does not fuel displacement.
Carlos ^Ramirez-Rosa Alderman, 35th Ward