Property tax bonfire: Chicago homeowners gather at Harmony Community Church in Lawndale to discuss new house tax bill increases
CHICAGO (WLS) — People gathered Saturday night for a “property tax bonfire” at Harmony Community Church in Lawndale as they are trying to light the way to fairness.
Many homeowners in Chicago have received a hefty bill with the latest round of property tax increases, and they’re wondering where exactly that money is going.
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Homeowners in Lawndale are searching for answers together about their property tax hikes.
Community leaders partnered with the Lawndale Christian Development Corporation to host a bonfire, allowing neighbors to discuss their options.
Lawndale resident Thomas Worthy received a bill this week that was $977 more than what he paid last year.
“Tax increase is tied to a TIF that I have no idea why,” Worthy said. “It’s collecting money from our neighbors and streets, but we’re not being notified why it’s in the bill.”
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The group discussed a number of solutions for the issue, including an effort to propose new policy which would be modeled after California’s Prop 13. That would limit property taxes to one percent of assessed value with annual increases capped at 2%.
Homeowners are also frustrated because they feel like they’re not seeing the tax hikes lead to notable investment in their neighborhoods.
“There’s been a divestment in this community for the most part but it seems now that have people found an interest in reclaiming the neighborhood,” lifelong Lawndale resident Milton Clayton said. “Now we’re being taxed for prosperity.”
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas also spoke earlier Saturday on the tax bills while at a Rainbow PUSH event. She says there are new avenues for homeowners to pay these bills at their own pace.
“You do not have to pay your bill on December 15,” Pappas said. “You hear that you don’t have to pay it. Let me tell you why we went to Springfield last year and set up a payment plan.”
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Pappas says homeowners can go online on December 16 and find payment plans for up to 13 months. That’s welcome news to the Lawndale homeowners, but they still want some clarity on the tax hikes.
“We understand utilities are going up a things of that nature, but it’s a valuation issue,” Worthy said. “We don’t have the schools we need. It’s economics that are not here, but we’re being charged for economics in different communities.”
Some people told ABC7 they haven’t even received their property tax bill, but ABC7 was told by officials that those are going out around Chicago throughout the week.
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