COOK COUNTY – Homeowners in Chicago’s south and southwest suburbs are shocked by the dramatic increase in property taxes. Some took their frustrations directly to Cook County Tax Assessor Fritz Kaegi on Saturday.

“When my wife saw the tax bill, the first thing she said, just like the gentleman said earlier, was, ‘We’re going to have to sell this house,’” said one Cook County resident.

Residents gathered at the Homewood Auditorium to confront Kaegi, who acknowledged their concerns.

“You don’t need a lawyer to appeal. People who appeal on their own were slightly more successful last year than people who hired a lawyer or representative,” Kaegi said.

A study by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas found that property taxes in the south and southwest suburbs have risen nearly 20 percent on average, the highest increase in 30 years. For some, the impact has been even more severe.

“My home value went up over 100% and the second property tax I got, I had to pay $10,000. My tax bill went up 86%,” said one homeowner.

In Dixmoor and Phoenix, property taxes have more than doubled.

Kaegi explained that the rapid tax increases are a result of several factors, including the decline of the industrial base, the impact of online shopping on the retail sector and the economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There was a lot of evidence that homes for people at the lower end of the price spectrum, particularly Black and brown people, were overvalued relative to homes at the higher end of the price spectrum for a long period of time. In addition, commercial properties were undervalued for a long period of time,” he said.

Kaegi assured residents that his office strives to ensure fair assessments and urged them to check for forgotten tax exemptions.

“The most immediate and practical thing you can do is check your exemptions first,” he said.

The average property tax in the south and southwestern suburbs of Cook County now exceeds $6,100.