Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, joined Thursday morning by representatives from more than a dozen social service agencies and community organizations, called for the Illinois General Assembly to bring property tax relief to low-income senior homeowners in Cook County during this fall’s veto session. There are several legislative proposals to expand and automate inclusion in the Low-Income Senior Freeze Homestead Exemption, which is currently available for homeowners older than 65 with an annual household income $65,000 or lower. The Senior Freeze helps save older homeowners a significant amount in property taxes by “freezing” the taxable value of their property. Legislation in front of the General Assembly to reform the Senior Freeze includes:

• HB3790 to raise the income threshold above $65,000, expanding the number of senior homeowners eligible to receive the Senior Freeze exemption.

• SB1750 to allow the Cook County Assessor’s Office to automatically renew the Senior Freeze exemption for those homeowners already enrolled. This would ease a burden for many low-income seniors who may have difficulty renewing the exemption annually.

Homeowners can call or write their representatives in the state legislature to express their support for these reforms to the Senior Freeze exemption. They can find their local legislators, along with their contact information, at https://www.elections.il.gov/electionoperations/districtlocator/districtofficialsearchbyaddress.aspx.

Photo Credit: Office of Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi