Property Tax Exemptions
Property tax exemptions are the main form of individual property tax relief. The Reform Group needed to know whether they were having the intended effect. Research found unanticipated inequities in the exemption system.
Commercial Property Valuation
Making commercial property values more accurate and predictable is one of the Reform Group's most important goals. A 2024 report from Josh Myers Valuation Solutions measured the accuracy of commercial assessments and compared practices at the Board of Review to those of the Assessor's Office.
Property Tax Incentives
Property tax incentives are provided to some businesses to spur economic development in Cook County. Our December 2025 study with UIC and CMAP examined their impact on the local economy and individual bills.
Future Studies:
The Reform Group continues to identify areas where additional research is needed to better understand and improve Cook County’s property tax system. The studies outlined below represent upcoming priorities that will guide future reform efforts.
High Number of Appeals
The Cook County Assessor’s Office and the Board of Review receive an astronomically high number of assessment appeals compared to peer jurisdictions. Appeals are important to ensure taxpayers have a method through which to dispute incorrect or incomplete assessments of their property. However, when they are used so extensively, appeals can introduce inequities, particularly because high‑value property owners are far more likely to file them.
A study on the cause of Cook County’s exorbitant rate of appeals and potential solutions is a priority for the Property Tax Reform Group in 2026.
Reliance on Property Tax Revenue
Local governments in Illinois rely more on property taxes to pay for their services than in any other state in the nation except New Jersey, according to this analysis from the Tax Foundation. Our tax bills depend on both our assessment system and how much each taxing district requests annually. Reducing local levies will require finding other sources of revenue or sharing resources more between governments. The Reform Group will examine how to reduce our reliance on property taxes while still adequately funding critical public services.