Cook and DuPage County property taxes rise above inflation

Homeowners in Cook and DuPage counties are facing property tax increases that outpace local inflation rates. In Cook County, local governments are seeking $743.8 million in new taxes, bringing the total to over $19.9 billion, an increase of approximately 3.9%. In DuPage County, tax revenue is expected to rise by $143.8 million to a total of $3.76 billion, representing an average increase of 3.86%, which exceeds the local inflation rate of 3.1%.

A report from the Cook County Treasurer’s Office highlights a growing disparity between residential and commercial tax burdens. In the north suburbs, the median bill for residential properties with six or fewer units rose by 6.7%, while median commercial property bills fell by 3.5%. In Evanston, the median residential tax bill increased by 5.04% to over $8,200, whereas commercial, multifamily, and industrial property groups saw median bills decline.

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas noted that residential taxes in the north and northwest suburbs increased at a pace more than triple the inflation rate, suggesting that local governments must learn to do more with less during difficult economic times.