SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Cook County seniors would no longer have to reapply annually for much-needed property tax relief under legislation introduced by state Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates.
“Local seniors shouldn’t have to go through burdensome bureaucracy to receive necessary relief on their property taxes,” Crespo said. “This is a commonsense reform that will make government more efficient and accessible while we work to provide greater relief to seniors and middle-class families across our state.”
Crespo’s House Bill 833 would ensure qualifying seniors continue receiving their Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption without having to reapply every year. Currently, Cook County is the only county where older homeowners are forced by state law to go through a burdensome process of reapplying annually for the cost-saving exemption, a process which adds to the burden of seniors and could result in homeowners missing out on savings. Crespo’s measure would do away with all the burdensome bureaucracy by eliminating the requirement that Cook County seniors reapply annually.
“I’m grateful to Representative Crespo for his continued advocacy on this issue. Our office is in collaboration with him on the technological implementation and safeguards necessary to prevent fraud while also making these annual exemptions more accessible for seniors. When implemented, this effort will help modernize operations in the Assessor’s Office and ease an unnecessary burden for seniors in Cook County,” Fritz Kaegi, Cook County Assessor said.
Crespo represents the 44th District, which includes portions of Hoffman Estates, Streamwood, Schaumburg, Hanover Park, Bartlett, and Elgin.
