Crespo Passes Measure to Ease Property Tax Burden on Seniors

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Local seniors who qualify for cost-saving property tax exemptions would no longer have to reapply annually for relief under legislation passed by state Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates.  

“Local seniors, many of whom live on a fixed income, are hurting because of skyrocketing property taxes,” Crespo said. “This legislation will bring much-needed stability and relief to seniors by ensuring that they don’t have to jump through unnecessary hoops or even miss out on property tax savings.”

Crespo worked with Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi on House Bill 833, which creates a five-year pilot program (from 2020-2024) for qualifying seniors to 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 passed the House with unanimous support. 

“I’m grateful for Representative Crespo for his continued advocacy on this issue. Our office has worked in collaboration with him on the plan for its technological implementation and the safeguards necessary to prevent fraud while also making these annual exemptions more accessible for seniors,” Kaegi said. “We have heard from many taxpayers during my countywide listening tour about the need for HB 833 as it will help modernize operations in the Assessor’s Office and ease an unnecessary burden for seniors in Cook County.”

Crespo represents the 44th District, which includes portions of Hoffman Estates, Streamwood, Schaumburg, Hanover Park, Bartlett, and Elgin.