Confused by Property Taxes?  You're not alone.  The property tax system in Illinois is confusing, and Cook County administers a double dose of confusion.  The mass of terms, percentages, factors and exemptions can make the system seem more like a 'Rube Goldberg' machine than a rational method for funding local government.

My name is Ali ElSaffar.  I have been an official in the property tax system for the past nine years, and I have seen that confusion can turn into frustration, anger and fear when taxes suddenly and dramatically increase after a reassessment.  Such tax increases can be highly disruptive to the finances of homeowners, and can sometimes even force people out of their homes. 

The proposal explained in this web site is based on my experience working with taxpayers and the property tax system.  It is my hope that the ideas presented here will provide a framework for solving one of the most serious problems with Illinois' property tax system.

Proposal in a Nutshell.  The Reassessment Tax Cap is designed to limit property tax increases resulting from reassessment for Illinois homeowners.  The Quick Overview section explains the basics of the proposal.

The Reassessment Tax Cap updates and extends the '7% expanded homeowner exemption,' which is currently in place in Cook County but is expiring.  The proposal:  

• limits tax increases for homeowners caused by reassessment
• minimally impacts business and other properties not benefiting from the tax cap proposal 
• operates consistently in the long term, without regard to whether property values are rising or falling
• provides a seamless transition with the expiring '7% expanded homeowner exemption' 
• operates consistently in all areas of Cook County and the State of Illinois