Flood victims can get some tax relief

Kane County property owners affected by last month's storms and flood can seek property tax relief, the county assessor announced Thursday.

The office has begun the process of reassessing properties damaged by the late-August storms. Gov. Rod Blagojevich's declaration of Kane County as a disaster area means affected property owners can request reassessment under the state property tax code.

The assessor's office mailed the form this week to the owners of 659 property owners identified by the Kane County Office of Emergency Management as parcels that likely sustained storm damage.

The one-page form also is available online at www.co.kane.il.us/soa/forms/ptax-245.pdf. Required information includes a property index number -- the 10-digit government-assigned code listed on property tax bills -- and a detailed description of property damaged by the storms.

Completed forms should be mailed to the assessor's office. They will then be forwarded to township assessors, who might contact applicants to evaluate claims. Applicants should compile receipts, insurance claims, photographs and other evidence.

After the claims are processed, taxpayers will receive a notice from the Kane County Board of Review. Qualified applicants will have their assessments adjusted on a pro-rated basis for the period from Aug. 20 to the end of 2007.

For more information, call Kane County Assessor Mark Armstrong's office at (630) 208-3818.