Assessments soar in Wheeling Township

Wheeling Township Assessor Dan Patlak said 2007 property assessments, for which the median increase is 27 percent, were mailed out Friday.

According to the Cook County assessor's Web site, Wheeling Township -- which includes Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, Prospect Heights and Mount Prospect -- consists of 35,545 residential parcels.

"We're one of the biggest townships in numbers of parcels," Patlak said.

He said the average increase for residents is about 26 percent. Property is reassessed every three years.

According to the assessor's Web site, the overall median sale price for single-family homes increased from $288,750 in 2004 to $356,000 in 2007. The median assessed value went from $30,449 to $39,134, an increase of 27 percent.

The assessments are for tax bills that will come out in the fall of 2008.

Under current state law, assessment increases that are applied to a tax bill are limited to 7 percent a year. But whether that limitation will be continued and under what terms is part of a battle in Springfield between the governor and the Senate on one side and the House on the other side. If they fail to agree, the limit will lapse.

One thing that is important to remember, Patlak said, is that homeowners who feel their assessments are in error should appeal now.

To assist homeowners, Patlak said he is hosting an assessment appeal seminar at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at the township headquarters, 1616 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights.

For more information on valuation in Wheeling Township, click on www.cookcountyassessor.com/filings/newyear/firstpass.asp.