High tax increase is not supportable

Open Letter to Kevin Morrison, Cook County Commissioner, 15th District:

I just downloaded my 2022 Second Installment Property Tax Bill. My taxes increased 59% year over year. I understand this was a triennial reassessment year for my township and that property values have risen over the past three years.

Given that, however, the various taxing districts should have adjusted their levies down sufficiently to maintain a realistic and reasonably consistent level of taxation. Instead, they all apparently have decided to gorge themselves on the windfall. Cook County, of which you are a commissioner supposedly representing me, actually raised its levy on top of the huge assessed value increase, resulting in a stupefying 79% hike in what I have to pay on that line item.

If that isn't enough, because Cook County is so late in issuing the 2022 tax bills, homeowners will receive another big hit in only three months when the first installment of the 2023 tax is issued. That's a lot of tax to swallow in a short amount of time. I'm a retiree living on a fixed income and praying my assets don't expire before I do. If my barber raised his price 79%, I'd find another barber. Do I need to leave Cook County to escape such exorbitant taxation? Is the goal of the county board to drive everyone out? Eventually, the only ones left will be those who can't afford to leave. What will your budget look like then?

Illinois has earned a reputation as a high taxation state. Accepting the adage, "You get what you pay for," I have been willing to absorb higher taxes for quality schools, police and fire protection, etc. But this increase is insupportable. Elected representatives should understand there are limitations to how much people can pay.

Bob Dohn

Hoffman Estates