Reassessment system is unfair to seniors

I am a retired lawyer living in Lombard, and I would like to raise awareness about a growing concern among many seniors in DuPage County: the fairness of property tax reassessments for older homeowners living on fixed incomes.

Most seniors are not asking to avoid paying property taxes. After decades of supporting schools, infrastructure, and public services, they fully expect to continue paying their fair share. The concern is whether the current reassessment system is fair and grounded in economic reality.

Property taxes rise when homes are reassessed at higher values based on market trends and comparable sales. Yet for homeowners who are not selling their homes, these increases provide no additional income or financial benefit. The increased value exists only on paper, but the higher tax bill is very real.

For retirees relying on Social Security, pensions, and retirement savings, this creates a serious problem. Income often remains fixed while property taxes continue to rise. In many cases, homeowners who have made no improvements to their property still experience significant increases in assessed value and taxes.

The system can also appear arbitrary. Similar homes on the same street may receive different assessments, and tax increases can occur simply because the surrounding market changes. Longtime homeowners are effectively taxed on unrealized wealth they may never actually receive.

This issue is especially important in Illinois, where property taxes are already among the highest in the nation.

A reasonable solution would be to freeze or suspend property tax reassessments for homeowners over age 65 who occupy their homes as their primary residence. Such a policy would not eliminate property taxes but would provide stability and predictability for seniors who simply want to remain in the homes and communities they helped build.

Perry O’Brien

Lombard