Burke only had to ask to get tax breaks

Alderman Edward M. Burke - who's in the re-election fight of his life as he faces a criminal charge that he tried to extort a fast-food franchise owner - got property tax breaks on his house and political offices that saved him nearly 6 percent of what he otherwise would have had to pay last year. How did he do it? Just by asking.

Then-Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios responded by cutting the value his staff had placed on the alderman's Southwest Side home and 14th Ward offices, saving Burke nearly $1,511.58 in taxes last year, records show.

Burke will see more savings this summer when the next property tax bills are calculated and mailed to Cook County property owners.

Usually, people appealing will produce an appraisal to try to persuade the county assessor's office it overvalued a property. Or they'll argue comparable properties were given lower values.

The alderman's law firm, Klafter & Burke, didn't offer any appraisals when it filed appeals with Berrios in October 2017 on Burke's home on West 51st Street near Pulaski Road and ward offices in the 2600 block of West 51st.

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