The property assessment games continue

Well, the assessment merry-go-round has started again. I received a notice from the Board of Review that they were reducing my real estate assessment for 2023 taxes by 11% (after it was increased by 60% earlier) - great news huh! But this is the same thing that happened in 2020 after my assessment went up in 2019 by 21% and was then reduced the next year by 9%.

If the pattern holds, next year it will again be reduced. That is until the next tri-annual assessment increases it again. Like I said last month on this issue: "they are playing wack-a-mole with our assessment".

In an efficient system, properties would have a realistic assessment that could be adjusted by some cost of living factor annually. Then the assessor could focus those properties that have been upgraded instead of trying to estimate each individual property leading to a ton of appeals.

While on the subject of assessments and assessors, why must the Schaumburg Township assessor (who has moved out of the township) have to be replaced only by someone in the same political party? Since the assessor must have specific certifications to do the job, why wouldn't someone of any party, with those qualification be eligible?

Joe Celosky

Hoffman Estates