Senior exemption bill awaits Pritzker action

Legislation passed with the support of state Rep. Fred Crespo intended to ease the process of local seniors receiving cost-saving property tax exemptions awaits Gov. J.B. Pritzker's consideration.

Crespo, a Democrat from Hoffman Estates, worked with County Cook Assessor Fritz Kaegi to pass House Bill 833, which creates a five-year pilot program from 2020 to 2024 for qualifying seniors to continue receiving their Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption without having to reapply each year.

Cook County is the only county in Illinois where older homeowners are forced by state law to go annually through the application process in order to receive this tax relief exemption. Crespo's measure passed the General Assembly with unanimous support.

"I am grateful that my colleagues in the House and Senate unanimously supported this initiative," Crespo said in a news release "This is a necessary step in the right direction as it'll bring about much needed stability to local seniors and I look forward to Gov. Pritzker signing it into law."