CFAT Accomplishments

Since 1989 CFAT has made numerous appearances on radio and at property tax forums debating tax reform issues and produces a countywide tax newsletter to communicate to its members who are both business and residential taxpayers.

CFAT spearheaded an effective taxpayer organizing tool with a major petition drive that collected over 70,000 signatures calling for a Taxpayer Advocate Office to protect the public from delinquent tax sale abuses, advocate tax relief and reform, help eliminate waste at every level of government, and act as an ombudsman by investigating citizen complaints about government operations (Assessor's Office opposed)

CFAT since 1989 has produced 5 triennial reassessment and several tax rate studies showing the disparities and inequities of various neighborhoods. CFAT produces numerous studies on the inequities of Cook County business assessments. A recent publication by Crain's Magazine cited a CFAT study that showed that between 1990 and 2001 property values grew so much in Chicago and most northern Cook neighborhoods that the tax rate on property owners dropped even as local government raised tax levies. While tax rates in the economically depressed southern Cook County townships (where property values plummetted) surged between 1990 and 2001, rates in other parts of the county remained flat or decreased.

CFAT has written numerous letters to the editor countywide raising the consciousness for the need of a major property tax overhaul. This has escalated the agreement that the entire tax system is regressive and dysfunctional, and that the classification system is harmful. Watch for a CFAT strong tax blast.

Often relied upon, CFAT is considered a reliable resource for assessment data and tax reform issues for numerous newspaper investigational reporters.

CFAT organized a YES vote for the 1989 Illinois Constitutional Convention. Taxpayers lost the vote due to being out-spent 3 to 1 by incumbent Republicans and Democrats who worked to maintain the "don't change the status quo, don't fix what's not broken" philosophy that maintains our repressive tax system.

CFAT is in the forefront of a YES Vote for a 2007 constituional convention. Our inability to bypass political grid-lock has set the stage for grassroots initiatives. The changes we've recently seen in the property tax "reform" areas are incremental, ineffective, and NOT revenue neutral in impact despite good intentions. It is critical that coalitions are built to support a Yes Vote. CFAT is working to identify citizen delegates to run in the 2008 convention that will finally address the states pressing tax issues.

CFAT spear-headed a petition drive that placed the question, "Should taxpayers be allowed to represent themselves, or retain any person other than an attorney to represent them in property tax appeals before three Cook County Board of Review?" on ballots in over 20 Chicago neighborhoods. This advisory referendum won by 78% affirmative.

CFAT maintains a website for educational and organizational purposes. CFAT website maintains a library of news reports on the Cook County Board of Review's unethical activities as exposed by years of investigative reporting from the Sun Times, Daily Herald and Southtown Newspapers.

CFAT sends candidate questionnaires to elected officials during elections to get their tax reform positions. CFAT supports in-kind contributions to pro tax reform candidates and assisted with volunteers in the elections of pro-taxpayer, newly elected Commissioners of the Cook County Board and newly elected pro-taxpayer Commissioner of the Board of Review.

CFAT helped defeat the house bill to deny exclusively Cook County businesses, large and small, the opportunity to file a tax appeal before the State Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB).

CFAT initiated and supported SB 813 that extended the time taxpayers could make "omitted assessment" payments from 30 days to 16 months. An "omitted assessment" notification by the assessor means that the Assessor staff failed to assess all improvements on the parcel through no fault of the property owner. The bill passed but was watered down by the Cook County Collector's Office lobbyist not to allow 16 months.

CFAT was a central source for the study called the Illinois Property Tax System, Taxation without Representation. This study is a clarion call for overhauling the property tax system. Numerous recommendations to improve property tax administrative practices such as major changes to the data and timely mailing of reassessment notices. The study identifies numerous shortcomings in the state tax assessment system such as 1) 3 different assessment and appeal systems, 2) a classification system which creates a dual structure and has wide impact on state imposed tax multipliers, 3) judged by national standards and state statistical ratings statewide, assessments quality falls below acceptable levels, 4) appeal standards place the burden of proof on the taxpayer, etc.