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TAX REFORM ISSUES
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About CFAT
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For more than a decade, Citizens for Fair Assessments & Taxes (CFAT) has successfully advocated for important reforms to Cook County's tax assessment system. It's a big task. Cook County's 1.6 million parcels of real estate create the second largest tax assessment system in the nation! And in the past twenty years Cook County property taxes have increased 237%.
Help us pursue an open and fair property tax system by joining CFAT's fight for pro-consumer legislation, which would allow taxpayers to represent themselves, or to retain someone other than an attorney to represent them, before their local county tax review board.
CFAT is an organization run by volunteers.
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CFAT'S Property Tax Reform Action Plan
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- Adopt a uniform assessment level in Cook County, taxing all properties at 33% of their assessed valuation. The elimination of classification would dramatically reduce the state multiplier, which more than doubles initial assessments.
- Reform the property tax appeal system. Place limits on Cook County's triennial reassessment increases to curtail the ever-growing number of tax appeals. Revise the state property tax code to state specifically that any person may file an appeal without hiring legal representation.
- Safeguard the property tax system from politics by cutting off the flow of campaign contributions from lawyers and tax consultants. Alternatively, the elected Cook County assessor and commissioners of the Board of Review could be appointed to their positions.
- Address statewide inequities of the tax system by adopting a graduated income tax in line with 45 other states. We seem to lack the leadership necessary for critical reforms of both Cook County's and Illinois' tax systems. In the last two state legislative sessions, lawmakers have failed to pass a constitutional amendment requiring the state to take greater responsibility for financing education. If the next two legislative sessions continue in political gridlock, the next constitutional convention in 2008 could be the last chance for meaningful reform for another 20 years!
Powerful special interests are lined up to defeat CFAT's tax reform legislation, which allows greater open access to your local property tax appeals process. We need to count not only on property owners but also citizens interested in fair and open government for support!
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What You Can Do?
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Citizens for Fair Assessments and Taxes (CFAT) has joined a growing coalition of neighborhood and civic groups, including Taxpayer Action, Tax Reform Action Coalition (TRAC), Lake View Citizen's Council (LVCC), North Center Lincoln Square, Network 21, and numerous others to advocate for Illinois property tax reform as our number one priority.
There are numerous property tax reform issues. Significant tax reform has not immerged from the Illinois legislature in more than 20 years. Taxpayers are fed-up with the political gridlock and have blocked a binding referendum to cap property taxes.
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Volunteer
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Volunteer to help with CFAT's efforts to promote other property tax reform.
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Get informed
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Use CFAT's website to learn about tax issues that affect Cook County renters and property owners.
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Contribute
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Send us a contribution no matter how small! These contributions are not tax deductible.
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Quick links:
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Can non lawyers represent taxpayers in property assessment appeals?
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Read the Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board article in support of tax-reform legislation
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News
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DEL VALLE: APPOINT COOK COUNTY TAX BOARD
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CFAT WEBSITE RECEIVES AN AVERAGE I30 VISITORS PER DAY
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CHICAGO SUN-TIMES INVESTIGATION EXPOSES CRONYISM IN BOARO OF TAX REVIEW
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REASSESSMENT STATS CONTINUED
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ILLINOIS: COOK COUNTY ASSESSOR ACCEPTS POSTMARK DATE FOR FILING TAX APPEALS BY MAIL
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93% VOTE YES FOR AN OPEN PROPERTY TAX APPEAL PROCESS
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LEARN HOW TO REDUCE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES AT COMMUNITY TAX TALKS!
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TAX REFORM PUBLIC MEETING on MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2002, DRIVE TO CAP PROPERTY TAXES GETS A BOOST
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FIXING THE SYSTEM
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COOK COUNTY BOARD UNANIMOUSLY PASSES PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION ORDINANCE
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NO NEED TO HIRE LAWYER TO FILE PROPERTY TAX APPEAL!
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