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(Originally appeared in the Southwest News Herald, April 2000) Editor: In the past 18 years, two-thirds of all state property tax legislation served to strengthen the powers of local governments to collect and assess taxes. Not much has been done to transfer greater rights to property taxpayers. In keeping with the status quo, Cook County taxpayers lost big time when property tax reform legislation was defeated in a House committee last week. Legislators voted no to modifying Cook County's property reassessment notices to state that all taxpayers have the right to file tax appeals without having to hire an attorney or consultant. Legislators voted no to allow taxpayers to hire any qualifed representative before the Cook County Board or Review in property tax appeals matters. This summer, Chicago property owners face triennial reassessment increases. Real estate appreciation rates in some neighborhoods have exploded. Along with the record number of property tax appeals to follow, the tax hikes will make local units of government and tax lawyers much better off at the expense of the property owners. What could have been one of the strongest pro-taxpayer legislation in years was lobbied to death by tax lawyers. It is scandalous that a small but powerful group of lawyers, more concerned about their own economic interests have fashioned property tax appeals into an exclusive legal service. Politics and campaign contributions have managed to transform real estate appraisal, assessment and accounting practices, fundamental skills in evaluating property values and assessment equity into high priced legal services. Property owners are intimidated enough by their lack of knowledge in the appeal process. For many minority communities, property tax appeals services are unaffordable or unavailable. Efforts to exclude qualified experts without law degrees limits consumer options to the best affordable services. Lawyers speaking out in opposition to this legislation ostensibly wanted to protect property owners from potential consumer fraud by unlicensed and unscrupulous non-attorneys. As a reminder, dubbed the largest tax scandal emanating from one government agency in government history, 23 were convicted of bribery at the Cook County Boar do Tax Review. Taxpayers are not under the impression that lawyers have a monopoly on the high ethical standards. What property owners need is a little truth in taxation in the appeals process. Need an appraisal when that reassessment notice arrives? Legislators recommend you call an attorney. -Edgewater Resident CFAT News Source news@fairtaxes.net Call an Attorney for Property Tax Appeals |
