Brian Sikowitz, Riverside Township assessor, told the Board of Trustees on March 11 that the Cook County assessor’s office opened the property tax appeal period for the township and that the township office will assist taxpayers through the April 18 deadline.

“...we will be open for appeals through, April 18,” Sikowitz said, noting his office was preparing outreach and expected “a lot of traffic coming in for the next 2 months.” He said the township assists residents with both appeals and exemption applications, and that renewal forms for the senior freeze were expected to be mailed by the Cook County Assessor within a week of the meeting.

Sikowitz said this is the third year of the reassessment process and he estimated the township would handle about 600 appeals. He told trustees that reductions are less frequent this reassessment cycle because the assessor’s office and the board of review are using a larger data set; he estimated roughly 30% of people who file with the assessor’s office might receive reductions under current conditions, but added that results depend on each taxpayer’s circumstances.

The board asked procedural questions about the deadline and the volume; Sikowitz confirmed the April 18 filing deadline and said the township will continue to assist residents who contact the assessor’s office.