Supervisor: Board of Review wrapping up 2024 assessments; about 13,000 senior-freeze notices to be mailed

Peoria County Supervisor Dave told the board the county's Board of Review is finishing its work on 2024 assessments and will forward a final abstract to the Illinois Department of Revenue for review to ensure the assessment ratio meets the 33 1/3 percent guideline.

Dave said, "Go ahead and start with the board of review. The board of review is finishing up their work for 2024. They've got a couple hearings left. So once they are finished, we will end up sending, what's called the final abstract down to the Department of Revenue to review. They review all our assessment information and make sure that we're within that 33 and a third." He added that the county does not expect the Department of Revenue to impose an adjusting factor this year because the tentative abstract was close to the 33 1/3 percent target.

Dave also described the county's senior homestead (senior freeze) notices: "Senior freeze notices, just a reminder, those will probably be sent out in the next couple weeks. We send out about 13,000 of those to anybody 65 years or older that have filed for the senior homestead exemption." He clarified that the senior homestead exemption is income based and requires annual filing: "This is an income based exemption, so they have to file each year and have a household income of 65,000 or less." He noted the notices increase foot traffic and phone calls to the county office each year because many eligible residents choose to file in person.

No formal action was taken on the report; the comments were presented as part of the supervisor's informational report. The supervisor offered to answer questions from the board about assessment timing and senior-exemption processing.

The supervisor's remarks also included routine operational notes on casework volume related to staffing in another county office.