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Homewood resident warns of steep property tax increases after South Cook reassessment
Summary
At the Jan. 6 Homewood School District 153 board meeting, resident Kimberly O'Loan described a large personal property tax increase and urged officials to press Cook County and state authorities for change; Superintendent Dr. McAllister and board members explained causes and options including appeals and exemptions.
Kimberly O'Loan, a resident of Homewood School District 153, told the board at its Jan. 6 meeting that her property tax bill rose sharply this year and that the increase had driven longtime neighbors to consider leaving the village.
"This year, I got my tax bill, and it, it went up $8,000…before exemptions, our tax bill is now $20,000," O'Loan said. She later told the board that friends are deferring retirement or building outside the area because of tax pressure.
The district superintendent, identified in the meeting as Dr. McAllister, said the board's November referendum was only part of the change residents saw and that a routine South Cook reassessment in 2023 substantially raised assessments across the area. "The referendum was partially responsible for people's taxes going up as we advertised," Dr. McAllister said. "At the same time, we had a South Cook reassessment, which happens every three years. In 2023 was when that happened."
Dr. McAllister explained how the interaction of reassessment and local tax structure affects homeowners: "Local property taxes support 70% of the schools. That's just statewide," he said, adding that in communities with smaller commercial tax bases, residential property owners bear a larger share of school funding.
Board members and Dr. McAllister encouraged residents to check exemptions and to appeal Cook County assessments where appropriate. The superintendent noted the Cook County Board of Review exists to hear appeals and said residents who believe their assessment is incorrect have the right to file.
Board President Shelley Peck and other members acknowledged the community concern and said they, too, saw large increases on their bills. The board did not take any formal action on taxation at the meeting; members urged residents to pursue exemptions and appeals and suggested broader, statewide change would be required to change how schools are funded.
The board meeting record shows the public comment on taxes began with O'Loan's remarks and concluded when the board thanked her and moved on to other business.
