Supervisor of Assessments outlines postcard notices, township schedule and urges digitization after office flooding

Timothy Jorsak, McLean County supervisor of assessments, reported to the Finance Committee that 27 of 31 township assessment books are in various stages of approval and that the county's median assessment factor currently sits around 8.5%, down from roughly 10.5%-11% last year.

Jorsak said the office will again mail assessment notices by postcard, but this year the postcard will be a folded design that includes assessed-value information on the inside and a QR code linking to the county property records. He said the change builds on last year's cost-saving postcard initiative while restoring more detailed information taxpayers requested.

Jorsak also reported that his office experienced a second recent flood in the building, causing damage to newly ordered supplies and raising concern about paper historical records that exist only in physical form. He said the office is exploring digitization options to protect records from future floods or fire and urged the county to consider investments to safeguard vital historical documents.

He noted outreach plans for the county fair, where the assessments office and treasurer will staff a combined booth offering property-tax information and assistance to residents.

Jorsak said he and staff will request the county to intervene in a pending property-tax appeal if needed and that any formal intervener filing would be brought through the county's executive process for board approval.