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Assessor: 5,400 notices mailed; seniors should note deadline and pending state change
Summary
The county assessor reported 5,400 assessment notices were mailed Dec. 3, property owners have 30 days to file complaints, and a state bill to raise the senior freeze limit to $75,000 had passed both chambers and awaited the governor's signature.
The Stephenson County supervisor of assessments told the Administration & Legal Affairs Committee that 5,400 assessment notices were mailed Dec. 3 and recipients have 30 days to file complaints about their assessments. Speaker 6, the assessor’s speaker in the transcript, said many calls to the office stem from confusion about how reassessments affect senior‑freeze or disabled‑veteran exemptions.
"They have 30 days, so January is second," Speaker 6 stated, explaining the time window for filing complaints and noting that staff have received many questions about the process. She urged property owners — particularly seniors — to verify exemption and deferral paperwork before deadlines.
Speaker 6 also said the state legislature had passed a bill in both the House and Senate to raise the senior freeze limit to $75,000 but that the governor had not yet signed the measure. The assessor said the office will post updates to the county website and social media once the governor acts and that staff will continue to help callers understand the calculations and deadlines.
Why it matters: assessment notices trigger statutory appeal windows and can cause confusion for elderly and disabled taxpayers who rely on exemptions. The county plans to publish FAQs and short explanatory material to reduce phone demand and help residents understand required documentation.
What’s next: the assessor’s office said it will post guidance online and continue outreach; the committee discussed producing brief explainer content to reduce repeat phone calls.
