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County clerk proposes overhaul of property tax exemptions, targets seniors for reapplication
Summary
Iroquois County27s clerk proposed a comprehensive review of property tax exemptions to catch ineligible claims and to enroll residents in a newly expanded senior freeze (household income eligibility raised to $75,000); she proposed targeted mailings and outreach partnerships.
The Iroquois County clerk proposed a county-wide overhaul of property tax exemptions to ensure only eligible owners receive relief and to identify residents eligible for the newly expanded senior freeze.
Miss Buchanan (Speaker 5) said the county will ask property owners with homestead exemptions to reapply so staff can verify eligibility. "We think that's gonna open the door for more people to possibly be eligible for it," she said, noting the senior freeze threshold now allows household incomes up to $75,000 (previously $65,000).
Buchanan estimated about 4,000 owner-occupied exemptions and roughly 2,000 seniors who would receive mailings and application packets in the initial outreach. She proposed mailing documents separate from tax bills so eligible residents can apply sooner and suggested partnering with local radio stations, loan officers and the health department to amplify outreach.
The clerk also noted an underused database (DevNet/DevNet-like system) and considered hiring a vendor (TrueAccord) that would flag likely ineligible exemptions; the vendor approach would cost approximately $15,000, she said.
Next steps: the clerk will prepare mailing materials for initial senior outreach and report to the board; the committee offered suggestions about press outreach and local partnerships to increase participation.
