Get help if your property assessment is too high

Originally published November 19, 2015

Orland Township residents who believe their property was assessed at more than it’s worth can file for an appeal through the Cook County Board of Review through Dec. 8.

The higher the assessment, the more a resident pays in property tax, so those who believe they have been unfairly assessed often appeal.

The Orland Township assessor’s office is assisting residents in filing appeals.

There are a number of reasons to file an appeal. If you think your property assessment is out of line with other similar homes in the area, if it’s out of line with a purchase or appraisal that’s taken place within three years, if there’s a major factual or mathematical error, or if your property has been damaged by fire, flood or some other catastrophe or part of the building has been demolished, then you might be considering an appeal.

Mary Ellen Malito, the chief deputy assessor for Orland Township, helped prepare my appeal. Unfortunately for me, it didn’t reap a reduction this year.

Orland Township Assessor Rich Kelly explained that while the county handles property assessments, his office handles the corrections for any mistakes made on the assessment.

“We have saved the residents of Orland Township approximately $1 million each year through this appeal process,” he said.

To get your appeal started, schedule an appointment with the township assessor’s office by calling (708) 403-4222. If the township staff prepares your appeal, you will be given copies of the appeal form and any supporting documentation. Your appeal will be mailed directly downtown for processing. Appeal result letters will be mailed directly to you.

You also may appeal online by visiting www.cookcountyboardofreview.com. The deadline is 5 p.m. Dec. 8 for paper forms and 11:30 p.m. online. The Orland Township assessor’s office will accept appeals until Dec. 4 to ensure delivery to the Cook County Board of Review office by the deadline. The township office will continue to assist residents up to Dec. 8, but it will be up to the resident to get appeals postmarked by Dec. 8 or drop them off at the Board of Review offices at the Markham or Bridgeview courthouses by the deadline.

Kelly will hold a property tax appeal seminar at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Orland Township Activity Center, 14807 Ravinia Ave., Orland Park.

Property tax rebate program

The village of Orland Park recently announced it again would be rebating a portion of eligible village residents’ 2014 property taxes that were paid to the village in 2015.

Including this year’s expected $2.2 million rebate, the village will have rebated property taxes for 11 of the last 14 years for a total of $36.7 million since 2003.

Mayor Dan McLaughlin on Nov. 2 hosted a Senior Coffee at the Orland Park Civic Center to kick off this year’s initiative. McLaughlin, Trustee Carole Ruzich and village staff were on hand to answer questions and assist nearly 500 senior citizens (divided between two gatherings that day) in submitting the required documents.

One-on-one assistance for applicants will be available at Village Hall from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 21, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 10 and 11.

To qualify for the rebate, you must own a single-family home, townhouse, residential condominium unit and/or multiunit apartment building. To receive your partial rebate, all application requirements must be met by the Dec. 11 deadline. Refund amounts will be determined after receipt of all applications.

Residents can apply online at optaxrebate.com or pick up a paper application at Village Hall, 14700 Ravinia Ave.; the recreation administration building, 14600 Ravinia Ave.; Orland Park Public Library, 14921 Ravinia Ave.; or the village’s Sportsplex, 11351 W. 159th St. The deadline for applications is Dec. 11.

Along with the application, residents will have to include a copy of the second installment of their 2014 tax bill, copies of the front and back of their driver’s license and a utility bill. A copy of the utility bill isn’t required if the water bill account number is included on the application.

Rebates will go out in March.

For more information, visit www.orlandpark.org or call (708) 403-3086.