Journal & Topics Media Group

Des Plaines Resident Sparked Increased Property Tax Breaks


Thanks in part to one area resident, three increased exemption caps for property taxes will be made available for senior citizens in Cook County.

Connie Carosielli, assessor for Elk Grove Township, said the five-year process to change the exemptions was sparked by Des Plaines resident Richard Long, 75.

Elk Grove Township Hall at 2400 S. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights,

“It was a collaboration that started with a taxpayer being concerned,” Carosielli said.

With the approval of Senate Bill 473, sponsored by State Sen. Antonio Munoz (D-1st) and State Rep. Robert Martwick (D-19th), Homeowners Exemptions increased from $7,000 to $10,000 in equalized assessed valuation (EAV), the partial value of a property tax which rates are applied to. Additionally, Senior Exemptions were raised from $5,000 to $8,000 in EAV and the Senior Freeze Exemption is now available to households with an annual income up to $65,000 rather than $55,000.

These changes will go into effect for 2017 tax bills.

Raising these caps was necessary due to minimum distribution requirements that kick in half a year after residents turn 70, Carosielli said. These requirements force seniors to draw a certain amount out of their IRA, often causing their annual income to go up, she said.

With the increase in income, some seniors were bumped out of their tax exemptions.

“In essence, they felt they were being penalized for being careful,” Carosielli said.

A $1,462 property tax bill increase, spurred by a $480 increase in his Des Plaines home’s EAV, prompted Long to contact Carosielli in 2012. The former Chicago resident, during a meeting with Des Plaines Ald. Dick Sayad (4th), learned he would have to go through the township to appeal his property taxes.

“She recognized it was a problem and needed to be addressed,” Long said. “We need to adjust for the fact that they aren’t working anymore.”

Over the next years, Long and Carosielli had many conversations about the pressure put on seniors who were pushed out of the exemption programs.

Long also noticed another family in his Des Plaines neighborhood struggling without exemptions.

“My next door neighbor had the property tax freeze for four years, and lost it when his annual income increased to $56,000,” he said.

Though the neighbor’s income went up, it was still not adequate to cover medical expenses for his family.

Carosielli said she was initially faced with a “mixed-bag” response when she proposed changes to the exemption model to the Cook County Township Assessors Association and the office of Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios five years ago. However, as discussion continued, the topic struck a chord with both Democratic and Republican decision makers.

“Local government — we’re closest to the people,” said Carosielli. “It doesn’t all the time, but when we are able to work together, it’s a beautiful thing.”

Townships offer property tax appeal consultation for suburban Cook County residents. Des Plaines residents are served by both Maine and Elk Grove townships.

Support local news by subscribing to the Journal & Topics in print or online.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.