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Regulation

The Tax Divide

Inequities and Errors Riddle Cook County’s Property Tax Assessments

For years, the Cook County assessor’s office overvalued low-priced properties while undervaluing high-priced ones. The deeply flawed system led to inequities in property taxes, punishing the poor and small business owners, while giving the wealthy unsanctioned tax breaks and lining the pockets of politically connected tax attorneys. Our series of stories is in partnership with the Chicago Tribune.

Impact of Our Reporting
Caret

The Tax Divide

Cook County’s Residential Property Tax Assessments Deeply Unfair, Independent Study Confirms

Findings that assessments were error-ridden and burdened the poor undermine Assessor Joseph Berrios’ claims that he properly valued residential property.

The Tax Divide

As March Primary Nears, Study on Cook County Property Tax System Still Under Wraps

Initial mid-December deadline for review gives way to new release date: late February.

15 stories published since 2017

ProPublica Wins Two Gerald Loeb Awards for Business Journalism

ProPublica Illinois, Chicago Tribune Win Driehaus Award for Investigative Reporting

ProPublica Illinois a Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting

Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios’ Defeat Opens the Door to Reform

Flawed Assessments Caused $2 Billion Shift in Property Taxes, Study Finds

Rauner Takes Aim at State Lawmakers Who Appeal Property Taxes

Ethics Board Fines Cook County Assessor Over Campaign Contributions

Cook County Assessor’s Old-School Politics Come With a Price for Taxpayers

Watchdog Group Calls for Reform to Cook County Assessor’s Office

Lawsuit Targets Berrios Over Unfair, Error-Riddled Assessments

I Spent Years Reporting on Chicago’s Property Tax System. Here’s What Got Me Out of the Weeds.

How the Cook County Assessor Failed Taxpayers

How We Analyzed Commercial and Industrial Property Assessments in Chicago and Cook County

Cook County Assessor: Office Cuts Make It Tough to Get Tax Bills Out On Time

Cook County Assessor Faces Questions About Property Tax Inequity

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