Fritz Kaegi discusses his role in reforming an office known for patronage and favoritism. | _KellyGarcia__
The heated race for Cook County Assessor is a case study on Chicago-style politics. Fritz Kaegi, the reform-minded incumbent who was left with a mess to clean up by his predecessor, is facing a challenge by Kari Steele, a politically connected commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, which manages wastewater treatment and floodwater mitigation.
to talk about what changes he’s made since and to explain why Cook County voters should give him another chance.Kelly Garcia: What does the Cook County assessor do?It provides the way that we’ve split up the bill for the cost of government around here. In Chicago, there’s about somewhere between $7.25 and $7.5 billion of property taxes that have to be collected every year.
Residents from Pilsen and Little Village often tell me they’re facing a burden of higher property taxes, which is pricing them out of the community. How are you addressing this? Now, I think there’s another part that I have less control over that people might want to blame me for, which is when gentrification drives up the values of properties. And eventually the assessment system catches up if we’re doing our job, because you don’t want to systematically undervalue some properties because then you’d be passing on the tab to others, to people who live in neighborhoods where prices have not been going up.
[Editor’s note: one-third of properties in Cook County have their taxes reassessed each year; in 2021, properties in Chicago were that third.] We also replaced the 40-year-old computer program that was the backbone to our system. In 2020, we put in place an online appeals system and online exemptions system. In 2021, we replaced the backbone of the system; that has allowed other gains such as automatic renewal of the exemption for seniors.
Deutschland Neuesten Nachrichten, Deutschland Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi touts fairer property tax valuations; challenger Kari Steele says he’s broken reform promises, created ‘chaos’Fritz Kaegi beat an incumbent to wsin the office in 2018; Kari Steele is head of the water reclamation board.
Weiterlesen »
Wovenhand’s David Eugene Edwards comes to Chicago for a rare solo performance - Chicago Reader'Wovenhand, which Edwards founded in Denver in 2001, has gradually shifted over the years from an intense, stark gothic country feel to a more electrified, louder, and heavier sound.' | Monica Kendrick
Weiterlesen »
Stark differences - Chicago Reader'Indian American Muslim challenger Junaid Ahmed is running to unseat Raja Krishnamoorthi, who has ties to Hindu nationalist groups.' | mdhembla Ahmed shared vivid details about his first few years in America & talked about his working-class upbringing.
Weiterlesen »
Showcasing Black actors in foreign cinema - Chicago ReaderFloyd Webb is the curator of the Black Actors in Foreign Cinema screening series, co-presented by nonprofit media arts organization Chicago Filmmakers and his company, the Blacknuss Network.
Weiterlesen »
Acoustic guitarist Glenn Jones savors the bittersweetness of memory - Chicago Reader'Vade Mecum translates from Latin as “go with me.” When Glenn Jones makes such an offer, anyone who appreciates a vivid musical trip shouldn’t think twice.' | Bill Meyer
Weiterlesen »