Senior tax exemption

[buzz]

The general Assembply passed a new law last year that has gotten very little press.
Seniors now have to file every year to get their property tax exemption.  Berrios' office is mailing out forms annually now.  If you know a senior you might be a good samaritan and ask if they're aware of this.

[Ted]

Buzz,

  Thanks for the info.  So, does that mean that seniors should expect to get something in the next week?

Ted

[buzz]

I just found out yesterday from my tax guy.  He said they'd be mailing them out soon and if they don't get returned seniors will see an increase on the 2nd installment.  I'll go to the assessor's web-site later and see what it says.

[buzz]

Web-site says they've been mailed to seniors.  I hope they get this right because I know seniors who don't have web access.  Hell, I know folks who can't program a VCR.

http://www.cookcountyassessor.com

Also, my tax guy said this "improvement" cost $200K to $400K to implement.  It was done to counter senior fraud ?  Yeah, senior fraud is rampant.

[watcher]

Web-site says they've been mailed to seniors.  I hope they get this right because I know seniors who don't have web access.  Hell, I know folks who can't program a VCR.

http://www.cookcountyassessor.com

Also, my tax guy said this "improvement" cost $200K to $400K to implement.  It was done to counter senior fraud ?  Yeah, senior fraud is rampant.

It's not fraud by seniors, it's the turnover of properties with the senior exemption that aren't removed. It's just one of the messes, of a multitude of messes, that plague the assessors office. The dollars lost to unqualified properties getting the exemption directly impact everyone's tax bill.

Blame the tax fairy.

This new "system" won't be better than the last one, but it will sustain the bureaucracies built around Crook County taxes.

[Homebody]

Thanks for the info. This is important. I used your link to check out the press release. I'll send info to as many seniors as I can. Double Thanks. Marge

[buzz]

Heard this on the news...the deadline for filing is March 3rd.

[buzz]

It's not fraud by seniors, it's the turnover of properties with the senior exemption that aren't removed. It's just one of the messes, of a multitude of messes, that plague the assessors office. The dollars lost to unqualified properties getting the exemption directly impact everyone's tax bill.
Blame the tax fairy.
This new "system" won't be better than the last one, but it will sustain the bureaucracies built around Crook County taxes.

Well why don't they just modify their programs to delete exemptions when a title is tranferred ?
If everyone re-enrolls this year, they fix the programs, then we should be working with a scrubbed database in the future.

[watcher]

Well why don't they just modify their programs to delete exemptions when a title is tranferred ?
If everyone re-enrolls this year, they fix the programs, then we should be working with a scrubbed database in the future.

And if everyone doesn't? When the 2nd installments finally arrive there will be widespread shock and panic.
A certain percentage of qualified seniors will just pay the increase. Others will be solicited by for-profit
tax "specialists" to fix the glitch. Still others will trudge down to the county building to seek answers.

There are three separate major fiefdoms involved. Recorder of Deeds, Assessor, Treasurer. All three working off their own
databases, with their own staff, on their own schedules, priorities and internal procedures. GIGO. Beyond them there are the townships and the taxing bodies themselves.

If that wasn't enough complexity to assure problems, toss in the state legislature and their multiplier.

Factor in a modicum of waste, fraud, corruption, errors, omissions and incompetence...

But hey, having seniors re-apply every year will fix everything...

[MRS. NORTHSIDER]

It's not fraud by seniors, it's the turnover of properties with the senior exemption that aren't removed. It's just one of the messes, of a multitude of messes, that plague the assessors office. The dollars lost to unqualified properties getting the exemption directly impact everyone's tax bill.
Blame the tax fairy.
This new "system" won't be better than the last one, but it will sustain the bureaucracies built around Crook County taxes.

Well why don't they just modify their programs to delete exemptions when a title is tranferred ?
If everyone re-enrolls this year, they fix the programs, then we should be working with a scrubbed database in the future.

That would be way too easy and probably eliminate a bunch of patronage jobs.  I'm sure they're also counting on a percentage of seniors not filing for the exemption since they didn't have to until now and another bundle of money coming their way to squander.

[watcher]

That would be way too easy and probably eliminate a bunch of patronage jobs.  I'm sure they're also counting on a percentage of seniors not filing for the exemption since they didn't have to until now and another bundle of money coming their way to squander.

The money coming their way wouldn't change. Just spread across the EAV differently. Once the 2nd Installment bills are mailed, (Christmas Again?) seniors who were entitled to the exemption but either didn't know to file or whose data went missing can go to the assessors office and get a corrected tax bill. This results in LESS taxes being collected since they can't go back and raise everybody else. The assessed versus actual taxes collected will vary accordingly. Toss in non-payers and the dollars can be significant.

I'm not sure how they reconcile the books, but there's probably a patronage job or twenty involved.

[buzz]

Thanks Watcher.  Sounds like a ginormous patronage cluster f*#@.

[Homebody]

Well why don't they just modify their programs to delete exemptions when a title is tranferred ?
If everyone re-enrolls this year, they fix the programs, then we should be working with a scrubbed database in the future.

And if everyone doesn't? When the 2nd installments finally arrive there will be widespread shock and panic.
A certain percentage of qualified seniors will just pay the increase. Others will be solicited by for-profit
tax "specialists" to fix the glitch. Still others will trudge down to the county building to seek answers.

There are three separate major fiefdoms involved. Recorder of Deeds, Assessor, Treasurer. All three working off their own
databases, with their own staff, on their own schedules, priorities and internal procedures. GIGO. Beyond them there are the townships and the taxing bodies themselves.

If that wasn't enough complexity to assure problems, toss in the state legislature and their multiplier.

Factor in a modicum of waste, fraud, corruption, errors, omissions and incompetence...

But hey, having seniors re-apply every year will fix everything...

Does the Cook County Board of Review belong on this list? I confuse the Assessor's office and BOR all the time.

[watcher]

Does the Cook County Board of Review belong on this list? I confuse the Assessor's office and BOR all the time.

I didn't include BOR because members are appointed. Recorder, Assessor, Treasurer are elected.

I'm not even sure from whose budget BOR operates. Not surprisingly, the BOR was created by Daley I, supposedly to fix the
messed up property system. So on that level it absolutely belongs on the list.

BOR's work begins once the assessor's work is allegedly complete. If you hit the BOR on the right day with the right information
you can save a bunch of money.

[Shoops]

Some people received the form in the mail today. Here's the recent article on the County's website:

http://www.cookcountyassessor.com/LatestNews/LateNews.aspx

I'm just wondering if this wasn't set up as a system to fail. This will make it very confusing for many seniors and the bottom line is if they don't fill it out then the county receives more money. Besides, they sure didn't give much notice. That's why I'll bet many of these forms will just get thrown in the garbage. That would be a win for the County.

[buzz]

I spoke with 3 neighbors, 2 eighty yr. olds and 1 68 yr. old.  They didn't know what I was talking about.  I'll call the kids of the 80 somethings just in case.
 
Why has there been so little press on this ?  Or have I just missed it ?

[Roger]

My mom received the notification today.  It says the application must be completed and returned by March 8.

[watcher]

My mom received the notification today.  It says the application must be completed and returned by March 8.

Did they toss in the "Must be notarized" requirement? That tripped up many people last year with the "Long-time Homeowners Exemption".

[Ted]

My mom received the notification today.  It says the application must be completed and returned by March 8.

Did they toss in the "Must be notarized" requirement? That tripped up many people last year with the "Long-time Homeowners Exemption".

  How is an 85 year old senior who can't walk supposed to get out of this snow to get to a notary and mail the form in before March 8?

  This whole situation is sounding more and more ridiculous.

[watcher]

  How is an 85 year old senior who can't walk supposed to get out of this snow to get to a notary and mail the form in before March 8?

  This whole situation is sounding more and more ridiculous.

I just looked at the form. No Notary required, but if you're applying for the first time you have to send copies of IDs.


IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR THIS EXEMPTION FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THIS ADDRESS, you must include a
copy of a recent property tax bill and a copy of one of the following valid forms of proof of age and residency with
this application: an Illinois Driver's License (both sides) OR an Illinois Identification (ID) Card.
NOTE: Individuals using forms indicating a different name must demonstrate a connection to the current name by
including a copy of a marriage certificate or other supporting documents. Owners of Cooperative Apartments must also
submit a copy of their Stock Certificate, Occupancy or Trust Agreement.
I affirm that I was born in 1945 or earlier, or my spouse was born in 1945 or earlier and myself or my spouse is liable for
payment of the taxes and that this property was occupied by its current or previous owner as a principal residence.

The application can be downloaded HERE: http://www.cookcountyassessor.com/forms/HoHs.pdf