Cook County Tax Appeals Deepen Racial Inequities

A new report from the Cook County Treasurer's Office reveals that in the past three years, nearly $2 billion in property taxes shifted from businesses to low-income homeowners, disproportionately affecting Black and Latino households. The shift is attributed to commercial property owners appealing their assessments at more than double the rate of homeowners, collectively reducing their tax bills by $3.3 billion. As a result, residential tax bills increased by about 7%, with lower-income and minority neighborhoods seeing the steepest hikes. The study finds that wealthier white homeowners and businesses benefited most from appeals, while lower-income and minority homeowners appealed less frequently, deepening inequities. The Treasurer’s Office is calling for reforms to the appeals process and increased outreach to help low-income residents understand their rights. The report highlights how the current system rewards those with greater resources and exacerbates racial and economic disparities in Cook County.