Cook County Property Taxes Rise for 32nd Consecutive Year, Shifting Burden to Homeowners
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas' office has released a report indicating that the total amount of property taxes billed in Cook County has increased for the 32nd consecutive year. The 2025 property tax bills, which are scheduled to be sent out by the end of the month with payments due October 1, reflect a nearly 4% increase in the tax levy from last year. Commercial property values saw a modest 0.2% increase, which was insufficient to offset the rising property values for homeowners. This trend has resulted in residential property owners bearing a larger share of the tax burden, with their bills continuing to outpace the 2.7% inflation rate. The report highlights a long-standing shift of the tax burden from downtown commercial properties to city neighborhoods and suburban residential areas. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to this shift by reducing occupancy in many downtown buildings, leading to a nearly 20% decrease in businesses' tax bills, while residential bills increased by over 16% during the 20... 
