Cook County Faces Criticism over Rising Property Taxes Amid Calls for Reform

Paul Vallas: Toni Preckwinkle and Cook County’s Broken Property Tax System – Chicago Contrarian

"Preckwinkle has developed a pattern of targeting and unseating incumbents who dare defy her wishes. Take, for example, her campaign to remove Clerk of the Court Iris Martinez in the 2024 election. Martinez’s offense? Seeking transparency around the SAFE-T Act by publicly releasing accurate data on pre-trial release and court no-shows."

Cook County faces criticism over rising property taxes amid calls for reform

Cook County’s property tax system has come under renewed scrutiny following the Cook County Democratic Party’s recent decision to remove County Assessor Fritz Kaegi. The move is seen by some as an attempt to shield Board President and Democratic Party Chair Toni Preckwinkle from criticism over the ongoing issues with a costly contract involving Tyler Technologies. The project, intended to modernize property tax assessments, has now cost $265 mil…

Illinois Property Taxes, Pension Spending, and Political Dysfunction Under Fire

Mark Glennon, founder and executive editor of Wirepoints.org, painted a grim picture of Illinois’ financial trajectory, focusing particularly on the state’s spiraling property taxes, unsustainable public spending, and a lack of political accountability. The discussion centered around the City of Chicago’s projected $1 billion budget shortfall and the ripple effects hitting municipalities across Illinois. Chief among Glennon’s concerns is the re…