A Jefferson Park senior was stunned by a $200,000 spike in her home’s value and a $4,300 tax bill — until NBC 5 Responds uncovered why she may not owe a dime.
Despite zero renovations to her home, the county told Claire Burke her property value increased by nearly $200,000 in one year.
NBC 5 Responds took a look at Cook County programs that could bring billing relief to people who find themselves in a situation like Burke.
“We liked everything about it. It’s the first house we saw,” said Claire Burke.
In a black and white snapshot of a happier time, two grinning kids celebrate their elopement. The picture of Claire and Vance Burke was taken in the early 1970’s, around the time they moved into their Jefferson Park home.
They lived in their Jefferson Park home together until Vance Burke’s passing in 2017. Retired and with no children, Claire Burke now relies on social security payments to get by.
“I have to pay my bills,” said Claire Burke, who also uses her limited income to feed two special needs cats as well as several feral felines in the neighborhood.
There’s no wiggle room for extra expenses. So, when her home was reappraised in 2024 and the value shot up by $200,000, the resulting $4,300 2024 property tax bill sent her into a panic.
It’s a huge jump from her previous year’s tax bill of zero dollars.
“I’ll be paying it off for the rest of my life,” said Burke.
Despite the spike, Burke’s tax bill shouldn’t have changed due to several programs she’s enrolled in.
The Senior Citizen’s Real Estate Tax Deferral program lets homeowners delay up to $7,500 in taxes.
“The tax deferral is for anyone that’s 65 or older and basically someone that doesn’t have children to leave the house to because it’s like a lien on the house. It’s repayable if you sell the home or if you die and pass it on to somebody else, they get to pay the taxes,” said Burke.
She’s also enrolled in the Low-Income Senior Freeze Exemption, which shields her from big reassessment hikes.
So how did she end up owing four thousand dollars?
Burke says she called the Cook County Treasurer’s Office, who then referred her to the assessor’s office.
She says she was repeatedly told she would have to pay the $4,300 tax bill.
“It means I eat less, I make do with less. I can’t buy anything, I can replace anything,” said Burke.
Desperate for help, Burke called the Chicago Bar Association hoping to find an attorney who would take her case pro-bono. She was connected to attorney Glenn Guttman, who then reached out to NBC 5 Responds.
“I reached out to Channel 5 because I recognize that Claire’s situation is an impactful one,” said Guttman.
So why didn’t Burke’s senior exemptions apply?
After weeks of investigating, NBC 5 Responds finally got an answer: Claire doesn’t owe any tax dollars out of pocket.
The treasurer’s office told us it’s still waiting on state funds to come through for the Senior Citizen’s Real Estate Tax Deferral Program.
“When the money is received and the bills are paid, [Burke’s] delinquency notification will be removed,” the treasurer’s office said. They expect it will happen within the next few weeks.
So, the good news is, if you’re enrolled in the senior tax deferral program and your account shows a delinquency notice — it may be corrected soon.
Burke is grateful she’s not on the hook for a bill that she can’t afford.
Guttman also recommends homeowners appeal a property re-assessment as soon as they receive it, as the appeal window is usually closed by the time they actually get their tax bill.
It may seem strange to appeal a tax bill you haven’t received yet, but Guttman says it’s your best bet to head off a big property tax increase.
“The critical point is when property is reassessed, revalued. The letter comes in the mail, you need to start asking questions right away. And the only way to do that is to reach out to the bar association, to a private attorney like myself, to the assessor’s office, to get as much information as possible to evaluate whether or not your property is being unfairly valued or too high,” said Guttman.
How to appeal your cook county property assessment
Cook County’s property tax appeal deadlines vary by municipality, with a key deadline of February 3 for several Townships including Lake, Orland, Palatine, Schaumburg, and Thornton.
Homeowners can find their specific appeal window on the Cook County Assessor’s Assessment & Appeal Calendar. Additional information and details on how to file an appeal are available on the Cook County Board of Review’s website.
Senior Property Tax Programs
The deadline to apply for the Senior Citizen’s Real Estate Tax Deferral program for the 2025 tax year is on March 1.
Per the Cook County Treasurer, participants must be:
Homeowners who are at least 65 years of age by June 1 of the year in which the applications are made. Those whose household income is $75,000 or less. Surviving spouses of previously approved applicants who are at least 55 years old within six months of the taxpayer’s death. Those who have owned and occupied the qualifying property for at least the last three years. Those who have fire or casualty insurance coverage for the qualifying property in an amount not less than the amount of the taxes being deferred. Those who do not owe outstanding property tax or special assessments. Those who have written approval from the spouse, if filing jointly, or Trustee, if the property is held in a qualifying Trust, to participate in the program.The Low Income Senior Citizen’s Assessment Freeze Exemption can also help seniors with property tax bills.
According to the Illinois Department of Revenue, to qualify for the exemption, you must be at least 65 years old and meet certain qualifications, including the following criteria for total household income:
$75,000 or less for taxable year 2026 (payable in 2027), $77,000 or less for taxable year 2027 (payable in 2028), $79,000 or less for taxable year 2028 (payable in 2029) and afterThe Low-Income Senior Citizen’s Assessment Freeze Exemption “‘freezes’ the senior citizen’s property’s equalized assessed value the year that the senior citizen qualifies for the exemption. The property’s equalized assessed value does not increase as long as qualification for the exemption continues. The tax bill may still increase if any tax rates are increased or if improvements are added that increase the value of the property,” according to the Illinois Department of Revenue website.
The Senior Freeze exemption must be re-filed annually to be kept, even if your income or residency does not change.
Lastly, there’s also the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption. In Cook County, an application must be filed annually with the Cook County Assessor’s Office.
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