As property owners in Chicago and surrounding areas are increasingly weighed down with escalating property-tax assessments, I have significant concern for a “special service area” tax levied against commercial and residential property owners to maintain Millennium Park (“City may add new tax on downtown property,” Metro, Aug. 30).
Undoubtedly, Mayor Richard Daley has done an incredible job developing a world-renowned park. Visitors from near and far have come to admire and experience Millennium Park.
However, expecting property owners near Millennium Park to foot the bill for a citywide asset is unfair and unjust. Property owners in that area, just like throughout Cook County, already suffer sticker shock when opening their tax bills; government should not be looking at ways to increase property taxes.
This past tax year, the Cook County Board of Review received property assessment complaints for 182,431 parcels of property–the second heaviest volume received in the board’s 66-year history. As frustrated property owners continue to see their property assessments skyrocket, the Board of Review expects to see the number of appeals steadily climb.
Looking to taxpayers for more money, especially in a targeted geographic area, will only cause undue hardship and stifle economic growth.
