The welcome word from Cook County Board member Forrest Claypool that he’ll run for county assessor is the latest source of turmoil for local Democrats, who are already scared that voters furious about taxes and insider-dealings will punish their party. Claypool’s planned announcement Tuesday that he’ll run as an independent follows an explosive charge last week from James Houlihan, the retiring assessor. Houlihan accused two of his fellow Dems, Michael Madigan and Joseph Berrios, of scheming to delay the mailing of next autumn’s property tax bills until after the Nov. 2 election. Houlihan says Madigan and Berrios don’t want those furious voters any more furious than they are.
Whew. Who knew that the supposedly soporific field of property evaluation would emerge in 2010 as a theater of war?
We’ll take these skirmishes in order — and assure you that you won’t need a doctorate in Obscure Revenue Details in order to follow along:
• In March, while most of us were just waiting for winter to end, Democrats who run the convoluted property tax system — and lawyers who try to lower their clients’ property valuations — were forming a circular firing squad. They all care deeply about a process that works like this: Assessor Houlihan assigns a value to each property in the county. Taxpayers who think their properties have been valued too high appeal first to the assessor and, if they don’t get satisfaction, to a three-member Board of Review. Berrios, a member of that board, is the Democratic nominee to succeed Houlihan as assessor.
Berrios also heads the Cook County Democratic Party. He does the bidding of House Speaker Madigan, who chairs the state Democratic Party. Yes, Madigan’s law firm represents clients in front of Berrios’ board, and Berrios’ side business as a lobbyist has him asking favors of Madigan.
Houlihan has long complained about Berrios, Madigan and their interlocked interests. On that, Houlihan is right. The coziness is galling.
On March 25, Berrios’ board said in a letter to the County Board that next fall’s tax bills might be late. Berrios & Co. blamed Houlihan’s office. Houlihan then retorted that, no, his office is doing just fine. He said he’ll finish his work by May 7 and tax bills should be in the mail no later than Oct. 25. That would give taxpayers time to absorb those bills — Houlihan thinks many of them will be much higher than voters expect — before they cast their ballots on Nov. 2. Yes, that could be very bad for Berrios and Madigan.
We’ve gone deep in the weeds and hope you’re still with us. Our verdict: Berrios’ board has no excuse for not finishing its work in time for tax bills to be in the mail well before the election. County Treasurer Maria Pappas has offered to lend the board 30 employees to help Berrios & Co. rapidly process appeals. Mr. Berrios, there are more than enough knowledgeable workers in other county offices that handle property tax matters to get this job done. Use them.
Everybody, follow the law. Citizens are supposed to pay their property tax bills each year by March 1 and Aug. 1. That way the many governments that rely on property taxes don’t have to borrow — at added taxpayer expense — to meet their payrolls and run their affairs. The last time the Cook County tax offices actually got those second-half bills out on time was — can you believe this? — in 1978. That’s right, this system has been getting later and later. In 2009, the bills supposedly due Aug. 1 weren’t due until Dec. 1.
We don’t know if Houlihan is right about Berrios planning to drag his feet, the better to protect Democratic candidates from tax-mad voters. We do know it’s early April. No, Mr. Berrios, there is no combination of factors that should delay delivery of tax bills until after the election. Borrow employees, deal with every appeal — and prove Houlihan wrong. Otherwise, Mr. Berrios, you’ll wear the jacket.
• You may wonder why Claypool would take on the uphill fight of an independent campaign. One good reason. Berrios won the Democratic primary, but didn’t come close to getting a majority of the vote. There’s opportunity here.
We’re not endorsing a candidate; the Republicans and Greens also have contenders. But we strongly encourage registered voters to sign Claypool’s petitions so he can get on the ballot and compete.
If you want to exterminate the cozy nesting of Berrios, Madigan and their cohorts, sign a petition for Claypool. Keep the heat on.
