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BOARD OF REVIEW EXTENDS 2007
APPEAL DEADLINE TO NOVEMBER 9

The Cook County Board of Review has agreed to extend the deadline for filing 2007 tax appeals for Oak Park until November 9, according to Oak Park Township Assessor Ali ElSaffar. The Board of Review rarely extends deadline periods, but agreed to make an exception to
its general policy because of the unusually late date on which tax bills are being mailed this year.

In most years, the tax bills are mailed before the Board of Review appeal period opens. Receipt of the bills often leads taxpayers to recognize problem with their tax assessments, and the ensuing appeal period allows taxpayers to address the problem for the next tax year.

This year, however, the extended delay in the mailing of tax bills meant that the Board of Review appeal period opened and closed before the tax bills were mailed. The prospect that taxpayers could receive bills and not be able to correct problems with them was a concern for Assessor ElSaffar and State Senator Don Harmon, and led them to ask Commissioner Larry Rogers, Oak Park’s representative on the Board of Review, to extend the deadline.

“I want to thank Commissioner Rogers and the other members of the Board of Review for extending the appeal deadline. The extension will provide Oak Park taxpayers an opportunity to file an appeal after they receive their tax bills. As the extended appeal period will end only a few days after tax bills arrive, however, taxpayers with concerns about their property taxes should call my office as soon as possible.”

Commissioner Rogers added the following regarding the extension of the appeal period: "This is a great example of conscientious and responsive officials identifying a problem and working together to address an issue important in the everyday lives of citizens. I want to commend State Senator Don Harmon and Oak Park Township Assessor Ali ElSaffar for working with the Commissioners of the Board to ensure that aggrieved property owners have every opportunity to appeal and receive reductions of excessive property tax assessments."

Taxpayers seeking help in filing appeal can reach the Oak Park Township Assessor’s office at (708) 383-8005.

Release Date: October 31, 2007