Posted on 11/16/2025 3:25:42 PM PST by Libloather
Chicago homeowners are asking for answers as property tax bills continue to climb, with several residents saying they’ve seen little improvement in return.
In Lawndale, a neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side, residents told ABC7 Chicago that despite higher property tax bills, little has changed on their streets, leaving them frustrated over where their money is going. Community leaders and the Lawndale Christian Development Corporation gathered citizens at a local church for what they called a "property tax bonfire," the local station reported.
"There's been a divestment in this community for the most part, but it seems like now that people have found an interest in reclaiming the neighborhood, now it’s like we're being taxed for prosperity," Lawndale resident Milton Clayton told the outlet.
Thomas Worthy, another Lawndale resident, said he received a bill in mid-November that was $977 more than what he paid last year.
"The tax increase is tied to a TIF that I have no idea why," Worthy said. "It's collecting money from our neighbors and our streets, but we're not being notified for why it's in the bill."
A TIF, or tax increment financing, is a funding tool that uses the increase in property tax revenue within a designated area to fund local redevelopment and infrastructure projects, according to the City of Chicago’s government website.
"We understand utilities are going up and things of that nature, but it's a valuation issue," Worthy added. "We don't have the schools we need. It's economics that are not here, but we're being charged to pay for economics in other people’s communities."
The Illinois Policy Institute, a nonpartisan research organization, found more than half of a Chicago homeowners’ property tax bill goes to Chicago Public Schools.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
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Social workers are expensive.
Just shut up and pay it, rich crackers!
All your money belongs to democrats
they keep voting for hard leftist tax and spend democrats and then complain when tax and utility bills skyrocket ... guess the voters can’t figure out basic cause and effect ...
“more than half of a Chicago homeowners’ property tax bill goes to Chicago Public Schools”
That’s the problem right there.
Hey Milt, who you been voting for the past 20 years? Just wondering.
They voted for it, no sympathy.
If democrats paid their taxes they wouldn’t have to increase taxes ,LOL
Reminds me of the Kennedy Klan. While Teddy “The Swimmer” Kennedy promoted taxing anyone and everyone, the Kennedy Klan had their fortune invested in TAX FREE Municipal Bonds and the like.
Houses in Chicago are quite expensive nowadays.
Evanston, Wilmette have gotten even more expensive.
When house prices rise, people chase houses.
When house prices fall, people shun house purchase. My neighbors bought their ~3,000 sq. ft. house with covered pool for $175,000 from their relatives after a real estate bust here in Florida. It attracted no lookers.
I’ve lived in my house since ‘77 & property taxes are now quite high for someone on SS. They are valuing the house at about 3+ times what I paid for it. Don’t they think a house deteriorates some in those years? It has had very little improvement & probably nothing that would make it more valuable now. It’s purely inflation & if I sold it, the next place I lived would cost more. The school district gets most of this & I have no kids in school. I DO fortunately have homestead exemption & right now I guess I will be Forced to die here. Can’t afford anything better, but guess I’m luckier than some are in this day & age.
my houses in California are under prop 13 so they have gone up very little, just what they can do legally, no surprises. My house in Arizona is still roughly the same as it was 25 years ago when I bought it.
Lots of vote fraud in Chicago...
Rejoice as your property tax dollars are used to build a socialist utopian dream.
In the pockets of politicians and their friends and families.
Go ahead. Keep voting democrat and see where it gets you.
Lots of idiots in Chicago.
Chicagoland didn’t think the obumer outhouse was going to pay for itself, did they? Ha ha, hope their tax doubles, and then tack on some new ones.
LOL - you’re right. I lived there when I was young... I know what you’re saying.
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