MISSION STATEMENT OF THE MORAINE TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR’S OFFICE
Peter J. Koukos, CIAO (Certified Illinois Assessing Officer)
Assessor
The Moraine Township Assessor’s Office estimates the market value of all taxable property and assesses that property at approximately 33.33% of its market value (in accordance with the Property Tax Code). Mass appraisal techniques are used to insure uniformity criteria of the statutes. The ultimate purpose of the assessed value is to apportion the tax burden, as established by the taxing bodies, over all property in a fair and equitable manner based on the value of the real estate. All persons are to be treated with patience, courtesy and respect. The Assessor’s Office must be fair, transparent and accessible. -- Statement adopted January, 2006
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Staff Contact Directory
phone 847-432-2100
Pete Koukos, CIAO, Assessor, pkoukos@co.lake.il.us
Trish Lenzini, CIAO, Chief Deputy Assessor, plenzini@co.lake.il.us
Mark McCraren, CIAO, Deputy Assesor, mmccraren@co.lake.il.us
Sheila Platt, CIAO, Deputy Assessor, splatt@co.lake.il.us
Patty Powers, CIAO, Deputy Assessor, ppowers@co.lake.il.us
Property owners are invited to contact us in person at the Moraine Township Office, 777 Central Avenue, Highland Park, or call us at (847) 432-2100. Hours are 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday - Friday and by appointment. Or, you can email us. We will do our best to provide you with information that is available to our office. Most of our records are considered public information.
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PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT CALENDAR YEAR
The Assessor's Office works all year around to estimate property values. By early Fall (September likely), property owners receive "blue cards" by mail from the Lake County Assessor's Office listing evaluation for that year. Taxes are levied, with bills coming due starting the following June, based upon those Fall assessment values. The time to appeal an assessment is immediately following the Fall "blue card" receipt. This year, the appeals deadline was October 29.
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ASSESSMENT APPEALS
Property owners may appeal the assessed value of their property. The Assessor's valuation is based upon a Mass Appraisal System. It is not a perfect system. Make certain the information we have on the Property Record Card is correct. If you feel the market value is too high, or the value is correct, but is inequitable because it is higher than similar properties in your neighborhood, you may have a basis for an appeal.
Review your concerns with a member of the Assessor's staff. We will review the Property Record Card and comparable properties with you. If we agree that your property is valued incorrectly, we will initiate a change. If we do not agree that your property is incorrectly assessed, we will guide you through the Appeal process to the Lake County Board of Review. But, remember, the Board of Review is only interested in the evidence presented concerning the fairness and accuracy of the assessment, not that your taxes are too high.
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HELPFUL INFORMATION
Click HERE for a detailed, color PDF (1.6MB) map of Moraine Township, with color shaded municipal boundaries, parcels and roads. It also includes the locations of schools, libraries and other features.
Follow the links below to helpful information from the Lake County Assessor's Office
Home Page - http://www.co.lake.il.us/assessor/default.asp
Be sure to look at the sidebar listings as well as the links on the main page to get the most out of the site.
Click HERE to obtain Property Tax Assessment Information
Click HERE for FAQs
Click HERE for Lake County Public Map Gallery
Click HERE for GIS interactive maps pages
Click HERE for detailed Senior Exemption / Homestead information
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EXEMPTIONS IN BRIEF
Illinois law provides homeowners with four homestead exemptions–if you are the owner of record and live in the home as a primary residence. Using these exemptions will lower the amount of property tax you owe.
• Homestead Limited Exemption
This exemption lowers the equalized value of the property by $5,000. An owner of record who lives in the home as a primary residence is entitled to this exemption. Look for it on your tax bill.
• Senior Homestead Exemptions
If you turned 65 at any time during the tax year, the equalized value of your home will be lowered by $3,500. You must notify the Moraine Township Assessor's Office to initiate this exemption.
• Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption
If you are 65, qualified for the (above) Senior Homestead Exemption, AND have a total household income of $50,000 or less, the assessed value on your property is frozen. Please note that this does NOT affect the tax RATE. Contact the Moraine Township Assessor's Office to initiate this exemption.
• Homestead Improvement Exemption
If an improvement or addition is made to the home, the assessment increase due to the alteration is kept off the tax rolls for four years. There is a maximum of $25,000 of assessed value which can be kept off the tax rolls for that period.
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