Commissioner Dan Patlak was quoted in an article in the Journal & Topics Newspaper today:
The Cook County Board of Review announced a re-engineering and automation project that will replace the current manual paper-intensive appeal process. The board has engaged Databank LLC, an imaging and information management solutions firm, to create a new technology driven system.
The board of review processes over 400,000 property tax assessment appeals a year. Databank will re-engineer the BOR’s current operations using their OnBase software. This system will simplify the appeal process for taxpayers by allowing evidence to be filed online, reduce costs associated with paper printing and file storage, streamline operations by eliminating the need to physically circulate hundreds of thousands of paper files analysts review each year, and increase overall efficiency of the office.
“This is a milestone step in the board’s history. As we have experienced an increased number of appeals each year, investing in 21st century technology that allows us to keep pace with increased demand became vital to the continued success of our office,” said Commissioner Dan Patlak.
In August, engineers from Databank will begin working with BOR professionals to clone the manual system into a state-of-the-art digitized process that will be able to accommodate the board’s ever increasing workload. Initial implementation of the re-engineered system is slated for the 2015 assessment appeal session. The 2014 assessment session opens Aug. 4.
The Cook County Board of Review is a quasi-judicial elected office responsible for adjudicating assessment appeals for all property in Cook County. Patlak, of Wheeling, represents the 1st District of the Board of Review, which encompasses 90% of Suburban Cook County and part of the 19th and 41st & 45th wards of Chicago.