The office of Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Dan Patlak will conduct two assessment appeal seminars in Maine Township. The first seminar on Wednesday, Mar. 2 will be hosted by Des Plaines Mayor Martin Moylan followed by a second seminar on Thursday, Mar. 10 hosted by Maine Township Assessor Tom Rueckert.

The hour-long seminars will educate taxpayers on the overall process, explaining how to file and present evidence for a successful appeal.

Time and location of the seminars are as follows:

• Mar. 2: 6:30 p.m. at Des Plaines City Hall, Council Chambers- 1st Floor, 1420 Miner St., Des Plaines.

• Mar. 10: 7 p.m. at the Maine Township Office, 1700 Ballard Rd., Park Ridge.

The Cook County Board of Review listens to, and rules on, appeals from taxpayers asking for property tax relief. Last year, the Board reviewed over 439,000 appeals.

For more information, taxpayers are invited to call (312) 603-3644.

On December 6th Dan Patlak was sworn is as a Cook County Board Of Review Commissioner.  Below are some images of Dan with his family and staff.

Dan Patlak with his entire staff and family.

Dan Patlak with wife Dulce and son Teddy.

Illinois Review

The office of Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Dan Patlak will conduct three assessment appeal seminars in Lyons Township. The seminars will be hosted by Lyons Assessor Barbara Weyrick along with Mayor of Willow Springs Alan Nowaczyk, Mayor of Justice Krzysztof (Kris) Wasowicz and Mayor of Countryside Robert Conrad, respectively.

The hour-long seminars will educate taxpayers on the overall process, explaining how to file and present evidence for a successful appeal.

“Property taxes are high enough already without having to pay extra because of an inaccurate assessment,” said Patlak. “Our office is here to assist property owners who are over assessed. Our seminars are designed to de-mystify the assessment appeal process. Taxpayers who make a convincing case for assessment reduction will receive the tax relief to which they are entitled,” stated Commissioner Patlak.

Times and locations of seminars are as follows:

• March 3, 2011: 7:00 p.m. - Justice Village Hall, 7800 S. Archer, Justice, IL 60458
• March 8, 2011: 7:00 p.m. - Community Center, 8156 Archer, Willow Springs, IL 60480
• March 16, 2011: 7:00 p.m. - Countryside Village Hall, 5550 East Avenue, Countryside, IL 60525

The Cook County Board of Review listens to, and rules on, appeals from taxpayers asking for property tax relief. Last year, the Board reviewed over 439,000 appeals. Fulfilling his promise to work full-time at the Board of Review, Commissioner Patlak is one of the most qualified individuals to ever occupy a Board seat. As a Certified Illinois Assessing Officer, he is professionally trained in property valuation, having worked as an analyst at the Board for eight years and as a local Township Assessor in Wheeling Township. Patlak is also a licensed real estate broker.

For more information, taxpayers are invited to call (312) 603-3644.    

It cost the Des Plaines Public Library almost $50,000 in legal fees, staff time, and other expenses to make major operational changes last year because of late property tax payments from the county.

The amount was announced last week when the library answered a three-question survey sent by Cook County Commissioner Dan Patlak, who is asking various taxing bodies how they are affected by delayed billing. Board members criticized Cook County for the late payments, saying every other county in the state sends the money on time.

“Do we calculate aggravation and stress as well,” said trustee Jennifer Tsalapatanis of the expenses. “Do we put a dollar amount on it?”

Last year, the late payments forced the library to use its $1.7 million reserve fund to pay bills and salaries. Then, fearing the library would run out of money, the board approved two separate back-up plans — one that would close the facility for six weeks and another that would lay off 70 percent of the staff and halt 13 services.

Meanwhile, material purchases and building projects were cut and staff worked with various vendors to renegotiate payments. Though the library also asked the city to borrow as much as $1.5 million, the money wasn’t needed because payments came in throughout December.

Recalculating the budget and various services took from July to December, costing $40,000, library officials said. Director Holly Sorenson said she spent at least 15 hours a month on the changes, while department heads spent more than 10 hours a month planning and cutting orders. She added the previous director, Sandra Norlin, also spent time reworking the budget, which wasn’t factored into staff costs.

The library also spent another $4,500 in attorney fees and lost $1,800 when the money in the reserve fund went toward bills and didn’t accrue interest.

Had the loan been necessary, that would have cost an additional $12,500 in interest and other bank fees, officials said.

Library officials said they were happy to fill out the survey and commended Patlak. They added they didn’t know if the city had received the same questionnaire.