South suburban residents not pleased at all with record-high property taxes

DIXMOOR, Ill. (CBS) -- Record-high property taxes are hitting homeowners in the south suburbs of Chicago —after a reassessment was conducted in those communities.

Some property owners in south suburban Dixmoor are going to see their tax bill more than double—and those residents are beyond frustrated.

"It's pricing everyone out of their homes right now," said Corey Campbell.

Campbell has owned his house in Dixmoor for the past four years. He said homeownership has been a joy, but the costs that come with it most assuredly are not.

"I went couple years ago with a couple thousand extra in my pocket a month—now it's down to a couple a hundred," he said.

Campbell is among the homeowners in this community who are going to see their property taxes soar. A reassessment done by the Cook County Assessor's office has led to the increases along with levies in various communities for things like schools, libraries, and parks.

Campbell said he appealed his last property tax bill because of a reassessment.

"Most of the people we know, that I know, the appeal was denied—or we're still waiting for some type of feedback," Campbell said.

Now, his newest property tax bill will be mailed out on July 2—after the median tax bill has more than doubled in his community, and nearby Phoenix.

"If our taxes are going up, I would like to see some better improvement in Cook County," Campbell said.

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas created a research team to do an analysis of 2023 tax bills.

"In most of the southwest suburbs, bills are up approximately 17%," said Pappas. "But in 13 of the 15 suburbs [in which taxes increased], bills are up 30%. Those 13 are all African American."

If there are vacant businesses in a community and unsold homes on a block, the remaining property owners will have the burden of having their taxes increased because of that. Pappas explained to CBS 2 earlier this week that many south suburban communities have seen their business district hollowed out.

"That's pretty scary, and I think that's unfortunate to any homeowner," said Campbell.

He said homeowners being forced to pick up the slack after businesses and neighbors leave is "just setting up all residents for failure."

Homeowners in the south suburbs said the property tax increase also is a huge burden for them because the cost of basic necessities are skyrocketing.

"Basically a problem for the ones that are trying to survive," said Magda Campos.

Campos said she pays $1,000 each month to live in her Dixmoor home, which her brother owns. She of course has the cost of food on top of it.

"It's insane of how much the prices have gone up, and then now that this—the taxes—are going to go up, I think it's unbelievable," she said.

Campos said she will understand if her brother has to increase her rent to pay the property tax bill.

In addition to the reassessment, each Cook County property tax bill lists in detail how much more certain levies have gone up—so taxpayers will know why they're paying, so much more.

"Our message to viewers is read. Open the bill. Don't pay it. Read it. Read it first," said Pappas. "If you read it, you'll understand where it is it's going—and in the vast majority of cases, 60% of these bills are going to public schools."

Property tax bills are due Aug. 1. Those needing a payment plan can find information on the Cook County Treasurer website.