Monday, October 09, 2006

Illinois' Gov. Blagojevich: Sweetheart real estate assessment?


This story hit the news while I was in Tennessee. It's absolutely still a current story, since Blagojevich is up for reelection in 29 days. It's apparent that the Northwest Side Chicago bungalow owned by Illinois Governor Blagojevich got a sweetheart tax assessment from Cook County.

From Kristen McQueary of the Daily Southtown:

It's unlikely you'll find Gov. Rod Blagojevich among the Cook County homeowners appealing his recent property tax assessment.

His Ravenswood home on Chicago's Northwest Side actually dropped in assessed value, unlike most Chicago homeowners recently apprised of their latest assessments.

Sounds goofy, right?

In an environment of climbing assessments and amid a push by Cook County Assessor Jim Houlihan to control wildly increasing home values, it seems strange that a chic 3,817-square-foot home, the governor's, would dip in assessed value.

Sounds goofy in most places, but not in Illinois.

Now check out the graphic, courtesy of Reverse Spin. The Illinois Democrat's home will only receive a one-percent property tax increase, significantly less than what Blagojevich's neighbors will have to suffer. Click on the image to make it larger.

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