Lyons Township Assessor Pat Hynes is challenging two-term incumbent Fritz Kaegi in the Democratic primary for Cook County Assessor next week.
Hynes, of Western Springs, has been a frequent critic of Kaegi and blames the incumbent for mismanaging the property tax system in Cook County.
Hynes said Kaegi’s failure to assess property properly has cost the county millions of dollars and has led to higher property assessments and tax bills for homeowners.
Hynes has more than 30 years of experience in the property tax industry. He spent more than 20 years working at the Assessor’s Office. He’s a member of the International Association of Assessing Officers and is a certified Illinois assessing officer.
Since taking office in 2021, Hynes has saved township residents thousands of dollars whose assessments were inaccurate.
One of his priorities is to make the office more accurate and fair for all taxpayers.
“Mistakes made by Fritz Kaegi and his office have taken nearly $5,000 out of my family’s savings after falsely taxing my home for being twice the size than it actually is,” said Omero Morales, a homeowner in Bridgeview whose home was assessed at 2,141 square feet when it’s actually 1,273 square feet. “I followed the rules. Fritz Kaegi didn’t. I’m standing here today not only because I want the money that’s owed to me and my family, but because I’m ready for change. I trust Pat Hynes to make sure that no one else goes through what I did and continue to experience today.”
The Beverly native said those mistakes are far too common.
“Our latest ads highlight what Cook County residents already know. The Assessor’s Office under Kaegi’s leadership has become a mess, and taxpayers are paying for it,” said Allison Schraub, Hynes’ campaign manager. “Under Kaegi’s watch, more than a billion in property value has gone unassessed, forcing working families and businesses across the county to pay out-of-pocket to make up the difference. He’s had seven years and 2500 days to figure out how to run this office and he has failed us. It’s time for a new leadership.”
“Small businesses and homeowners are paying the price for a system that simply is not working,” said Hynes. “When assessments are inaccurate and property is left off the rolls, the burden doesn’t disappear. It just gets shifted onto the backs of regular taxpayers. Cook County families deserve fairness, predictability, and an Assessor’s Office that works for them, not against them and they deserve an Assessor who doesn’t give himself a property tax break while most other homeowners face hikes.”
Kaegi was elected in 2018 as a reformer after knocking off incumbent Assessor Joe Berios, who was accused of hiring family members and taking improper campaign donations.
Kaegi is campaigning on his history of ending pay-to-play corruption and says he’s working to bring down tax bills for middle-class families by making commercial properties pay their fair share.
Kaegi says he’s a highly qualified expert in property assessments, and holds Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Illinois Assessment Officer designations.
Kaegi says that under his leadership, the Cook County Assessor’s Office has won international awards for accuracy and transparency for the first time.
Kaegi said he has successfully advocated for legislation to provide more property tax relief to low-income seniors, automatically renew tax-saving exemptions for vulnerable groups, and create an affordable housing program.
Kaegi supports legislation to allow for automatic renewal of the Senior Freeze Homestead Exemption. Exemptions provide property tax savings for homeowners.
The Senior Freeze for low-income homeowners over the age of 65 freezes a property’s taxable value. That prevents seniors on limited incomes from being displaced by property tax bill increases.
“We want to help those homeowners who need it the most. In this case, we can do it by making a quick, effective change that removes a serious barrier to access for seniors,” said Kaegi.
Before serving as Assessor, Kaegi worked as a financial analyst, helping families save for retirement and supporting small businesses.
A lifelong progressive Democrat, Kaegi has been a major supporter of social justice organizations and grassroots causes, including the Fight for $15, Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and Reconciling Ministries.