Northfield Township Residents May be Eleigible for Property Assessment Appeal for Flood Damage

Northfield Township property owners who incurred severe damage to their homes as a result of April flooding may be eligible for an assessment reduction if the damage is substantial enough to adversely affect the property value.

Physical or structural damage to the foundation or walls or the
flooring in the living area may affect value and result in assessment
relief.  Damage to central heating and air conditioning units, electrical or plumbing systems, drywall and insulation, and mold-related problems would also be relevant to flood appeals as well.

Assessment relief is not available for damage related to personal property which are not assessed and taxed in Illinois.  Assessment relief would also not be available for normal weather damage such as basement seepage, roof leaks, or loss of gutters.

Northfield Township is open for assessment appeals sometime in August. Appeals cannot take place until that time and it will not open until assessments are sent out to residents; which is tentatively scheduled for the first week in August. The Northfield Township Road District is working in collaboration with Patricia Damisch, the Northfield Township Assessor, Cook County Commissioner Gregg Goslin, and the Cook County Assessor’s office to schedule an outreach session to assist homeowners with their appeals on this basis to be scheduled in August, when Northfield Township is open for property assessment appeals. Additional information about this session will be released as details become available.   

For now; Northfield Township residents that have experienced flooding damage are encouraged to prepare and gather the following types of materials in preparation for the submission of a property assessment appeal due to flood damage: 

A detailed written description of the damages;

All pertinent records such as photographs, maps, newspaper articles, insurance estimates, repair estimates and/or bills,

Contractor invoices or FEMA claims;

The amount of any disaster relief rehabilitation loan approved by an agency of the federal government in the current year or any previous year;

Information regarding the property being rendered uninhabitable or evacuated; and

Any information relating to a prior year appeal based on
flood damage.

The attached Guidelines and Appeal Forms may be helpful in preparing your property assessment appeal as well.