South suburban homeowners see their property taxes go north

South suburban homeowners in Cook County have been socked with higher property tax increases than their north suburban or city neighbors.

Average tax bills for single- family homes in the south suburbs were $ 247.39 higher in 2016 than in 2017 — an increase of about 5 percent — while those in the north suburbs went up around $ 213, or 3 percent, during that period, according to the Cook County clerk.

And homeowners in the city saw their bills increase by nearly $ 110, or 3 percent.

On average, the 2017 property tax bill for a home with a market value of $ 200,000 would be $ 3,579 in Chicago, $ 4,593 in the north suburbs and $ 5,867 for a south suburban home.

Cook County Clerk David Orr said the amount that municipalities asked for in property taxes increased by 16 percent over the last three years, and it’s a “trend that I’m concerned about.”

“If you want to look to the future, this is something we as a society — at the federal, state and county levels — could do something about,” Orr said.

The varying rates may be explained by inequity and “historic racial issues,” Orr said.

The wealthier areas, which have more industry and more commercial properties to levy taxes on, don’t have to ask for more in property taxes. But lower income areas, which may have fewer commercial spaces or other industries, ask for more in property taxes because they still need to govern, Orr said.

With increases in the levies of the city of Chicago and Chicago Public Schools contributing to an overall increase in taxes billed, Chicago taxpayers can expect a 1.7 percent increase in their composite tax rate, though it will still hover around 7 percent.

Homeowners in Ford Heights, Park Forest and Riverdale have the highest average tax rates in the county at roughly 34, 34 and 29 percent, respectively. Hinsdale, Burr Ridge and Barrington have the lowest at roughly 7 percent.