Flooded? Get Help, Appeal Your Property Tax Assessment

If your home flooded during the April 18 storm, you can do two things immediately to start getting some financial help.

The first is to appeal your property tax assessment, which needs to be turned in by Thursday, May 16 at 4 p.m. to the Maine Township Office, or by May 17 to the Cook County Assessor's office at the Skokie courthouse, or by May 20 online at cookcountyassessor.com.

The second is to apply for FEMA assistance, which is available after President Obama declared Cook County and several other counties disaster areas on Saturday.

Appealing your property tax assessment

Hector Dominguez, community outreach liaison for the Cook County Assessor's Office, and some colleagues came to Maine Township Hall Wednesday to provide forms and help to approximately 150 homeowners who attended to get information.

Dominguez walked the attendees through the Residential Property Tax Appeal Form . It can be downloaded at that link. Dominguez noted the assessor's office will look at comparable properties, or properties similar to yours that may be taxed at a lower rate, which might justify lowering your tax rate. If you want to assessor to look at a specific property, however, he recommended writing it in the "comparables" box.

Below the box which labeled "List Comparable Property Pins Below," Dominguez said it's important to check off a reason for the appeal. His home burned down, he said, and he checked off several reasons, including Lack of Uniformity (property differs significantly from neighboring ones), Vacancy, Property Description Error (for example, if the assessor's form says you have 3 bathrooms and you only have two) Building No Longer Exists, Overvaluation and Fire Damage.

Next, Dominguez urged flood victims to look at the:

Guidelines for appeals for flood-damaged homes

Finally, he said, flood victims should submit the PTAX 245 Disaster Area Application for Reassessment with their appeal forms. It must be signed.

PTAX 245 Disaster Area Application for Reassessment

Applying for Disaster Assistance

The following was supplied by Park Ridge Mayor Dave Schmidt's office.

• ·         Apply Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
• ·         Apply via a smartphone at m.fema.gov
• ·         Apply by Phone:
  • ·         Call (800) 621-3362.
  • ·         Call TTY (800) 462-7585 for people with speech or hearing disabilities.

Before You Apply

• What is disaster assistance?
• Do I qualify for assistance?
• What information do I need to apply?
• What items are covered by disaster assistance?
• What are my rights?
• Disaster Recovery Center Locator
• Frequently Asked Questions

Right now, people can register with FEMA via the methods indicated on this website:

http://www.fema.gov/apply-assistance

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