According to property data, Midlothian Village President Gary L’Heureux has obtained owners exemptions on two properties underneath his identify lately.
L’Heureux mentioned he has mistakenly accepted the exemption, which reduces a house’s equalized evaluation by $10,000 for the proprietor’s major residence, for 2 properties practically yearly since buying his second house in 2020. Since then contacted the Cook County Assessor’s workplace to appropriate the issue.
L’Heureux, who has been village president since 2017, mentioned he lived in his 1,147-square-foot, single-story house on Lawndale Avenue for about 30 years earlier than buying a bigger house on Kildare Avenue. His son now lives on the Lawndale property, which L’Heureux mentioned he hopes to promote quickly.
L’Heureux’s tax exemption for his home in Kildare was routinely eliminated the yr following the acquisition. He requested a certificates of error to later obtain that exemption, which went into impact in 2022. He mentioned he thought the exemption would routinely be withdrawn from his Lawndale house because it was not thought of his major residence.
“It simply looks like it might be automated for the house owner’s exemption to be taken away out of your secondary residence,” L’Heureux mentioned. “Clearly, that does not occur.”
L’Heureux mentioned he was solely made conscious of the double exemption after being contacted by the Daily Southtown and mentioned he was grateful for the notification. The county assessor’s workplace confirmed they’ve contacted them to appropriate the issue.
According to property tax data, L’Heureux saved practically $3,000 on Lawndale house taxes for tax years 2022 and 2023. How a lot was saved in earlier years is not out there on the treasurer’s workplace web site.
But L’Heureux says the extra vital query is how traditionally excessive property taxes within the southern suburbs affect total financial improvement and particular person owners.
“Property taxes in Southland usually are exorbitant,” L’Heureux mentioned. “We battle to draw and retain retail companies as a result of their property taxes are so excessive. Our aged discover it troublesome to remain of their properties even when they’re paid.”
L’Heureux mentioned he was joyful he was capable of resolve his double exemption shortly, “however some folks cannot, and that is the larger story.”
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
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