DuPage Co. homeowners see property tax spike

GLEN ELLYN, Ill. (WLS) -- Some suburban homeowners are seeing shocking increases in their property bills.

One resident in Milton Township in Dupage County says her tax bill jumped by several thousand dollars.

Spring is that time of year when homeowners feel the excitement of starting new household projects and the possible dread that comes with getting their property tax bills.

And in DuPage County, many homeowners got quite a shock. It's what brought Diane and Chuck Bohl to the Milton Township Assessor's Office to see why their bill went up $1,000 compared to last year.

"After speaking with some of our neighbors, ours went up considerably than theirs, and so we're here to inquire about it," Diane Bohl said.

Milton Township Assessor Chris Levan says there have been many visits and calls to his office after the bills were sent out.

It was the first general reassessment in DuPage County in four years. He says assessments are strictly based on the real estate market and many homeowners saw an average property tax increase of 4 percent.

"We had some homes where it was not uncommon to see 20-25 percent increases in assessment," Levan said.

Colleen Kenyon-Chung is on the high end. She lives in unincorporated Glen Ellyn, and her property tax bill for 2015 increased nearly $6,000 compared to 2014.

"Which is, in my opinion, unacceptable to make a leap like that from last year to this year," said Kenyon-Chung.

Kenyon-Chung says what's more. She did not get a notice about the general reassessment that the county says was sent out in January. Had she known, she says, she would have been better prepared and ready to appeal.

"It's very taxing on middle income families. No pun intended. But it's very damaging," she said.

Many homeowners are complaining that assessments have gone up and the tax rate has gone down. But the DuPage County clerk says tax payers do have a voice.. By paying more attention to the entities that drive those tax rates.

"You need to talk to your representative on those boards, park boards, school boards. You need to talk to them and say, 'Hey, we can't afford to pay more,'" said Paul Hinds, DuPage County clerk.