Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas presents during a county budget hearing in October. [Livestream]

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ office is laying the blame for higher property tax bills this year at the feet of school districts, which have been large beneficiaries of a recent provision in state law, among other factors. 

The median residential tax bill in the north and northwest suburbs increased 15.7 percent in Tax Year 2022, which represents the largest percentage increase in at least 30 years, an analysis by the treasurer’s office found. The office said the cause of the higher tax bills were increased levies and a shift of the tax burden from commercial to residential property owners as a result of reassessments in the northern suburbs last year.