How Illinois State Laws Failed to Stop Decades of Skyrocketing
Property taxes in Cook County increased at double the rate of inflation and well above the rate of wage growth during the past 30 years, a study by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas found.
Local governments in Cook County imposed $19.2 billion in property taxes in 2024, up nearly 182% from the $6.8 billion taxed in 1995, according to the report.
During those three decades, inflation rose by 91%, while average wages grew by about 161%. That means property owners now must devote a larger percentage of their earnings to taxes and, if the trend continues, even more in the future.
