Assessor

Lockport Township Assessor

Debbie Mason

Office Location:


	Central Square 222 East 9th Street Suite 305 (3rd Floor) Lockport, IL 60441


	MAP


	Office Hours:


	9:00 AM - 4:00PM Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9:00 AM - 12:00PM Wed


	Contact Information:


	(815)838-0780 :Phone (815)838-5479 :Fax This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it :Email Assessor :Contact Us System

The Lockport Township Assessor is an elected official charged with the responsibility of determining property value for tax purposes. It is important that property be assessed correctly so that each taxpayer pays only their fair share of the property tax burden. The assessor also handles taxpayer exemptions, for example, the General Homestead Exemptions are reviewed each year to make sure only qualified properties receive it.

Real Estate Tax Information

The current assessment year, 2011, is a quadrennial assessment year. This means, by law, every property must be re-evaluated. When this re-evaluation is complete the county Supervisor of Assessments mails a “Notice of Revised Assessment” to every property owner. The notice will include an explanation of your property assessment and information on how and when you can appeal. There are specific dates involved so it is important to read this notice carefully.

We also want to encourage you to please look over your property tax bill when you receive it from the County Treasurers’ office. In a column on the right hand side of the bill it will show the assessed value broken down by land and building and the total assessed value of your property. This column will also show any exemptions you receive and their dollar value. If you find an error regarding your exemptions please notify us promptly so we can make the necessary corrections.

Your tax bill will also list the taxing districts for your individual property.
These are the governmental taxing bodies receiving your tax dollars.

During the 2010 assessment year our office received numerous questions about how to lower property taxes. While the assessor is responsible for your assessed value, the taxing districts are responsible for the tax rate, which will determine if your taxes go up or down.

If you want to see your tax rate lowered, you must contact the taxing districts. When our office encourages a taxpayer to contact the taxing districts almost every person says the same thing “I’m only one person. They won’t listen to me”. The meetings and budget hearings of taxing districts are, by law, open to the public. If every person who thinks their one voice won’t be heard attended the budget hearings, imagine how many voices that would be.

To help keep your real estate taxes as low as possible ...

General Homestead Exemption:
Home must be owner occupied. This exemption reduces your assessed value by $6000.00. No need to contact us; we will automatically process this exemption for you.
Homestead Improvement Exemption:
Four year exemption on additions etc. If and when you qualify, our office will send all necessary papers to the County.
Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption:
If you are 65 years of age or older, this exemption reduces your homes assessed value by $4000.00. To apply for this exemption, please bring in the deed to your home with proof of age (drivers license or birth certificate) to our office.
Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze:
This freezes the assessed value of your residence. You must be 65 years of age or older with a total household income of $55,000.00 or less to qualify. Applications are mailed from the County in early April. Application forms are also available in our office.

Disabled Persons Exemption:
This exemption reduces your assessed value by $2,000.00.

Disabled Veterans & Returning Veterans Exemptions:
Please contact our office for more information.

When you receive your annual real estate tax bill ...

Inspect It Carefully
Make sure all qualified exemptions have been applied. These include Homestead, Senior Homestead, Home Improvement, or the Senior Freeze (The amounts of the Senior and general exemptions are combined).
Has Your Property Been Accurately Assessed
To make sure your property has been accurately appraised, please call the Township Assessor and request that the assessment records be described to you. This description will allow you to possibly find that a full basement is being assessed when part of yours is only a crawl space, or that a brick structure is being assessed and yours is constructed of wood.
Assessment Complaints
Complaints based on excessive assessed value or comparison with other properties should be made when assessments are published in the fall. Only factual errors can be corrected for the current tax assessment.
Study how the tax bill’s dollars are distributed to local taxing bodies
Note increase or decreases from the previous annual bill. Do you wonder why there always seem to be more increases than decreases? Though annual budget hearings for each taxing body are open to the public, most are minimally attended.
Controlling Property Taxes
If property taxes (yours especially) are to be controlled, and perhaps even reduced, the taxpayers must assume more responsibility by attending annual budget hearings and “asking a lot of questions”. That is a good way to begin.

Freedom of Information Act.

F.O.I.A. Officer:
MaryAnn Wiliamson
Deputy Assessor

Please send all requests to the Assessor's office 222 E. 9th Street (Room 305), Lockport, IL 60441

Freedom of Information Act Request for Public Record Form -- PDF Format