Cook Co Board of Appeals Commissioner Dan Patlak
CHICAGO – The Cook County Board of Review was expanded from two to three commissioners in 1996 due to the hard work of then-south suburban Republican State Rep. Maureen Murphy and State Senator Patrick O'Malley. Together, the two of them pushed through the board's restructuring during that very short two year stint when Democrat Speaker Mike Madigan was not in power. Their goal was to give Cook County residents outside Chicago more resources and more fairness when appealing their property taxes.
It has taken Cook County politicos over 20 years, but they've successfully watered down the influence suburban Republicans fought so hard to gain in property tax assessing. And it was accomplished in the way only Chicago Democrats would have the brazen gall to achieve – by stealing resources and staff from the Republican region.
Problem is Maureen Murphy has gone on to her just reward in heaven and Patrick O'Malley is retired and enjoying life in Florida. Who will step up to fight for Cook County suburban property owners this time?
Sure, the Board of Review still has three board members. Two of the three are Democrats. Commissioner Dan Patlak is the only Republican on the board – representing the suburban region from north to south. Somehow, Patlak's staff numbers aren't keeping up with the other two board members' staffs and neither is Patlak's allocated budget. The end result? More work, less staff for Patlak's region – meaning more delays on appeals, longer waiting times and more frustrated taxpayers that the Democrats hope will turn to the Democrat candidate the next time they get the chance. Voila! Problem solved.
Patlak writes about his dilemma and responsibly presents a solution for the problem in the Daily Herald Sunday. An amendment to the 1996 statute that explains that resources are to be doled out evenly among the three Board of Review regions:
The two Chicago commissioners are resolute in their desire to exercise monopoly control over personnel and thus policy at the board. The only remedy for this situation is through action by the General Assembly.
Two identical bills have been introduced in the Senate and House. They are SB 124 and HB 354. They are pure good government, non-partisan pieces of legislation that will benefit all taxpayers, and they have no down side.
The legislation is one sentence that amends the original language creating the Board of Review, "Upon establishing the compensation of board of review employees fixed by the county board, the county shall, at all times, ensure that each of the commissioners on the board of review receives equitable resources and staffing."
The recent transfer of power through misappropriation of resources is an attempt to bring us back to the old Board of Appeals. At a time of stagnant property values and rising property taxes, this is an issue that concerns every resident of Cook County and especially every suburban resident who is now being deprived of the representation the legislature intended to provide for them back in 1996 and which they deserve. The unfortunate results of this power grab are the following:
• One-third of taxpayers are under-represented
• All taxpayers are underserved
• The system of checks and balances in the adjudication of appeals has been undermined
• The original intent of the legislation has been trashed
• The integrity of the appeal process is under attack
• My ability as your suburban representative to carry out my statutory duties has been diminished
This has all happened because two commissioners have chosen to act in their own self-interest instead of the interests of taxpayers and because of the broadness and vagueness of the original statute creating the Board.
