Possible City Episode 12: Assessor Fritz Kaegi from Cook County, IL
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Fritz Kaegi took over an office that was literally legendary for being opaque, outdated, and at times, downright hostile to the constituents its meant to serve: the Cook County Assessor's Office. At the time of his election in 2018, the office was under federal monitoring and politically-connected downtown landlords seemed to be running roughshod over homeowners. This in episode, Fritz - fresh off relection to his second term - takes us behind the scenes to talk about how he found the technology, talent, and tenacity to reform a massive, inert bureaucracy. Along the way, we learn why a transaparent, ethical property tax system matters to Chicagoland's future.
Referenced in this episode:
Route Fifty, February 21, 2023: How One County Fixed Its Broken Property Tax System - Route Fifty
Axios, February 16, 2023: Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi pushes back against tax appeals
WTTW-FM, May 16, 2022: New Chicago Property Assessment Pushes Tax Burden from Homeowners to Businesses, Assessor Fritz Kaegi Says
ProPublica, December 7, 2017: How the Cook County Assessor Failed Taxpayers