Assessor

The Assessor is an elected government official who determines value on all real property within the township. That value is then converted into an assessment which is then used by the county as just one of the many pieces used in the figuring of each person’s tax bill.

The actual value of real property is determined by actions in the marketplace; the buying and selling of property by the public. Tracking values is the function of the Assessor, the Supervisor of Assessments and the Board of Review. These entities are thereby charged with equity among assessments. The Supervisor of Assessments and the Board of Review may use multipliers to achieve equity among townships within a county and/or to bring assessments to the State-mandated 33.33% of market value, county-wide. Sales are tracked by the State through Real Estate Transfer Declarations and the sale prices are compared to assessed values of those properties sold to produce sales ratio studies, which indicate the level of assessments in townships and counties. If the level is above or below 33.33% of value, the State may impose a multiplier to bring county levels to 33.33%. The Supervisor of Assessments or the Board of Review may use township multipliers to adjust township value levels within the county to 33.33%. The Assessor, the Supervisor of Assessments and the Board of Review in this function do not TAX. They evaluate by tracking the market and adjust these valuations for equity by the application of multipliers. Multipliers are related to value adjustments, not to TAXES.

Taxes are the result of the demand for money by the taxing bodies.  The taxing bodies are listed on the tax bill along with their portions of the tax rate.  These include counties, cities, schools, airports, townships, and others.  Their requirements for money to operate translate to tax rates, the total of which, when applied to the effective property assessment, determines the tax bill.  To see what percentage each taxing body gets, you can visit our Property Tax Distribution page.

In summary, rising taxes are the result of rising demands for money, not the result of rising property values.  In a given year, when values increase, tax rates would decrease to generate the same tax dollars as the prior year. In a given year, when property values decrease, tax rates would increase to generate the same tax amount as the prior year.  Except for that part of the township or county levy, which is needed to cover office budgets, assessment bodies do not TAX.  Rather, they evaluate property according to the action of the market.  It is not the local Assessor who decides the tax liability, as commonly believed.

This annual exemption is available for “residential property that is occupied by its owner or owners as his or their principal dwelling place, or that is a leasehold interest on which a single family residence is situated, which is occupied as a residence by a person who has an ownership interest therein, legal or equitable or as a lessee, and on which the person is liable for the payment of property taxes.” – Illinois Department of Revenue

This annual exemption is available for property that is occupied as a residence by a person 65 years of age or older who is liable for paying real estate taxes on the property and is an owner of record of the property or has a legal or equitable interest therein as evidenced by a written instrument, except for a leasehold interest, other than a leasehold interest of land on which a single family residence is located, which is occupied as a residence by a person 65 years or older who has an ownership interest therein, legal, equitable or as a lessee, and on which he or she is liable for the payment of property taxes. – Illinois Department of Revenue

Benefit Access Program Benefits:

• Seniors Ride Free Transit Benefit
• Persons with Disabilities Free Transit Ride
• Secretary of State License Plate Discount

Do I qualify for the Benefit Access Program?

Note: Use of the word spouse also includes a civil union partner.

Apply on the Benefit Access Application if you meet the following requirements:

• you must be 65 years of age or older by December 31 of the current year; or
• you must be 16 years of age or older and totally disabled before January 1 of this year.

• NOTE: “Person with a disability” means a person unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. [320 ILCS 25/3.14]

To be determined eligible for these benefits, you must submit a Benefit Access Application on the Internet by using this link and filling out an application or by visiting a local office below. Paper applications are not available. Please note that current processing times to determine the eligibility of your Benefits Access Application is approximately 12 weeks.

State Representative Mike Halpin
1504 3rd Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201
Rock Island County Office Building (2nd Floor)
(309)558-3612 (Call to Schedule an Appointment)

Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging
729 34th Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201
(309)793-6800 (Call to Schedule an Appointment)

Rock Island County Senior Center
2221 11th Street, Rock Island, IL 61201
(309)788-6335 (Call to Schedule an Appointment)

Once your application is approved you may print a certificate of eligibility to take to your local transit authority or Secretary of State’s Office. Please wait 10 business days from the date of your approval for your license plate discount to be available. If you requested the ride free benefit, please contact your local public transit system for further information. Your local transit system may have additional requirements in order to obtain the free ride. You can check the Website at any time to determine your application status.

How do I find out if my application has been approved?

You may check the Website for the status of your application here. – Illinois Department on Aging