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Assessment notices have been sent out for Benton Township. Notices will continue to be mailed to other townships in Lake County through August.
What is A Property Assessment?
It may help to think of the property tax process like a pie. Taxing bodies, including school districts, villages and the county (and many other taxing districts) determine how much they need to collect in taxes. That determines the size of the pie, and the property assessment determines how the pie is cut up. The assessment process ensures property taxes are fairly distributed. Elected township assessors are primarily responsible for appraising properties and determining a property’s value, which ultimately determines the portion of the total tax burden (or piece of the pie). If you have questions or concerns regarding the assessed value of your property, you should discuss this with your local township assessor’s office.
Understand Your Property Assessment
Get free, one-on-one assistance with evaluating your assessment at several upcoming events. These are listed on your blue assessment notice, too. Taxpayer advocates are also available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Chief County Assessment Office, 18 N. County Street, 7th Floor, Waukegan.
Should You Appeal Your Property Assessment?
View the five steps to determining if you should appeal your property assessment.
 Filing an Appeal? Use our Online System
Our quick and convenient Online
Appeal Filing System allows you to get your appeal information to the
Board of Review without the hassle of mailing or hand delivering them
to the Chief County Assessment Office in Waukegan. Watch this video to learn more about
the process to file an appeal online.
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 Lake County has so much to offer for outdoor family fun this summer, including
75 lakes, over 100 beaches, 500 miles of trails and bikeways, our beautiful
forest preserves, community festivals, and farmers markets! Watch this video as
we visit Illinois Beach State Park, which stretches for six and a half miles
along the sandy shores of Lake Michigan in northern Lake County. While there, Maureen
Riedy, president of the Lake County Visitor's Bureau, gives an update on all
the exciting things happening in Lake County this summer.
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 Warm weather means it’s time to visit the farmers markets!
Shop for fresh fruits, vegetables, baked treats and more while supporting local
businesses at one of Lake County’s farmers markets. Check out our Farmers
Market Finder to find a farmers market near you, including days and hours.
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The County Board works for all residents to deliver services
and solve problems that impact their daily lives, from property taxes to roads
to jobs. The Lake County Board recently updated its strategic plan, which
serves as a road map for county government and influences how we prioritize and
invest our resources. Residents and local leaders provided input on their
priorities through a variety of channels, including two telephone town hall meetings,
a survey of Lake County residents, and a series of Leaders Round Table
meetings. View a
summary of the input as well as highlights from the plan, and the entire plan.
Each year, an independent professional audit of Lake
County’s finances is completed. The audit firm of Baker Tilly recently issued a
“clean opinion” for the latest audit, which is the highest opinion
available.
The county board has a strong
track record of practicing fiscal responsibility. Lake County consistently has
a balanced budget, and for 20 years, it has maintained Triple A credit rating
from both Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s – the highest rating possible. Only
one other county in Illinois, and about 60 counties in the U.S have this
coveted rating (out of more than 3,000) from both of these rating agencies.
Additionally, the County has received the Government Finance Officers
Association (GFOA) award for “Excellence in Financial Reporting” for the last
two decades for the Audit, and the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
for the past decade for the annual budget document. The recent audit,
along with the credit rating and GFOA awards, collectively show Lake County is
financially sound.
 Let’s Go Biking, Lake County!
Did you know the Lake County
Division of Transportation (LCDOT) has about 60 miles of bike paths and bike
lanes as part of the Lake County highway system? This is part of the over
550 total miles of trails and bikeways, connecting forest preserves and
communities throughout the county! Plan your next trip by using the Bike Lake County
application, where you can find all the trails,
paths, and lanes you can use in Lake County.
Dan Krill from Lake County’s
Planning, Building & Development Department has been using these bike paths
and bike lanes while riding his bike to work every day (even in the winter) for
the past seven years. Watch this video to hear his story,
and learn how LCDOT continues to consider non-motorized travel a high priority.
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 Don't Rush Through Work
Zones
Road construction can cause delays, but don’t try to hurry
through a work zone. Even if workers aren’t on site, work zone speed limits are
in place AT ALL TIMES by state law. This is for the safety of drivers as well
as the workers. Work zones have changing conditions, shifting or narrowing
lanes, equipment and other potential hazards to motorists that are going too
fast or not paying attention. Watch this
video as Lake County Division of Transportation workers share a few safety
tips and ask for your help to make sure everyone gets home safely at the end of
the day.
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 Make an impact on homelessness in Lake County. The Lake
County Coalition for the Homeless is seeking an individual to help plan the
2018 Homeless Point-in-Time Count, and work on initiatives to increase the
income of disabled homeless individuals. Learn more and apply
today.
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First-time, non-violent offenders now can keep a conviction from being
permanently entered on their record by participating in the Misdemeanor
Alternative Prosecution Program. The program holds offenders accountable and
addresses the needs of crime victims, but also gives deserving defendants a
second chance and the opportunity to avoid being labeled a convicted criminal. Learn more
 Get an inside look at what it’s
like to work in the Lake County Jail as County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor explores some of its
"tough" jobs. Watch this video and see him do some of the daily tasks at the jail like
laundry and food preparation, and learn how the jail keeps clean.
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Protect your wallet and identity by ordering certified or genealogical
copies of Lake County birth, death, marriage, or civil union records directly
from the County Clerk’s Office. Residents are warned against using online
vendors, who sometimes charge higher fees, and they ultimately send the
order to the County Clerk’s Office to be fulfilled. To protect the integrity of
these records, access is restricted by state statute, and applicants are
required to complete a written application and provide valid identification.
For those who cannot visit the Clerk’s office, downloadable application forms
are available. Learn more
 Boating is one of the most popular activities in Lake County, and it’s no
surprise as the county offers so many lakes to visit as we enjoy the warmer
weather. Check out BoatingLakeCounty.com as your boating resource including
maps of all the county’s public boat ramps, lakefront dining and more.
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 Before going to the beach, make sure your favorite spot is
open by checking our beach advisory page. The Lake
County Health Department monitors lake water in over 100 Lake Michigan and
inland beaches and provides updates daily now through Labor Day to let beachgoers
know if high bacteria is present in the water. Learn more,
including the health department’s tips to avoid hazards when swimming in our
lakes this summer.
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 Forest Preserve News
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 Summer Concerts at
Independence Grove
Bring chairs and
blankets for Tuesday outdoor musical performances, beginning at 7:30 p.m. On
June 20, come hear Black Masala, a high-energy brass band that plays a dance
groove packed with funk, gypsy punk and soul. Learn more
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 Independence
Grove Beach
Grab
your swimsuit, towel and sunscreen, and head to the beach at Independence Grove, which is now open daily. The beach offers
400 feet of sand along the lake's South Bay. Learn more
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 Take a Hike
We’ve teamed up with
the Lake County Health Department and NorthShore University HealthSystem to
bring you Rx for Health: Walking in Nature, a free walking
program that brings together naturalists and physicians for guided tours of
some of our most scenic preserves. Learn more
New
Middlefork Savanna Trail Connection
The
Lake County Forest Preserves began construction in March on the trail and
bridge over the Metra Railway linking Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve to
Lake Forest Academy and Townline Community Park. This is part of an
overall effort to connect the Middlefork Savanna and Greenway to McArthur Woods
Forest Preserve and the Des Plaines River Trail. The project includes a
221-foot steel pedestrian bridge, scenic overlook, 10-foot-wide paved trails,
and crosswalk improvements at the intersection of IL Route 60 and Academy
Drive. View map
Lake County Forest
Preserves is pleased to be working with the following partners and donors to
make this project possible: City of Lake Forest, Lake Forest Academy, Lake
Forest Bank & Trust, Lake Forest Open Lands Association, and Richard and
Elizabeth Uihlein. The Forest Preserve is the lead agency responsible for
administration and coordination of the project and 60 percent of the local
funding for construction costs. The Forest Preserve also secured federal
funding for the project through a grant from the Illinois Transportation
Enhancement Program, administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation. Learn more
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 Help
Restore Nature
Spend
a weekend morning restoring wildlife habitat. Gather with other
preservation-minded volunteers, and help make a difference in the health and
habitat of your forest preserves. No experience is required, and families and
groups are welcome. Please RSVP so we can bring enough equipment for everyone. Learn more
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 Wildlife in
the Preserves
By early June, coyote pups
begin to venture out of the den that has sheltered them since birth. In
early summer, we often receive reports of sightings due to increased daytime
activity. When dens are located near trails, staff will install signs to inform
trail users about coyote behavior and how to safely respond if you see a
coyote. Learn more
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 If an
emergency should occur, do you know how to protect your furry, scaly or
feathered friends? In observance of National Pet Preparedness Month, this is a perfect
opportunity to plan for your pet’s safety. Visit FEMA’s Pet and Animal Emergency
Planning web page to find tips on making a pet emergency plan, preparing shelter,
and tips for large animals.
One important
way to keep your pet safe is to keep the vaccinations up to date. The Lake
County Health Department provides pet vaccination clinics, a low-cost,
convenient way to keep pet’s shots and rabies tags up to date. View
upcoming clinic dates and cost.
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