Township Assessor
Uniform property assessments for Crete Township, Will County, Illinois
Mary Margaret Tamez
Township Assessor
Assessor's Office
1367 Wood Street
Crete, IL 60417
Forms & property info
The Assessor's Responsibilities
The Township Assessor is charged with the task of uniformly assessing properties at a median level of 33⅓% (one third) of market value. Equitable assessments ensure a fair distribution of the property tax burden among all property owners. Local property taxes pay for such services as schools, villages, libraries, park districts, and fire protection districts. The Assessor has no control over the levies of taxing bodies or the tax rate.
Local Tax Rate is determined by the combined spending of all taxing districts, including the county, the forest preserve district, townships, community colleges, schools, villages, fire districts, libraries, parks, and more. Each government prepares a budget and submits its revenue request to the county clerk, who calculates the tax rate. That rate is then applied against all property assessments in the district to produce each property's tax amount.
Property taxes are paid in two installments, due June 1st and September 1st of every year.
Property Exemptions
Exemptions are a form of partial property tax relief. Each exemption type is designed to provide tax relief for a specific class of property owners. Eligibility requirements vary for each type, as does the amount of tax relief. A property owner may be eligible for more than one exemption type.
We Are Here to Help
Should you have any questions regarding exemptions or any other assessment questions, please contact our office. You may also visit the Supervisor of Assessments website for forms and property information.
mary@creteassessor.comCommon Questions
What is market value?
Finding the market value of your property involves discovering the most likely price that unrelated individuals — both acting with full knowledge of the facts and in their best interest — would pay for it in its present condition. This is known as an 'arm's length transaction.' The assessor must estimate this value for every property each year, sold or unsold, because market values are constantly changing.
Why have property taxes?
The theory behind property tax is that members of the community who benefit from good schools, fire and police protection, and other public services absorb their fair share of the cost — in direct proportion to the value of their individual properties. This is the concept of 'Ad Valorem,' or according to value. Property tax is a more stable revenue source than sales and income taxes because it does not fluctuate during recessions.
Why do assessed values change from year to year?
When market value changes, so does the assessed value. For instance, adding a garage would increase your assessed value; a property in poor condition would see a decrease. The assessor does not create value — people establish value through marketplace transactions. The assessor studies those transactions and appraises property accordingly.
What is the relationship between assessed value and tax rate?
The assessor's primary responsibility is to find the fair market value of your property so that you pay only your fair share of taxes. The amount you pay is determined by a tax rate applied to your property's assessed value. That tax rate is set by all taxing agencies — city, county, school districts, etc. — based on the services they provide.
What else does the assessor do?
The assessor's office also tracks ownership changes, maintains maps of parcel boundaries, keeps building and property descriptions up to date, tracks exemption eligibility, and analyzes trends in sales prices, construction costs, and rents to estimate the value of all assessable property.
What are your rights and responsibilities?
If you believe the value of your property differs from the assessor's assessment, visit the office to discuss it. Staff will explain the appraisal and how to appeal if an agreement cannot be reached. If after talking with the local assessor you still feel your assessment is too high, you have the right to formally appeal — a legal process involving the property owner, the Board of Review, and often the Township Assessor.
Questions about your property assessment?
Contact the Assessor's office directly.