Castro bill to give Cook County homeowners more time to file property assessment appeals

• 103rd General Assembly
• Property taxes

State Senator Cristina Castro led a measure to establish a clearly defined and uniform number of appeal days so that all Cook County taxpayers can rely on sufficient time to file, define, argue and support their property assessment appeals.

“Tax-paying homeowners should be able to count on their local government for consistency and be able to voice their concerns when their property assessment goes up—as many are experiencing this year,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “This is an opportunity to stand up for Cook County homeowners, especially northwest suburban taxpayers who are seeing increases across the board, and make the property assessment appeals process more simple and flexible.”

Senate Bill 1988 requires the Cook County Assessor to continue accepting appeals from a taxpayer for at least 30 business days after the date the increased property assessment was mailed or published on the assessor’s website.

The Cook County Assessor’s filing deadlines for taxpayer complaints can change from year to year and, in practice, from township to township. While the assessor’s office this year established a deadline of 30 calendar days for filing complaints, the available business days for filing were different in each township. In one township this year, the filing period was open from July 1 to Aug. 2—encompassing one holiday and 10 weekends, leaving only 19 business days available for filing. In another township, the filing period was open from Aug. 1 to Sept. 1—encompassing eight holidays and leaving 22 business days available for filing. Castro’s measure establishes uniform filing periods to ensure homeowners have adequate time to address their complaints to the assessor.

Senate Bill 1988 passed both chambers of the General Assembly and heads to the governor for final consideration.

Castro honored for her animal-rights work

• Pets
• Animal welfare

A longtime supporter of making Illinois more humane for not only residents, but for animals, State Senator Cristina Castro was honored with a perfect score from the Illinois Humane Society for the 2023 Illinois Humane Scorecard.

“We have made great strides in Illinois in supporting animal rights,” said Castro. (D-Elgin). “I am grateful to have received this designation from the Illinois Humane Society and look forward to continuing my work to ensure that animals in our community are protected.”

The scorecard tracks Illinois legislators’ voting records on five key pieces of legislation, all of which Castro supported during the spring legislative session. The measures include one that prohibits toxicological tests on dogs and cats, another which makes it a Class B misdemeanor for a person to encounter a bear or primate, and one to end home and renter insurance discrimination based on a dog’s breed, among others.

Castro received a 100% score, meaning she took the pro-animal position through vote or co-sponsorship for all five of the measures.

“We should continuously strive for a more humane Illinois – for both people and animals,” said Castro. “The legislation we passed addresses that head-on – ensuring animals are treated with dignity.”

For more information on the Illinois Humane Society Scorecard, click here.

Castro hosting free flu shot clinics in Elgin, Hanover Township this October

State Senator Cristina Castro is teaming up with Ascension Health to host two free flu shot clinics this October to increase accessibility of flu vaccines for 22^nd District residents.

“It’s important to stay healthy during flu season, but it can be hard to find the time,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “With two convenient events in the Northwest Suburbs this fall, my office is here to help make sure you can protect yourself and your family from the flu this season.”

The first free flu shot clinic will be held Saturday, Oct. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Gail Borden Library, located at 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin. Castro’s office will host a second free flu shot clinic on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hanover Township Senior Center, located at 240 Illinois Route 59 in Bartlett. Flu shots at both events will be available for adults 18 and older, and registration is not required.

People with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact Castro’s office at 847-214-8864 or visit her website at www.SenatorCristinaCastro.com.

Castro realiza dos eventos gratuitos de vacunación contra la influenza en Elgin y Hanover Township este octubre

La senadora estatal Cristina Castro trabaja con Ascension Health para realizar dos eventos gratuitos de vacunación contra la influenza este octubre y así aumentar el acceso a las vacunas contra la influenza para los residentes del Distrito 22.

“Es importante mantenerse saludable durante la temporada de influenza, pero puede ser difícil tener tiempo para hacerlo”, dijo Castro (D-Elgin). “Con dos eventos muy oportunos en los suburbios del noroeste a realizarse este otoño, mi oficina hace presencia para asegurarnos de que usted y su familia puedan protegerse contra la influenza durante esta temporada”.

El primer evento de vacunación gratuita contra la influenza se realizará el sábado 14 de octubre, de 9 a.m. a 12 p.m. en la Gail Borden Library, ubicada en 270 N. Grove Ave., en Elgin. La oficina de Castro presentará el segundo evento de vacunación gratuita contra la influenza el sábado 21 de octubre, de 9 a.m. a 12 p.m. en el Hanover Township Senior Center, ubicado en 240 Illinois Route 59 en Bartlett. En ambos eventos, las vacunas contra la influenza estarán disponibles para adultos mayores de 18 años y no necesita registrarse.

Las personas que tengan preguntas o dudas, pueden contactar a la Oficina de la Senadora Castro al 847-214-8864 o visitar su sitio web, www.SenatorCristinaCastro.com.

2019 Castro law sees greater-than-expected returns on pension consolidation

• Pensions

Three years after State Senator Cristina Castro’s pension consolidation plan was signed into law, the Illinois Firefighters’ Pension Investment Fund has consolidated and invested nearly 300 individual pension funds with better-than-expected results.

“The historic consolidation of these funds was vital to the state’s financial health, but it was also necessary to make sure our first responders would be able to receive the full pensions they earned,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Not only are these pensions performing better as consolidated funds with combined assets that can be invested — they are already yielding greater investment returns, saving even more taxpayer money than we expected.”

Senate Bill 1300 allowed downstate fire and police pension funds to be consolidated into two separate funds over a 30-month period beginning in January 2020. Since the measure took effect, the Firefighters’ Pension Investment Fund has added more than $40 million in value through investment returns and seen a reduction in fees and expenses of $34 million. This has led to a reduction in statutory minimum contributions, saving money for local governments and taxpayers.

So far, the law has led to the consolidation of nearly 300 pension funds with $7.9 billion in total assets. It was expected that annual returns would measure around 7.1%, but the Fiscal Year 2023 rate of return was 9.7%.

More information about the Illinois Firefighters’ Pension Investment Fund can be found on the IFPIF website.