About the Tax Policy Forum
Cook County Assessor James M. Houlihan created the Tax Policy Forum in 1998 when he convened a group of over three hundred individuals to conduct a comprehensive review of the property tax system in Cook County. This group represented government agencies, community organizations, business and civic groups as well as charitable and educational institutions.The Forum worked to improve the property tax system through modifications in the internal workings of Cook County government agencies and through amendments to the classification system with approval of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
The Forum’s current focus is to address the broader issue of the overall tax structure of the State of Illinois through an on-line estimator that compares alternatives to the current system. The estimator is designed to explore and promote the restructuring of our tax system so that it reflects the modern economy and provides better funding for educating our children.
The tax policy estimator will serve as a premier model to inform and educate citizens on the impact of tax reform options. The ultimate goal is public and political consensus that we can and will successfully address the challenges facing our state and our schools.