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hicago boasts the lowest effective property tax rates in the region, but its economically struggling south suburbs bear a disproportionate burden. In 2022, Harvey had the highest residential tax rate at 4.74%, followed by Chicago Heights at 3.2%. Conversely, Chicago's rate of 1.69% was the lowest among 12 Cook County communities analyzed by the Civic Federation.

    Tax bills in southern suburbs increased by a median of nearly 20% last year, the largest hike in three decades, according to Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. In several majority-Black suburbs, including Harvey, tax bills rose by 30%. Commercial property owners in Chicago faced an effective tax rate of 4.29%, while those in Harvey and Chicago Heights paid staggering rates of 17.41% and 12.1%, respectively.

    Over the past decade, Chicago's residential tax rate increased by 2.2%, while its commercial tax rate jumped 11.5%. In contrast, Harvey saw a 4.4% increase in its commercial tax rate, and Chicago Heights' spiked 12.1%. Although residential tax rates in these suburbs decreased significantly over the same period, the relief is not enough to close the gap with Chicago. The differential between Chicago and the suburbs has returned to pre-Great Recession levels.