On March 23, 2017, the Illinois Supreme Court filed its opinion in Carle Foundation v. Cunningham Township, remanding the case to the circuit court. 2017 IL 120427 (2017). The case reached the Illinois Supreme Court after the appellate court found Section 15-86 unconstitutional, holding that the property tax exemption in Section 15-86 went beyond the [...]
Both the United States Supreme Court and the Illinois Supreme Court issued opinions in highly anticipated cases this week. Today, the Illinois Supreme Court remanded the case of Carle Foundation v. Cunningham Township to the circuit court for further proceedings after finding that the circuit court’s Rule 304(a) finding was improper and the appellate court, [...]
In January 2016, in Carle Foundation v. Cunningham Township, the Illinois Appellate Court reversed the Circuit Court of Champaign County and ruled that Section 15-86 of the Illinois Property Tax Code (the “Code”) was unconstitutional and unenforceable from its inception. Specifically, the Illinois Appellate Court held that Section 15-86 went beyond the authority granted to [...]
Senate Bill 2612 amends Division 18 of the Illinois Property Tax Code (“Division 18”) relating to the assessment of wind energy devices. Senate Bill 2612 was introduced in the Senate in February 2016. It was sponsored by Senator David Koehler and Senator Pamela Althoff. It passed both houses on May 26, 2016 and was signed [...]
In 2012, the Illinois General Assembly enacted Section 15-86 of the Illinois Property Tax Code (the “Code”). Section 15-86 bestows a charitable exemption from property taxes upon hospital entities if the value of qualifying services that the hospital entity provided in the year for which it seeks an exemption equals or exceeds the hospital entity’s [...]
Senate Bill 316 sought to amend the Illinois Property Tax Code, the Illinois Pension Code, and the Illinois School Code. A second amendment to Senate Bill 316 (“SB 316 Am. 2”) was filed this morning and was discussed by the Senate Executive Committee thereafter. The Executive Committee recommended SB 316 Am. 2 be adopted. SB [...]
In December 2014, the City of Aurora approved a redevelopment agreement regarding three properties in the City’s Downtown TIF district, all on historic Stolp Island. The former Elks Club Building at Stolp Avenue and Benton Street, Fox Island Place (the former Leland Towers) at Stolp Avenue and Galena Boulevard, and the Graham Building on Stolp [...]
Construction is underway for the expansion of the Chicago Premium Outlets mall in Aurora, Illinois. The 290,000 square foot, $110 million project will expand the mall by two-thirds, making this Simon Premium Outlets’ largest renovation nationwide. When complete, the mall will measure nearly 750,000 square feet, house more than 170 stores and have upgraded outdoor [...]
In Meridian Village Association v. Hamer, the Illinois Fifth District Appellate Court reiterates the statutory and constitutional requirements that must be met before an applicant qualifies for property tax exemptions. It also notes that satisfying the requirements for one type of exemption does not necessarily mean an applicant will receive approval of related exemptions. Meridian [...]
On February 25, 2014, the Circuit Court of LaSalle County approved the LaSalle Power Station Real Property Tax Assessment Settlement Agreement between Exelon Generation Company, LLC, the LaSalle County assessing officials, and all of the eleven taxing bodies that receive property tax revenue from LaSalle Station. The taxing bodies retained Whitt Law in 2008 due to the [...]