Christopher Silber
@csilber.bsky.social
In the weeds | Chicago housing and property tax system research | UIC | DePaul | geography, journalism, etc. | He/Him | Views = my own
It's one reason why this year the tax amount going to south suburban TIFs increased by 19%, even though it's not a reassessment year:
November 17, 2025 at 4:10 PM
It's one reason why this year the tax amount going to south suburban TIFs increased by 19%, even though it's not a reassessment year:
For Chicago TIF data wonks: you might be surprised to find out that Cook County's TIF distribution calculation method changed this year!!
In the past, current/frozen EAVs were aggregated at the tax code level to determine an area TIF distribution %. Now, this calc occurs at the property level.
In the past, current/frozen EAVs were aggregated at the tax code level to determine an area TIF distribution %. Now, this calc occurs at the property level.
November 17, 2025 at 4:05 PM
For Chicago TIF data wonks: you might be surprised to find out that Cook County's TIF distribution calculation method changed this year!!
In the past, current/frozen EAVs were aggregated at the tax code level to determine an area TIF distribution %. Now, this calc occurs at the property level.
In the past, current/frozen EAVs were aggregated at the tax code level to determine an area TIF distribution %. Now, this calc occurs at the property level.
For this year's tax bill analysis, I revamped our map dashboard! Users can view block-level AV and tax bill changes by property type in any Cook County municipality, Chicago community area, or assessment region. Works on phones, best on a computer! Link:
www.cookcountytreasurer.com/taxbillanaly...
www.cookcountytreasurer.com/taxbillanaly...
November 17, 2025 at 3:14 PM
For this year's tax bill analysis, I revamped our map dashboard! Users can view block-level AV and tax bill changes by property type in any Cook County municipality, Chicago community area, or assessment region. Works on phones, best on a computer! Link:
www.cookcountytreasurer.com/taxbillanaly...
www.cookcountytreasurer.com/taxbillanaly...
I've seen some great articles on our report, including pieces in the Tribune (featuring web maps!), the Sun-Times, and Crain's. Give them a read!
November 17, 2025 at 3:09 PM
I've seen some great articles on our report, including pieces in the Tribune (featuring web maps!), the Sun-Times, and Crain's. Give them a read!
Today marks the release of the annual Cook County property tax bill analysis!
It wasn't an easy year to put this together, but we hope it helps shed light on changes to your tax bills.
You can read the full report and view our data dashboards here: www.cookcountytreasurer.com/taxbillanaly...
It wasn't an easy year to put this together, but we hope it helps shed light on changes to your tax bills.
You can read the full report and view our data dashboards here: www.cookcountytreasurer.com/taxbillanaly...
November 17, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Today marks the release of the annual Cook County property tax bill analysis!
It wasn't an easy year to put this together, but we hope it helps shed light on changes to your tax bills.
You can read the full report and view our data dashboards here: www.cookcountytreasurer.com/taxbillanaly...
It wasn't an easy year to put this together, but we hope it helps shed light on changes to your tax bills.
You can read the full report and view our data dashboards here: www.cookcountytreasurer.com/taxbillanaly...
Read my Cook County property tax collections update on the CCTO website!
Major topics:
-Collections have rebounded after a slow start
-Southland residents are struggling
-many place still have very low collection rates
Read and and peruse the data here: www.cookcountytreasurer.com/pappasportal...
Major topics:
-Collections have rebounded after a slow start
-Southland residents are struggling
-many place still have very low collection rates
Read and and peruse the data here: www.cookcountytreasurer.com/pappasportal...
November 5, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Read my Cook County property tax collections update on the CCTO website!
Major topics:
-Collections have rebounded after a slow start
-Southland residents are struggling
-many place still have very low collection rates
Read and and peruse the data here: www.cookcountytreasurer.com/pappasportal...
Major topics:
-Collections have rebounded after a slow start
-Southland residents are struggling
-many place still have very low collection rates
Read and and peruse the data here: www.cookcountytreasurer.com/pappasportal...
Do new CTA bus stop signs not tell you the number to text 41411?
October 4, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Do new CTA bus stop signs not tell you the number to text 41411?
Kinda obsessed with the concept of a pedway sidewalk cafe
September 26, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Kinda obsessed with the concept of a pedway sidewalk cafe
Bucktown, Chicago (2025)
August 19, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Bucktown, Chicago (2025)
Would be cool if they brought back a music venue here. But I don’t have much faith in this landlord
August 4, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Would be cool if they brought back a music venue here. But I don’t have much faith in this landlord
Deconverting a 4 unit apartment into a single family home shouldn’t be legal in the city of Chicago
July 22, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Deconverting a 4 unit apartment into a single family home shouldn’t be legal in the city of Chicago
Manhattan was light work 😤
July 12, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Manhattan was light work 😤
I have seen the light. Chicago’s bagel/deli desert must be remedied
July 12, 2025 at 12:56 PM
I have seen the light. Chicago’s bagel/deli desert must be remedied
FYI - the Cook County Treasurer plans to postpone this year’s tax sale. During the delay, no extra interest will accrue on delinquent taxes subject to the sale. Here’s the press release with more info:
June 4, 2025 at 3:30 PM
FYI - the Cook County Treasurer plans to postpone this year’s tax sale. During the delay, no extra interest will accrue on delinquent taxes subject to the sale. Here’s the press release with more info:
Check out the data dashboard to look at detailed information about appeal rates and bill changes in you neighborhood!
May 5, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Check out the data dashboard to look at detailed information about appeal rates and bill changes in you neighborhood!
This shift was not shared equally among homeowners! Homeowners in high income areas appealed at far higher levels than in low income areas, causing the appeals process to shift a disproportionate amount of taxes to those who can least afford to pay more.
May 5, 2025 at 12:57 PM
This shift was not shared equally among homeowners! Homeowners in high income areas appealed at far higher levels than in low income areas, causing the appeals process to shift a disproportionate amount of taxes to those who can least afford to pay more.
For this report, I calculated how appeals shifted the tax burden from 2021-2023. Large business AV reductions reduced their taxes by more than $3 billion, while the tax bill for residential properties rose by about $2 billion.
May 5, 2025 at 12:57 PM
For this report, I calculated how appeals shifted the tax burden from 2021-2023. Large business AV reductions reduced their taxes by more than $3 billion, while the tax bill for residential properties rose by about $2 billion.
Hi everyone,
The Cook County Treasurer’s Office published my report on assessment appeals this morning!
There are some great articles about it, but if you have the time, I recommend reading the report and browsing the data dashboard!
Read it here:
www.cookcountytreasurer.com/appealsrepor...
The Cook County Treasurer’s Office published my report on assessment appeals this morning!
There are some great articles about it, but if you have the time, I recommend reading the report and browsing the data dashboard!
Read it here:
www.cookcountytreasurer.com/appealsrepor...
May 5, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Hi everyone,
The Cook County Treasurer’s Office published my report on assessment appeals this morning!
There are some great articles about it, but if you have the time, I recommend reading the report and browsing the data dashboard!
Read it here:
www.cookcountytreasurer.com/appealsrepor...
The Cook County Treasurer’s Office published my report on assessment appeals this morning!
There are some great articles about it, but if you have the time, I recommend reading the report and browsing the data dashboard!
Read it here:
www.cookcountytreasurer.com/appealsrepor...
My dad has been refilling this travel contact solution bottle for 20 years
May 4, 2025 at 2:03 PM
My dad has been refilling this travel contact solution bottle for 20 years
Come to Chicago’s new hottest club
April 26, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Come to Chicago’s new hottest club
A little bit ago I made a fun interactive map of where Chicago street sweeping is happening on any given day. It’s updated for 2025! See it here: public.tableau.com/app/profile/...
April 2, 2025 at 2:12 PM
A little bit ago I made a fun interactive map of where Chicago street sweeping is happening on any given day. It’s updated for 2025! See it here: public.tableau.com/app/profile/...
Check out my coworker’s new report on Cook County property tax referendums! A certain researcher named Chris made an interactive dashboard of election results for 35 referendums in 2024!
Read it here: www.cookcountytreasurer.com/voterturnout...
Read it here: www.cookcountytreasurer.com/voterturnout...
March 26, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Check out my coworker’s new report on Cook County property tax referendums! A certain researcher named Chris made an interactive dashboard of election results for 35 referendums in 2024!
Read it here: www.cookcountytreasurer.com/voterturnout...
Read it here: www.cookcountytreasurer.com/voterturnout...
I can’t be the only one who can’t tell the difference between the two colors in this NYT map
March 16, 2025 at 5:04 PM
I can’t be the only one who can’t tell the difference between the two colors in this NYT map
These were so ahead of their time
February 19, 2025 at 11:19 PM
These were so ahead of their time