Oak Park homeowners who challenged their 2026 property assessments and lost still have another option. The Cook County Board of Review is accepting appeals for Oak Park Township through Tuesday, Sept. 1, and the agency sometimes reaches a different conclusion than the Assessor's Office did.

The Board of Review opened its Oak Park filing window on Monday, Aug. 3, according to the county's published schedule. Homeowners who were denied relief by the Cook County Assessor's Office in mid-July, as well as those who never filed a first appeal, are eligible.

Township Assessor Ali ElSaffar urged residents not to give up after a first-round denial. In a letter published Aug. 4, he wrote that the two agencies review appeals differently: "One agency sometimes denies an appeal while the other grants it."

ElSaffar's office is offering free, appointment-based help to residents who want to file before the deadline. Homeowners can call 708-383-8005 to schedule a session with staff.

What's at stake

The reassessment values mailed to Oak Park property owners on May 6 will determine tax bills from 2027 through 2029 under Cook County's triennial cycle. The Assessor's data pegs the 2026 median estimated market value for single-family homes at $559,000, condos at $204,000 and small apartment buildings at $594,000.

For single-family homeowners, that estimate sits below the 2025 median sales price of $596,000. Condo owners face the opposite: the Assessor's estimate of $204,000 slightly exceeds the $200,000 median sale price.

How to file

Appeals can be submitted online at appeals.cookcountyboardofreview.com. No attorney is required. The filing deadline is Sept. 1, but supporting evidence can be submitted through Sept. 11.

Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele confirmed on Aug. 3 that Oak Park, River Forest and Riverside townships all opened for appeals that day.

ElSaffar's office is scheduling appointments through the Sept. 1 filing deadline at 708-383-8005.