Welcome to the Supervisor of Assessments Office of Ogle County, Illinois.  This county department administers the property assessment cycle for the local real estate tax.

Property taxes have been around since the beginning of our country’s history. Today, your property taxes provide much of the funding of our local schools and other government agencies. The property tax is a local tax; it is administered by local officials and the funds raised stay in the local community. While the State of Illinois prescribes rules and laws for administering the property tax, the state does not collect any property tax revenue.

Unlike income taxes or sales taxes, which are based on a percent of income or sales of merchandise,  property taxes are based on the value of real estate. Historically, property holdings were a tangible measure of wealth and ability to pay, and thus a resource upon which governments could draw funds. Property taxes are also a relatively stable source of income for local agencies. In contrast, income and sales taxes can fluctuate much more, as they are more susceptible to the ups and downs of the local economy.

Your real estate tax bill begins with the work of your elected township assessor. It is the assessor’s job to place values on the property within his/her jurisdiction. All property except farmland is supposed to be assessed at 33 1/3 percent of its market value. Assessments are also supposed to be uniform throughout a jurisdiction.

Sincerely,

James Harrison
Supervisor of Assessments