Supervisor of Assessments

Supervisor of Assessments
Sandy Schlosser
sschlosser@dewittcountyil.gov

201 West Washington, P 0 Box 439
Clinton, IL 61727 
(217) 935-7800

Office Hours: 8:30a.m. - 4:30p.m., Monday - Friday

Brandi Carter
Homestead Exemptions 
General Assessment 
(217) 935-7803    

Jane Buraglio
Map Specialist 
General Assessment 
(217) 935-7802

Annual Exemption Renewals

Forms for the Senior Citizen Homestead, Disabled Persons and Disabled Veterans Standard exemptions are mailed out by April 15th, and you must renew each year.  To apply for the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze (household income of $65,000 or less) you need to bring in your household income to renew/apply in our office.  If you need to sign up for one of these exemptions for the first time, you must come into our office to apply.

If you have any questions, please contact the Supervisor of Assessments office at 217-935-7800.

The office of the Supervisor of Assessments was created by state law to provide information to the Department of Revenue. The Assessment Office is responsible for the mass appraisal of all real property in DeWitt County. Personal Property such as Mobile Homes are maintained in the office as well. Sales information and sales reports are compiled for public use from deeds and transfer declarations recorded in the County Clerk's Office. Property record cards are kept up to date with a picture of the building/s and the appraisal information. The aerial maps are maintained daily in the office. There are 10, 777 parcels at this time in DeWitt County. The office administers the following exemptions:

  • General Homestead Owner Occupied
  • Homestead Improvement
  • Senior Citizen Homestead
  • Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze  
  • Disabled Veterans
  • Returning Veterans
Duties of the Supervisor of Assessments:

  • Holds annual meetings with Township Assessors
  • Serves as chairperson of the Farmland Review Committee  
  • Serve as Clerk of the Board of Review
  • Maintains an up-to-date property record card system, which lists property index number (pin), the legal description, owners name, class of property and assessment information.
  • Equalize assessments by township
  • Publish the assessment changes for each township
  • Mail Notice of Assessment Changes for each township
  • Files assessment exemptions when property owner meets qualifications

  1. Assessment maps 
  2. DeWitt County Property Tax
  3. List of Township Assessors
  4. Exemptions
  5. Board of Review
Supervisor of Assessments
Property Index Number PIN or Parcel
Parcel Index Numbers

Your parcel index number is now required on your Illinois State Income Tax Return if you claim your property tax as a deduction.

You can find your parcel number number (also called a property index number or PIN) on your assessment notice or tax bill.

You may also use the Real Estate Search by Clicking HERE.
You can search by PIN #, Last Name, and Address

911 Addresses should appear
Please call (217) 935-7800
If information is incorrect.
Property Assessment and Equalization
Equalization is the process of adjusting the median assessment in each township to the state mandated level of thirty-three and one- third (33 1/30).

Simply put, real property, except farm property, should be assessed at one-third of the market value as of January 1 of the tax year. The local assessor is responsible for setting the value of individual properties. The Supervisor of Assessments adjusts entire township properties so that the median, the middle value when arrayed from high to low, is assessed at one -third of market value. The Illinois Department of Revenue had developed a publication designed to explain, in general terms, the sales ratio and equalization procedures authorized by the state statute. You can access this publication, entitled Publication 136 Property Assessment and Equalization, at their website.

https://tax.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/tax/research/publications/pubs/documents/pub-136.pdf
Reasons for Appeal
You have a reasonable complaint if you can support any of the following claims:

1.    The assessor's market value estimate is higher than actual market value. (This claim can be easily supported if you have recently purchased your property or if a professional appraisal is supplied.)
 
2.    The assessed value is at a higher percentage of market value for your property than the prevailing township, or county median level, as shown in an assessment/sales ratio study.
 
3.    The primary assessment of the property is based on inaccurate information such as an incorrect measurement of a lot or building.
 
4.    The assessment is higher than those of similar neighboring properties.
For information regarding the steps in appealing a farm land or farm building assessment, contact your county's Board of Review office.
FAQ
Has the assessor placed a fair value on my property?
A Legal assessment for tax purposes on any parcel of property in any county in Illinois except Cook County is 33 1/3 percent of the property's market value, excluding farmland and farm-related buildings. To determine whether your particular assessment is fair, you must know two factors:

1. The market value of your property.
2. The assessed value of your property.

The market value of your property is defined as the price you would accept if a willing and able buyer would offer to purchase your property at today's prices.

The assessed value of your property may be obtained from the township or multi- township assessors or from the county supervisor of assessments. Dividing the assessed value of your property by its market value will give you the percentage level of your assessment. By following this procedure for similar property in your area, you can compare your assessment to the average assessment level to determine if your property has been assessed at a fair value.
How do I compare the assessed value of my property with the value of similar property in my area?
You have the right to inspect the assessor's records for any parcel of property, as well as the records for your own property, subject to reasonable regulations set by local officials. All property is reassessed every four years and a complete list of property assessments is published in each county. Any changes in assessments in other years are also published.
What can I do if I think my assessment is unfair?
If your property is outside Cook County, you can file a complaint with that County's Board of Review. If you are dissatisfied with the decision of the board of review, you may appeal to the State Property Tax Appeal Board.

Note: If you think your assessment is unfair it is important to file a complaint before you receive your bill. The "notice of assessment change" will explain the time period for filing a complaint.
How is farmland assessed?
A parcel of land used for agricultural purposes for two years is eligible for a preferential assessment. Farmland is assessed based on it's agricultural economic value rather than being based on 33 1/3 percent of it's market value as is other property. The agricultural economic value is a calculation of an average of prices paid for agricultural products, production costs, and interest rates that are charged by the Federal Land Bank over a five-year period.

County assessing officials evaluate all farmland in the county based upon it's productivity, taking into account the land's actual use, slope, erosion, flooding, and other factors which affect productivity.

Farm buildings are assessed at 33 1/3 percent of their contributory value of the farm. Farm home sites and residences are assessed at 33 1/3 percent of their market value.
Why are my taxes so high?
Your tax bill depends on two factors:

1. The assessment of your property

2. The amount of money your local taxing districts need to operate during the upcoming year. The assessment on your property is set by local officials and is merely a method of fairly distributing the tax burden among all property owners in your community. The actual dollar amount of property tax you must pay is determined by the amount asked for by your taxing bodies.

These taxing bodies annually determine the amount needed to pay for the services they provide. Individual tax bills are calculated to produce this total amount.
Will I be notified if my assessment is going to increase?
Yes.

Any change in real estate assessments must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in each county every year. Every four years, a complete list of assessments must be published for notification purposes. Individual Assessment notices are sent to each property owner if the assessment has changed.

Banks, savings and loans, or other mortgage holders are required to forward copies of all assessment change notices to affected borrowers within 15 days of the mortgage lender's receipt of the notice.

Township factors, also known as equalization factors are published each year for every township. Individual notices are not sent out if assessments were changed due to an equalization factor.
Need more information about taxes in the State of Illinois?