Countryside Dealer Seeks Lower Tax Bill; School Challenges Appeal

LA GRANGE, IL – A Countryside car dealership is appealing its property assessment, which would lower its tax bill.

This week, the Lyons Township High School decided to challenge the Mitsubishi dealer's appeal with the state Property Tax Appeal Board. The business is at 5800 La Grange Road.

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The property's market value is now $3.4 million, according to Cook County. The dealership, whose CEO is Adam Jidd, wants to reduce the amount by 25 percent to $2.5 million.

Over the last decade, the dealership's property tax bill has risen to $193,000, from $169,000, a 14 percent hike, Cook County records show. The high school makes up about a quarter of the bill.

The high school has long intervened in property tax appeals. When businesses prevail, the state requires taxing bodies to refund the difference.

If the high school loses in the latest case, it said it would be mandated to pay the dealership a $14,328 refund.

The tax appeal board now requires a public body to approve a formal resolution for an appeal intervention, according to the high school.

Brian Stachacz, the school's top finance official, said the effort is a message that "we're not just going to roll over and give you the money back."

In each case, the school examines costs vs. benefits when deciding whether to appeal, Stachacz said.