The Assessor and members of the Assessor’s Office’s legal team will explain the office’s role in the property tax system, how assessments can impact the overall tax bill, and why up-to-date data helps the Assessor ensure properties are assessed fairly. The presentation will identify recent technology updates in the Assessor’s office, address the timing of 2021 tax bills, and highlight key ways to access important information. Finally, the Assessor’s Office will provide an overview of the recent reassessments of the City of Chicago and the northern suburbs in the face of changing market trends.
Fritz Kaegi is the Cook County Assessor. Prior to beginning his career in Cook County government, Fritz spent more than 20 years valuing assets as a mutual fund portfolio manager and analyst. In his 13 years at Columbia Wanger Asset Management, Fritz served as a financial steward, helping average families save for retirement and focusing on small companies operating around the world. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Illinois Assessment Officer designations. He is also a member of the IAAO, the International Association of Assessing Officers.
Since assuming office in 2018, Fritz has brought fairness, ethics and transparency to the Cook County Assessor’s Office with a vision focused on operational changes, technological upgrades, and the elimination of favoritism. These changes have increased predictability in the assessment system and spurred investment in Chicago and Cook County.
Gina Matthiesen is Legal Counsel for the Cook County Assessor’s Office. She is responsible for handling a variety of legal matters which come before the Assessor’s Office, particularly those that arise during the course of Certificates of Errors, Property Tax Exemptions, Omitted Assessments, Divisions, and Sales in Error. Gina came into the Assessor’s Office from private practice, and has prior experience in many aspects of property law, including property tax assessments, title clearance, title insurance, foreclosures and mortgage defense, evictions, mechanics liens, and property related civil litigation. Gina received her JD from the Chicago Kent College of Law in 2005. While in law school, she served as Co-Editor of “The Commentator”, the law school’s newspaper, and Treasurer for the Kent Justice Foundation, which raises funds for legal internships for non-profit agencies. Gina also served as a law clerk in both the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the State of Illinois.
Tatia Gibbons has focused her career in the public sector contributing to state and local government for more than 20 years. As the Assessor’s Chief Counsel, she oversees the Department and ensures that the Assessor’s Office operates in accordance with state, federal, and local law. Previously, Tatia served as counsel to the Cook County Clerk and as an assistant state’s attorney and supervisor in the Civil Division. While in the State’s Attorney’s Office, Ms. Gibbons defended local officials in tax, revenue, and local government matters. She also contributes as an adjunct professor at Loyola University. Tatia earned her degrees from the University of Illinois and the Ohio State University College of Law.
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