Editorial: Property taxes too high? Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi isn’t the problem – Chicago Tribune

"Property taxes are based on what governments charge residents and property owners for services. School districts, libraries, park districts, municipal and county government — they ultimately determine the property tax burden for their taxpayers based on how much they spend. For all of them, a top expense is personnel and for some, that includes paying for the pensions of retired workers. Increasingly in this state, pension costs are putting pressure on local property taxes."