Thornton Twp Appears To Have Violated State Law By Locking Assessor Out Of Her Office & Removing Files And Equipment

Thornton Township (ECWd) –

When Thornton Township Officials or employees removed the Township Assessor’s equipment and file cabinets containing the township property owner’s information from the Assessor’s office and placed them in an unsecured location, it appears the requirements in the Property Tax Code have been violated. Prior coverage is at this link.

The Property Tax Code spells out that the township board shall provide the office and storage space to the assessor. The failure of the board to provide the mandated office and storage space is worthy of court action for an emergency injunction against those responsible.

No amount of obfuscation by the Supervisor through a “consulting” firm (see the Lansing Journal article here) can excuse away this behavior.

(35 ILCS 200/2-80)
    Sec. 2-80. Expenses and office needs. Township and multi-township assessors shall receive travel and transportation expenses in the amount determined by the board of town trustees, and shall be reimbursed for their reasonable travel, meal, lodging and registration expenses incurred in attendance at a school of instruction prescribed by the Department. The board of town trustees shall provide the office and storage space, equipment, office supplies, deputies and clerical and stenographic personnel and other items as are necessary for the efficient operation of the office. (Source: P.A. 83-1277; 88-455.)  Also see Griffith v. Pembroke Twp