Hinsdale homeowners will start receiving property assessment notices in the mail beginning Friday, August 8, and those envelopes signal a deadline is coming: once the Downers Grove Township assessment roll is legally published, residents have 30 days to challenge their home's assessed value.
The DuPage County Board approved a $95,000 contract with Mail Services LLC on Tuesday, July 14, to print and send assessment mailers to all county taxpayers. The contract covers August 8, 2026, through August 7, 2027, and represents the second and final renewal option under bid 23-077-TRES, according to the county's meeting agenda.
Hinsdale falls under Downers Grove Township for assessment purposes. Under Illinois law and DuPage County Board of Review rules, property owners have 30 days after the legal publication of their township's assessment roll to file an appeal. The exact publication date for Downers Grove Township has not been announced; homeowners should confirm it with the DuPage County Supervisor of Assessments office once mailers arrive.
Why it matters this year
County-wide assessed values rose 8.2 percent for the 2025 tax year, while the average tax rate fell 4.37 percent, resulting in an overall property tax bill increase of about 4 percent, according to a DuPage County property tax analysis published by local real estate sources after bills went out in spring 2026. Homeowners who believe their assessed value overstates their property's market value have one annual window to make that case before the next reassessment cycle.
An appeal does not address the total tax bill. It must demonstrate that the assessed value is too high compared to the property's actual market value or to similar properties, according to the county's Board of Review guidelines. The strongest evidence is a recent appraisal, a recent sale of the property, or recent comparable sales. Assessed values are required by law to reflect three prior years of actual sales transactions.
How to file
The county advises homeowners to first call or visit the Downers Grove Township Assessor's office to review their property file before filing a formal appeal.
- Where: Board of Review, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187
- Phone: 630-407-5888
- Method: In person or by mail only. No fax, no email.
- Deadline: 30 days after legal publication of the Downers Grove Township assessment roll (confirm with the Supervisor of Assessments once mailers arrive)
- Best evidence: Recent appraisal, recent sale, or comparable sales data
Other July 14 board actions
The County Board also approved four appointments: David Pileski to the Northern Illinois Transit Authority, Mary Dickson to the DuPage County Zoning Board of Appeals, John Retondo to the Commuter Rail Board (Metra), and John Fioti to the DuPage County Ethics Commission.
Among other contracts, the board approved $268,216 to Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd. for Phase I engineering services on improvements along County Highway 38/63rd Street from Belmont Road to Williams Street.
What's missing from the public record
Vote tallies for the July 14 meeting have not been posted. The county's agenda was published Sunday, July 13, and approved minutes with roll-call votes were not available as of Wednesday, July 16. Residents can check for posted minutes at dupage.legistar.com.
