COOK COUNTY, Illinois. – A Vietnam veteran expressed his shock last week after receiving a $6,200 cash prize Cook County property taxes, despite being exempt from them due to his 100% disability status.
John Tennison, a former Marine, was stunned to see the bill, as he had not paid property taxes in the past. His family reached out to FOX 32’s Tia Ewing for help, and soon after, they received much-needed answers.
After meeting with Tia, Tennison’s information was forwarded to the Cook County Tax Assessor’s office, which immediately addressed the problem. The solution came just in time for Tennison’s 77th birthday.
The office confirmed that Tennison’s 100 percent disability exemption, which had somehow been overlooked, had been reinstated. His granddaughter noted that the unexpected bill had caused her grandfather additional stress, and they were relieved that the matter had been resolved.
The Cook County Tax Assessor’s Office has made sure that all of Tennison’s documentation is now properly recorded. From now on, Tennison will no longer need to reapply for the exemption each year; it will be granted automatically.
The family still does not know how the error could have occurred, but is grateful for the quick solution.
