We have one of the premier school finance practices in the State, with experience and access to resources that contribute to success and efficiency in navigating the multiple layers of the property tax assessment, extension, and collection process.

With a full-service property tax and finance group, we have multiple attorneys who have successfully represented tax consortia and educational institutions before the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR), Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB), and Boards of Review in dozens of counties. We regularly obtain favorable results against property owners in assessment challenges concerning properties and taxpayers of all sizes. Due to our firm’s mastery of the Property Tax Code and appraisal practice, we have achieved monumental successes in property tax matters that include unprecedented discovery rulings, PTAB dismissals, PTAB increases, taxpayer withdrawals, attorney’s fees, and no-change decisions. In so doing, we have maximized the potential for success on behalf of our clients by earning the respect of attorneys for the taxpayers and PTAB Hearing Officers.

At Robbins Schwartz, we also counsel boards and administrators regarding finance and compliance issues including Truth in Taxation procedures and other legal requirements relating to tax levies, interfund transfers, use of tort immunity funds, fiscal strategies in the “cap” era, and referendum requirements. We also have significant experience as issuer’s counsel on behalf of school districts in connection with various bond issues, tax anticipation warrants, and lines of credit. In addition, we have prepared developer-donation agreements and advised our clients on the operation and applicability of land/cash contribution ordinances. In these matters, we frequently have been able to preserve or increase the revenues available to districts for their educational programs.

In addition, our team has assisted clients in developing and updating retirement plans, including 403(b) plans, in accordance with IRS regulations. We regularly update clients whenever there has been a substantive change in the law necessitating a review of and likely amendment to such retirement plans, including changes to TRS regulations affecting district retirement incentives.