Last year, Chicago homeowners got the news that their property taxes could be increasing as much as 10 percent. Homeowners in the suburbs of Cook County could expect a 3.9 percent to 6.5 percent increase.

This tax rate jump is part of a steady trend that has been affecting homeowners for years. Over the past decade, the effective property tax rate has increased 27.9 percent in the city and as much as 100 percent in a number of municipalities, according to Crain’s Chicago Business

The current tax hikes are being enacted to fund worker pensions, which comes as no surprise. In 2015, the City of Chicago experienced a significant tax increase that went to cover growing pensions for the city and Chicago Public Schools, according to the Crain’s Chicago Business report.   

While increasing property taxes seem to be a given, the major changes to be enacted by the GOP tax plan have added an element of uncertainty. The plan does have the potential to increase taxes and hurt home values in the Chicago area. DuPage, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties are among 30 U.S. counties that stand to lose the most in home value growth. The GOP’s changes to mortgage interest and property tax deductions would have a significant impact on homeowners in the state. 

The impending changes to the federal tax laws have caused many Chicago area homeowners to prepay their tax bills, according to Crain’s Chicago Business.

Illinois has the second highest property taxes in the country. In 2000, Illinois residents had to pay an average of 4.3 percent of their income to foot their property tax bills. By 2015, residents were paying 6.7 percent of their income, according to Illinois Policy.

A district’s tax rate is determined by the total amount of taxes approved for the area’s cities, schools, parks, and other public works divided by the value of the property within that tax district, according to the Chicago Tribune. A homeowner’s property tax bill is then determined using that rate, exemptions, an equalization factor, and the home’s value.

Where do Chicago area residents feel the property tax pinch the most? The Chicago Tribune broke down the composite tax rate for different towns in the area.

The top five 2016 composite tax rates include:

The lowest five 2016 composite tax rates include:

These rates illustrate that property taxes are generally higher in the suburbs than the city of Chicago. Whether in the suburbs or the city, homeowners can expect to pay more this year in property taxes.