The Cook County Assessor’s Office (CCAO) has been recognized with two 2024 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents. The CCAO’s Affordable Housing Special Assessment Program (AHSAP) incentivizes the rehabilitation and new construction of multi-family residential properties to create, maintain and preserve affordable housing in Cook County. As the first program of its kind in the country, AHSAP provides a blueprint for other jurisdictions concerned about affordability and housing supply. Through the initiative for Strategic Engagement to Encourage Employee Retention and Recruitment, an Engagement Committee was developed to enable employees to engage and connect with colleagues though strategic activities that included learning and development, social activities, and conversations with leadership. Now in its second year, the Committee has hosted over 15 events both virtually and in-person, functioning as a valuable tool for improving workplace culture and morale. Each year, NACo’s Achievement Awards recognize outstanding programming in 18 categories aligned with the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, libraries, management, information technology, health, civic engagement and more.

Photo Credit: Office of the Cook County Assessor