About Joseph Berrios
Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios is a lifelong Chicagoan who understands the importance of property tax fairness to each home and commercial property owner throughout the area.
Born on Valentine’s Day in 1952, Berrios grew up in a family of seven children. He was just six-years-old when his family moved into one of the Cabrini-Green high rises.
To help support his family, Berrios began working when he was just 13. That’s when he got a job as a dishwasher at the Tower Club in Chicago. He worked there for seven years, eventually rising through the restaurant ranks to become a waiter.
Berrios is a graduate of Lane Tech High School and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois.
In 1982, Berrios ran for State Representative. He won, and went on to serve three more terms. Then, in 1988, he ran for a spot on the Board of Review, which oversees property tax appeals. He won, and has been fighting for fair property taxes ever since.
Joseph lives on the city’s Northwest Side in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood. He is the father of three children: State Representative Toni Berrios, Vanessa, and Joseph. He also has two grandchildren, Abby and Nicholas.
