Below is a list of terms commonly used in the Civic Federation's Unincorporated Cook County report.
Annexation
Is the extension of municipal boundaries into adjacent unincorporated areas and the corresponding expansion of city services to those newly incorporated areas. In Illinois, municipal governments have the authority to determine and expand their boundaries, subject to the provisions of the Illinois Municipal Code (See 65 ILCS 5/ Illinois Municipal Code).
Equalized Assessed Value
Or EAV, is the taxable value of real property.