Slightly more than half of the homeowners in Cook County's south and west suburbs will see their property tax bills decrease this year as a result of the 7 percent assessment cap, Cook County Assessor James Houlihan said Monday.

Houlihan made the announcement as he pushed for state lawmakers to renew the assessment cap law during the fall veto session. The Illinois House last spring rejected an extension of the cap over concerns about how it shifts the tax burden. Business groups oppose the cap because it shifts tax burden to other classes of property, most notably commercial, industrial and apartments.

The assessor said that 54 percent of homestead-eligible properties in the south and west segment of the county (south of North Avenue) will have lower tax bills this year than last.