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2h ago

Cook County Opens $15 Million Fund Offering $1,000 to Homeowners Hit by 50% Tax Spikes

County leaders describe the payouts as a short-term stopgap during a troubled software upgrade that has delayed tax bills.

Residential properties throughout Chicago's South and West sides, like these on West End Avenue in West Garfield Park, had their property assessments double or even triple last year. The Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund, established to help homeowners hit hard by property tax hikes, will pay $1,000 to eligible homeowners who saw a property tax increase of 50% or more in 2021, 2022 or 2023. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
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Overview

  • Applications are open through October 10 at hrf.cookcountyil.gov, with a screening, document verification and a lottery determining $1,000 awards.
  • Eligibility requires a 50% or greater increase in 2021, 2022 or 2023, income at or below 100% of the county median, an active homeowner exemption and continuous residency across the two relevant years.
  • The $15 million fund will reach only a fraction of roughly 95,000 affected homeowners, with many concentrated in the south suburbs.
  • Board President Toni Preckwinkle faulted Tyler Technologies for incomplete data transfers delaying tax bill mailings, and Tyler said it resolved a recent issue and will join daily coordination calls.
  • To ease cash-flow gaps for local governments, the county reopened a $300 million loan program with applications due October 3 and automatic repayment once tax revenues arrive.