Cook County Property Tax Bills Set for Release Amid Delays
Property owners in Cook County will soon be getting their second installment property tax bill after a significant wait.
Toni Preckwinkle’s office announced that 1.8 million tax bills will be sent out this Friday, with payments due by December 15.
Typically, these bills are mailed out during the summer months, but prolonged delays have arisen from ongoing technology upgrades. Officials have admitted that these upgrades have proven to be more complicated than initially anticipated, which has led to increasing frustration among residents, as noted in NBC 5 Responds’ report from last month.
Preckwinkle’s office has recognized that “a significant review of the technical underpinnings of Cook County’s property tax system has impacted the county’s property tax process and schedule.”
To help mitigate the financial strain caused by these delays, Preckwinkle mentioned the launch of a bridge loan program designed to offer hundreds of millions in interest-free financing to local taxing jurisdictions across Cook County.
It’s important to remember that property taxes will still be due 30 days after the bills are mailed.
What Taxpayers Should Know
Key points shared by the Cook County Commission President’s office include:
- No interest will accrue until the deadline has passed.
- The property tax payment deadline is 30 days after the mailing date.
Requests for an interview with Preckwinkle’s office by NBC 5 Responds have not been met with a response.
Reasons Behind the Delay
According to records, Cook County has partnered with Tyler Technologies to install a new integrated property tax and assessment system. Since 2015, the county has engaged in two contracts with this company, one for the property tax system and another for electronic court records, totaling around $87 million.
However, on September 12, Tyler Technologies lost its license to operate in Illinois due to not filing an annual report. To lift this restriction, the company must pay a fee and provide necessary documentation.
While Tyler Technologies declined to provide an on-camera interview, they did state that they are actively working with the state to resolve the licensing issue.
The company highlighted that the upgrade process involves consolidating various county agencies, each operating on different legacy systems, and encompasses converting two decades’ worth of data. Leadership changes and specific data requirements for audits were also noted as contributing to the delays.
