Cook County, Illinois, the second most populous county in the US, is giving some residents a big financial boost. Facing soaring property taxes, the county board approved a program to send $1,000 payments to eligible households.
Who Gets the Money?
The program, called the Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund, has a budget of $15 million, with about $13.6 million going directly to residents after administrative costs. To qualify, households must meet these criteria:
- Income at or below 100% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for their household size. For example, a family of four earning $119,900 or less would be eligible.
- A property tax bill increase of at least 50% since 2021.
Applications will open this summer.
Why the Relief?
County officials say property taxes are increasing faster than people’s ability to pay, forcing some to leave their homes. Commissioner Bridget Gainer described the situation as severe, impacting wealth building through homeownership.
A Temporary Fix?
While the $1,000 payments offer immediate help, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle emphasized that this is a temporary solution. The county is working on longer-term strategies to address the property tax issue.
