North Cook News

Cook County property owners faced a May 8 scavenger sale due to $188.2 million in back taxes, but the auction has been postponed due to the coronavirus crisis.  

In a March 25 press release, County Treasurer Maria Pappas announced that a judge had granted a motion to postpone because, "(h)olding the tax sale under these circumstances would be unfair to tens of thousands of homeowners who are living paycheck-to-paycheck and face this pandemic." 

Unpaid property tax balances in Cook County now total 57,515—42 percent increase from last year—said Pappas during a press conference earlier this month.

Pappas called the press conference in an attempt to gain the attention of the property holders who may eventually find their home's tax lien purchased at a legally mandated scavenger sale. She noted that while there are a number of property owners who are delinquent each year, a 42 percent jump indicates that something other than the usual procrastination and inaccurate addresses is causing the dramatic increase.

In a recent discussion with Wirepoints founder Mark Gannon, Pappas said that the problem is a lack of funds.

“There’s no money! People have no money. Government has no money," said Pappas. “It’s like a rubber band that’s been pulled too tight, and that rubber band is snapping.”

It’s not a partisan issue, for those who might be quick to blame one side or the other, she said.

“This is not a Democratic or Republican thing, Trump or Sanders or anything like that. In everyday life people are being squeezed,” said Pappas.

The Cook County Treasurer’s Office does maintain a fund for property owners owed refunds. As of March 10, that fund held approximately $130,000. Those refunds might be due to inaccurate exemptions or erroneous prorations on buyer/seller closing statements.  

The deadline for delinquent property tax payments could be extended 13 months, if Senate Bill 3356, introduced on Feb. 14 in the Illinois General Assembly, passes. Property owners delinquent on their taxes currently have nine months before the scavenger sale to get their accounts current and escape the sale. Pappas worked with legislators to draft the bill, which is sponsored by Sen. Elgie Sims Jr (D-17)  and co-sponsored by Sen. Laura Murphy (D-28).

In a February press release announcing the Bill, Pappas said that about 20,800 of those with delinquent taxes may not know about the tax sale because the post office wasn’t able to deliver bills and notices. 

Approximately 24,600 of the affected property owners owe less than $1,000; 2,400 of the homes are owned by senior citizens.

To find out if your home is on the list or make a delinquent tax payment, visit cookcountytreasurer.com and select "Avoid the Tax Sale."