Cook County Moves Forward With $15M Relief Fund to Support Homeowners Facing Property Tax Increases
County to provide $1,000 payments to residents hit hardest while long-term reform efforts continue
(Cook County, IL) — The Cook County Board of Commissioners today approved a resolution establishing the eligibility criteria for the Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund, which is a $15 million program to assist homeowners who have experienced a substantial increase on their property tax bills in recent years.
This program will provide immediate relief to residents as Cook County continues to pursue long-term property tax reform efforts at the state and local levels. These broader efforts are being led by the Property Tax Reform Group (PTAX), which includes the separately elected offices that make up the property tax system, as the County works to identify and advance system-wide reforms.
Under the direction of the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, the Homeowner Relief Fund will provide one-time payments of $1,000 to eligible households. The application is expected to open this summer, with the payments issued shortly after.
“It is vital that we provide relief to homeowners throughout the County who are experiencing hardship due to their property tax bills increasing,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “This fund will provide short-term support to those who need it most while my administration continues to work with the PTAX Reform Group to develop long-term solutions."
In order to be eligible, households must have an income at or below 100 percent of the Area Median Income for their respective household size. Under these guidelines, for example, a four-person household making $119,900 or less would be eligible. Applicants must have also seen their property tax bill increase by at least 50 percent in any year since the 2021 tax year.
AidKit, Inc., will serve as the administrator for this program, creating the application website, offering applicant support, reviewing applications and providing the $1,000 payments. If needed, the Bureau of Economic Development and AidKit will implement a lottery system to select applicants.
Commissioner Bridget Gainer (10th District) convened a public hearing in September to discuss the issue and hear directly from homeowners.
“As we’ve met with over a thousand homeowners during the last few years to assist with property taxes, we’ve heard firsthand the need for a lifeline. Property taxes are rising faster than homeowners’ ability to pay, forcing people to leave neighborhoods they love and undermining the best ability to build wealth—homeownership,” said Commissioner Bridget Gainer. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done to launch the Homeowner Relief Fund and provide much-needed relief in the short term, while we seek solutions for sustainable property tax relief in Springfield.”
Following that hearing, in October 2024, the County Board approved the creation of the $15 million Homeowner Relief Fund, which was then included in the County’s 2025 budget approved in November.