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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROPOSED RESOLUTION FOR THE COOK COUNTY HOMEOWNER RELIEF FUND
WHEREAS, an analysis conducted by the Cook County Treasurer’s Office found that median tax bills for the Tax Year 2023 (billed in 2024) increased by 19.9%, the largest increase in 29 years; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution 24-4325, a hearing on the creation of a property tax relief fund was held in September 2024 in the Workforce, Housing and Community Development Committee; and
WHEREAS, many Cook County homeowners now face financial challenges due to an unexpected and substantial increase in their property tax bills; and
WHEREAS, in October 2024, the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved Resolution 24-5414 creating the Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund to provide relief to the most vulnerable homeowners; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 24-5414 authorized the creation of a Special Purpose Fund for the Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund and allocated $15,000,000.00 in the FY25 Budget for the Homeowner Relief Fund; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 24-5414 further directed the Bureau of Economic Development to use the Homeowner Relief Fund to award one-time, unrestricted cash payments to qualified Cook County residents who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of property taxes and meet eligibility criteria.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby approves the Bureau of Economic Development to implement the Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund as described below.
The Bureau of Economic Development will enter into a contract with Aidkit to be the Program Administrator for the Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund, pursuant to Proposed Contract Item 25-1106. Under the direction of the Bureau of Economic Development, Aidkit will develop the application and website, provide applicant support, review applications, and select applicants to receive a one-time payment of $1,000 guided by the following eligibility criteria:
• Applicant household income is at or below 100% of the Area Median Income for the applicant’s household size
• Applicant property tax bill has increased by 50% or more in any year since Tax Year 2021
The Bureau of Economic Development will seek to achieve an equitable distribution of participants across Cook County’s geography. Aidkit will design and implement a lottery system, if needed, to support applicant selection. Of the total proposed contract amount of $15,000,000, $13,600,000 is expected to be used for homeowner relief payments and $1,400,000 for the costs of administering the program. Any reduction in administrative costs achieved will be used to provide additional homeowner relief payments.
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