County Board approves property tax relief plan, extension of disaster proclamation giving Preckwinkle emergency powers

Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison, R-Palos Park, previously called the extension a “massive overreach.” But Commissioner Deborah Sims, D-Chicago, said Preckwinkle has shown she will not abuse the power.

SHARE County Board approves property tax relief plan, extension of disaster proclamation giving Preckwinkle emergency powers
“Social distancing in effect” signs posted at the Cook County Board of Commissioners meeting room in March.

“Social distancing in effect” signs posted at the Cook County Board of Commissioners meeting room in March.

Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times file

The Cook County Board approved a plan to waive fees on late property tax bills and extended the county’s disaster proclamation at its Thursday meeting, providing some relief to property owners and allowing Board President Toni Preckwinkle the power to make some unchecked, emergency decisions for another three months.

Some commissioners still questioned the finer points of the plans — as well as the need to extend the county’s disaster proclamation until the end of September. 

Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison, R-Palos Park, previously called the extension a “massive overreach.” At a post-board press conference, Preckwinkle called that assertion “ridiculous.”

At Thursday’s meeting, he and Commissioner Bridget Gainer, D-Chicago, were the only no votes on the measure, despite other commissioners calling into question the need for such a long extension.

Before voting no, Morrison said “should a piece of business come before us that needed immediate discussion, you could email, pick up a phone and call us and we can conduct a virtual meeting within an hour’s notice — there’s no limit on that time frame.”

Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison, left, in 2019; Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, right, in 2019.

Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison, left, in 2019; Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, right, in 2019.

Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times; Rich Hein/Sun-Times

“There is absolutely no reason why, aside from convenience, there’s no reason why we cannot continue to conduct the business,” Morrison said. “The issue though comes down to whether or not we fundamentally need to have another grant for 120 more days of this particular order when there’s absolutely no physical reason that we cannot conduct” the county’s business without it.

But Commissioner Deborah Sims, D-Chicago, said Preckwinkle has shown she will not abuse the power.

“Everything that we’ve given you the opportunity to do, you’ve done it in accordance with the law, so I don’t see any reason why anyone should be in opposition.”

“I would hate for us to, every time you have to do something, that you’d have to call a meeting for all of us, in order to get something done,” Sims said. “That just doesn’t make sense.”

Cook County Commissioner Deborah Sims.

Cook County Commissioner Deborah Sims.

Rich Hein / Sun-Times file

The September extension will “assist Cook County, by and through its Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security, to continue to coordinate county and municipal resources and response activities, in an effort to prevent and reduce further damage and hazards, protect the health and safety of persons, protect property and provide emergency assistance pursuant to Illinois law,” the resolution reads in part. 

The board also approved a resolution that allows the county’s budget director to carry out budgetary transfers in amounts over $50,000 without advance approval of the board. Morrison, as well as Commissioner Bridget Degnen, voted against the measure.

Also approved on Thursday was an ordinance to provide some property tax relief for property owners Thursday.

The delay in collecting late fees on property taxes was proposed last week. Under the plan, homeowners could wait to pay the second installment of their 2019 property taxes, which are due Aug. 3, until Oct. 1, without fear of fees. Delaying the collection of the fees may cost the county around $9 million, Commissioner Larry Suffredin said at Thursday’s meeting.

Typically, homeowners are charged a fee of 1.5% of the total taxes owed for every month the taxes are late arriving at the Cook County treasurer’s office.

On the property tax measure, Preckwinkle said “it’s our hope that this provides a bit of much needed relief” during “these unprecedented challenging times.”

“With residents facing so many challenges and difficulties because of the coronavirus, waiving late fees on property taxes is the right thing to do right now,” Preckwinkle said. “This can keep residents in their homes and money in their pockets during a time of great uncertainty.

“This initiative is something we can do immediately that offers much needed tax relief during these unprecedented and challenging times. It’s just been a tremendously difficult couple of months but we are rising to this challenge, working together and doing what we can to assist our residents.”

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