Lake County Gazette

Lake County residents might need those economic impact payments from the federal government to pay next month's property tax bills. 

Filing personal income taxes was delayed by federal and state governments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lake County officials decided not to change the schedule for property tax bills. Instead, they'll stick to the regular schedule for giving property owners their real estate tax bills on time, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

The Lake County Board's Financial and Administrative Committee meeting last week decided that tax collections in the county shouldn't be delayed due to the coronavirus despite thousands of individuals being laid off an furloughed in the county, the Chicago Tribune reports. Property owners could watch the meeting live on cable TV.

A waiver proposed by a few Democrat legislates are urging the Lake County Board to implement policies to help residents during the crisis instead of continuing to tax them as normal, according to the Chicago Tribune. The full County Board will meet on May 12 to discuss the recommendations given by the committee. 

According to the Chicago Tribune, many families are struggling to buy food and property tax would add another burden to their shoulders. The legislators said that the county has the authority to provide tax relief and should do so, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

After President Donald Trump declared all of Illinois a disaster area from the coronavirus, it gave counties authority to exempt penalties to some laws, such as late property taxes. Legislators are urging Lake County officials to listen to Trump and provide tax relief during a time when it is needed most, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

The seven board members will be voting on a property tax waiver during their May 12 meeting, which will be aired live on TV on Comcast's Channel 18.