Proposal to waive late fees, interest on McHenry County property tax bills

McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks will move to waive all late fees and interest on the first installment of this year's property taxes for 90 days due to the economic impacts of COVID-19, according to a news release from the county.

The proposed ordinance will provide relief to local businesses and homeowners, Franks said.

"The coronavirus pandemic is causing unprecedented damage to the national economy, the spreadsheets of our businesses, and the checkbooks of our residents," he said in the news release.

Franks, of Marengo, will call a special meeting of county board, which members will join remotely, to approve the ordinance before tax bills are sent out, the news release said.

According to the release, county government has the authority to waive property tax late fees when a disaster is declared at the state or federal levels.

"The statewide stay-at-home order, while necessary to halt the spread of this contagion, is resulting in lost wages and lost jobs," he added. "It is imperative that we aggressively seek whatever relief we can find for our taxpayers."

Deadlines to file federal and state income taxes were recently pushed back to July, which Franks said helped him come to the decision to make this proposal.