I found out about the super-secret city of Chicago’s property tax relief program from a story on Chicago’s public radio. (Thank you, WBEZ!)
I call it the “super-secret” program for a reason. Other than the blurb on public radio, and a couple of signs up around bus stops downtown for maybe a week – there’s been NO mention of the relief program that I have seen or heard. I thought MAYBE they’d put a flyer in our first property tax installment bill, just received… but NO – nothing in there. I guess it probably saves them a lot of money if people don’t know to APPLY, now doesn’t it? Deadline is March 31, so not much time for anyone to find out about it, let alone apply!
I also love that you have to PROVE your tax bill with documentation, and include a copy of your driver’s license… but you just make a note of your income and they take your word for it – no documentation necessary.
I also have to wonder about the relationship between the Cook County Treasurer’s office and Chase bank. First of all, if I want to pay my tax bill in person – I go to Chase. Well, okay, I can understand that arrangement, I guess. But, when I actually RECEIVED my super-secret rebate – did I get a CHECK, as I expected? NO! I got a Chase debit card! What the heck am I going to do with a debit card? I could use it for purchases, assuming the amount of said purchase is EXACTLY what’s on the debit card, I suppose. I could donate it to charity. I WANTED to use it toward my first property tax installment – but when I went to Chase and requested as much, I was told I can’t do that.
So this “relief” isn’t very relieving if I can’t GET to it. I landed up using the entire amount to load up my Starbucks card. Maybe I can drink my property tax worries away.
