Cook County Legislation Committee Meeting – June 10, 2026
Cook County Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Meeting – June 10, 2026
The committee met to consider appointments, a voting rights resolution, and a comprehensive hearing on property tax distribution delays. Public testimony was heard from school and library officials, community members, and election officials. Commissioners discussed ongoing issues with Tyler Technologies and the property tax cycle.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of May 12, 2026 (item 261695): Approved by voice vote.
- Appointment of Brian Phelan to the Independent Review Forecasting Commission (item 261379): Approved (12 ayes, 2 present, 3 absent).
- Appointment of Michael Rasick to the Norwood Park Street Lighting District (item 261413): Approved (13 ayes, 1 present, 3 absent).
- Ordinance amendment regarding vacancy appointments (item 261414): Approved (14 ayes, 3 absent).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Priscilla Mims (League of Women Voters): Urged support for resolution 261409 on voting rights, citing potential Supreme Court ruling on mail-in ballots and postal delays. Recommended allowing ballot return at polling places.
- Mary Gore (Superintendent, Mt. Prospect School District 57): Representing Cook County school and library coalition, praised collaboration but demanded transparency on property tax distribution and a functioning online portal.
- Jessica Jackson: Alleged that Cook County officials participated in unconstitutional tax sales; called for accountability.
- Taiwan Sims: Described alleged mistreatment at county facilities and requested investigation.
- Diana McCluskey (Palatine School District 15): Reported $4 million loss due to delayed distributions; demanded accountability and a fixed timeline.
- Amy Franco (Hillside Public Library): Read statement from Blue Island Public Library noting only 86% of expected 2024 collections received and lack of accurate reporting.
- Quoshana Harris (Chicago Shower Association): Argued high property taxes hinder affordable housing and sanitation initiatives.
- Daniela Martinez (Maywood Public Library): Raised concerns about delayed capital projects due to uncertain tax distributions.
- Jennifer Hovanick (LaGrange Public Library): Described administrative burden and lost investment earnings from unpredictable funding.
- Zariah Plowden and Tatiana Bledsoe: Supported voting rights resolution 261409, emphasizing civic engagement for youth.
- Adam Laskes (Chicago Board of Election Commissioners): Offered cooperation on voting rights but cautioned about costs and logistics of accepting vote-by-mail at precincts.
- Ben Collins (Park Ridge Niles School District 64): Criticized lack of transparency and called for end to finger-pointing; appreciated bridge loan changes.
- Terry LaBelle (Worth Township School Treasurer): Posed ten detailed questions about tax bill timelines, distribution status, and communication.
- Tim Prindergast (Hodgkins Public Library District): Requested clear communication and accurate reporting via the tax agency extranet.
Discussion Items
- Voting Rights Resolution (item 261409): Sponsored by Commissioner McCaskill, the resolution calls for a hearing on national commitment to defend, protect, and expand voting rights. Approved unanimously (13 ayes, 3 absent).
- Property Tax Distribution Hearing (item 261230): Received and filed after presentations from:
- Jim Thompson (President's Office): Outlined systemic challenges, the multi-step tax process, and reform group efforts.
- Assessor Fritz Kaegi: Reported completion of 2025 assessment; data sent to IDOR that day. Manual workarounds used due to Tyler defects, but issues resolved for next year. Estimated second-installment bills likely in October (two months late).
- Board of Review (William O'Shields, Commissioners Cartness and Steele): Described statutory role, collaboration with assessor, and operational improvements. Finished appeals by June 9.
- Clerk's Office (Cedric Giles, Jane Gleffy): Noted rate calculation takes 16-21 days; only four non-critical defects remain in Tyler; redemptions module not yet live.
- Treasurer's Office (David Burns): Reported 214 current defects, 2,500 unpaid 2024 tax bills, and lack of detailed distribution data. Manually released $4.5B in December 2025. Tyler representative Mark Hawkins said most defects are data-related and a reconciliation file was provided that morning.
- Commissioners questioned Tyler about defect count, timeline for resolution, and communication with taxing bodies. Chairman requested Tyler provide a written update within seven days.
Key Outcomes
- Voting Rights Resolution: Adopted (13-0).
- Property Tax Hearing: Received and filed (14-0). No binding action taken; discussion to continue.
- Next Steps: Tyler Technologies to provide defect resolution timeline within seven days. Chairman to compile unanswered questions from public speakers and communicate answers. The property tax reform group will continue work.
- Committee Adjourned after motion by Commissioner Scott.
Meeting Transcript
All right. The legislation and intergovernmental relations committee of the Cook County Board will come back to order. And we still, I believe, have a quorum. Chairman, at your recess meeting, I needed to add some people. If I could do that now, please, Commissioner Naya needs to be added, and she's in the room. Chairman Daly is now in the room. We have an excused absence for Commissioner Gaynor. Commissioner Miller is present. Thank you. She has been added. Commissioner Marita is present participating remotely. Commissioner Marita, are you still connected? I am. Thank you, Lynn. Thank you. Commissioner Vasquez. Thank you. Is I'll add it. Thus, those that did not respond are excused absences for Commissioner Gaynor, Commissioner Sean Morrison, and we are also adding Commissioner Stamps to the roll. Hi, Commissioner Lowry. And Commissioner Laurie has been added. Chairman, you do have a quorum remote participation as needed. Commissioner Lowry moves for remote participation. Second by Commissioner Scott. Roll call. Commissioner Eggag your vote, sir. Commissioner Naya. Is out of the room. Commissioner Daly. Thank you. Commissioner Degnan. Aye. Commissioner Gaynor is excused previous votes for aye. Commissioner Naya is absent. Commissioner Laurie. Aye. Commissioner McCaskill. Commissioner Miller. Is this for remote? Yes. So again, can you state for the record that this was not meet the criteria for remote participation? You are exactly correct. It does not meet the requirements for remote participation, as I have indicated before. I am going to grant some grace to the Commissioner who requested it this time. It will be the last for any committee that I chair. Yeah, and it's not to individualize a commissioner. Yeah, so this is to follow the correct rules, which we are not doing. So we will be doing going forward. So ma'am, your vote is present, correct? Commissioner Miller is present.
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