Chambana Sun

The Champaign County Board is considering a change to property taxes due for this year in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The News-Gazette reports that board chairman Giraldo Rosales is pushing for the subject to be taken up at the board’s upcoming April 23 meeting. Currently, initial payments would become due around June 1.

“This is a unique time in history,” said Rosales, alluding to the stay-at-home order enacted by Gov. J.B. Pritzker as a way of limiting the spread of the virus that has left many unemployed and struggling to keep up on bills. Under the guidelines of the order, only businesses deemed as essential by the government have remained open, and many of those are operating in a limited capacity.

Champaign County also experienced an atypical property-tax year in 2019 when due dates were extended after bills were mailed later than usual because the Illinois Department of Revenue was late in getting a final county multiplier issued. Ultimately, the multiplier remained the same as last year — “1” — meaning that assessments on properties in the county have been at one-third of market value.

In Champaign County, the treasurer is in charge of the billing and collection of all of tax payments. County Treasurer Marisol Hughes told the News-Gazette that bills are set to go out on time this year and she is awaiting word from the board about payment due dates.