Illinois Valley Times

Tax revenues in LaSalle County will be distributed to governments later than usual this year as part of the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

With bills also slated to go out late, LaSalle County Treasurer James Spelich plans to request that board members waive all penalties for late first installment payments.

Even before the pandemic hit, a computer virus attack on the county’s computer system had already set the tax cycle back by up to a month, resulting in the Board of Review being granted until April 30 to process tax assessment complaints.

“Once they’re work is completed, they roll that information to our office and we complete our work and then the bills are then sent for printing and mailing, and then our collection process begins,” Spelich told the Tonica News.

In ordinary times, property tax due dates are the first week of July for first installments and about 60 days later for second payments.

“That will not be the case this year; the first installment is more likely to be mid-to-later part of July and the early part of September for the second installment,” Spelich said. “We are working as hard as we can to get the work done, but with the county offices closed (due to the governor’s stay-at-home order) we are not fully functional at this point.”

Spelich said it’s virtually a given that all divisions of government will receive less money in the first distribution than what is generally the case.

“They will all need to be aware of that for budgeting reasons,” he said.

Spelich said he’s already had conversations with County Board Chairman Jim Olson about waiving late penalties for first installment and has been assured the proposal will be considered.  

More than 60% of taxes collected go to county schools, prompting Spelich to add he has already communicated with Regional Superintendent Chris Dvorak to let him know school districts may not receive as much money early on in the collection process.