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(a) The treasurer shall conduct a review on a monthly basis of the current total holdings across all funds, including cash positions; portfolios, mark to market valuations; credit quality for each security; and additional compliance issues.
(b) The treasurer shall, on or before the first day of February of each year, submit a report to the city council that details the performance of the total holdings across all funds held by the treasurer's office, including asset allocation, cash position and overall credit quality as of December 31 of the preceding year.
(c) The treasurer shall, on or before the first day of February of each year, submit a report to the city council on the written investment policy for compliance as of December 31 of the preceding year, and present any recommendations for changes.
(Added Coun. J. 9-24-15, p. 4761, § 1)
Editor's note – Coun. J. 11-5-03, p. 9539, § 1, repealed former § 2-32-610, which pertained to repurchased bonds – custody and disposition.
Those persons under the supervision of the Treasurer who are authorized to execute investment transactions shall attend at least one investment training session within twelve (12) months after assuming their duties and shall receive not less than ten (10) hours of instruction relating to investment responsibilities during a two-year period that begins on the first day of the City's fiscal year following the initial ten (10) hours of instruction and consists of the two consecutive fiscal years after that date. The Treasurer is authorized to engage an independent third party with no preexisting contractual relationship with the Treasurer's office to provide this training, which shall include education in investment controls, security risks, market risks, diversification of investment portfolio and compliance with applicable laws. Any failure to comply with this Section 2-32-615 shall not invalidate any investment transaction undertaken by any person under the supervision of the Treasurer.
(Added Coun. J. 11-16-16, p. 38042, Art. X, § 1)
If a vacancy exists in the office of city treasurer or the treasurer is absent from the city or otherwise incapacitated to perform his duties the comptroller and the mayor or either of them alone shall have authority to perform the functions of the comptroller and treasurer jointly in the purchase, repurchase, sale or resale of any securities or the investment of city funds as provided in Sections 2-32-520 to 2-32-610, inclusive.
(Prior code § 7-49.1)
(a) Establishment. An investment vehicle is hereby established to be known as the Chicago Community Catalyst Fund (the "CCCF") into which City funds may be invested as described in Section 2-32-520(r) and this section.
(i) The Treasurer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Comptroller, and the Corporation Counsel are each authorized and directed to take such steps, including the expenditure of duly appropriated funds, as may be necessary to provide organizational, governance, and administrative structure to the CCCF as a separate legal entity and to register, to the extent required, the CCCF as a qualified investment vehicle for the receipt and investment of both City and private investment funds.
(ii) The transfer of City funds to the CCCF shall be conditioned upon adherence to this section.
(iii) Prior to the CCCF's initial investment of monies in any Investment Fund (as defined in subsection (f) below), the Treasurer shall issue a report to the City Council on the organizational and administrative structure of the CCCF.
(iv) The CCCF shall not issue debt on behalf of the City.
(b) Purpose. The purpose of the CCCF is:
(i) To invest its funds in one or more Investment Funds which will in turn invest their funds in businesses or organizations ("Project Investments") to achieve one or more of the following goals in the 77 community areas designated in Section 1-14-010 of this Code (the "Community Areas"): (1) sustain local economic growth: (2) support improvements to public infrastructure; (3) stimulate job creation and development; (4) catalyze commercial, residential and industrial growth and development in economically underserved Community Areas; (5) increase attractiveness for job creation and retention; and (6) increase accessibility for Community Areas to capital funding.
(ii) To enable investment funds from other investors ("Other Investors") to be invested in one pooled investment vehicle to increase the overall amount of capital available for economic development throughout the City.
(iii) To generate returns commensurate with the City's overall investment portfolio returns.
(c) Governance.
(i) The CCCF shall be directed and administered by a Board of Directors (or managers) (the "Board") that consists of seven (7) voting members ("Voting Members") chaired by the Treasurer. The Voting Members shall include, ex-officio, the Treasurer, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Commissioner of Planning and Development (collectively, the "Ex Officio Voting Members").
Four (4) additional Voting Members shall be appointed as follows: the Treasurer shall submit a list of ten (10) recommended Board members to the Mayor. Such recommended Board members shall have substantial expertise and experience in one or more of the following areas: oversight and management of investments: asset management; community loan fund or microfinance investing; economic development: social impact investing; infrastructure; and transactional experience related to investing. The Mayor shall in his sole discretion identify and appoint the CCCF's four (4) additional Voting Members. In making his appointments, the Mayor shall not be limited to, but shall give due consideration to, the individuals on the list submitted by the Treasurer. The Mayor's appointments shall be subject to approval by the City Council.
The number of Voting Members may increase as necessary to include future Other Investors ("Investor Voting Members") of the CCCF as determined by the Board. Investor Voting Members shall be confirmed by a majority vote of the Voting Members which shall include any Investor Voting Members previously confirmed at a meeting in which a quorum is present as designated in the CCCF's bylaws. The total number of Voting Members may increase to a maximum of thirteen (13) to include such Investor Voting Members. Investor Voting Members shall serve for the duration of their investment with the CCCF.
The Voting Members, excluding Ex Officio Voting Members and Investor Voting Members, initially appointed pursuant to this subsection (c) shall serve for the following terms as directed in the CCCF's bylaws: two members for a term commencing with the date of appointment of such members and ending on December 31, 2018; and two members for a term commencing with the date of appointment of such members and ending on December 31, 2019. Thereafter, Voting Members, excluding Ex Officio Voting Members and Investor Voting members, shall serve for a term of three years. Voting Members, excluding Ex Officio Voting Members and Investor Voting Members, may be re- appointed by the Mayor but such re-appointment shall be approved by the City Council.
Each Voting Member appointed pursuant to this subsection (c) will serve until his or her successor is duly qualified and appointed. In the event of any vacancy in the position of any Voting Member (excluding Ex Officio Voting Members and Investor Voting Members), such vacancy shall be filled using the procedure described in the second paragraph of this subsection (c). Any appointment and associated City Council approval of Voting Members subsequent to the appointment of the initial Voting Members shall occur within one year of any vacancy created. Voting Members will not receive a salary for their service on the Board and will be compensated only for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Voting Members, excluding Ex Officio Voting Members and Investor Voting Members, will be subject to removal for cause by the Mayor.
(ii) A non-voting Advisory Board shall also be established that shall consist of seven (7) members (the "Advisory Board Members"). The Advisory Board shall consist of three (3) members of the City Council, selected by that body (the "City Council Advisory Board Members"), and four (4) other members, appointed by the Board by majority vote at a meeting in which a quorum of Voting Members is present.
The Advisory Board Members, excluding City Council Advisory Board Members, shall serve for the following terms as directed in the CCCF's bylaws: two members for a term commencing with the date of appointment of such members and ending on December 31, 2018; and two members for a term commencing with the date of appointment of such members and ending on December 31, 2019. Thereafter, Advisory Board Members, excluding City Council Advisory Board Members, shall serve for a term of three years. Each Advisory Board Member appointed pursuant to this subsection (c) will serve until his or her successor is duly qualified and appointed. In the event of any vacancy in the position of any Advisory Board Member (excluding City Council Advisory Board Members), such vacancy shall be filled using the procedure described in the immediately preceding paragraph above. If at any time any City Council Advisory Board Member shall cease to be a member of the City Council, his or her term as a City Council Advisory Board Member shall also cease and a member of the City Council shall be appointed to serve the remainder of such City Council Advisory Board Member's term.
The members of the Advisory Board shall be representative of the diversity of the Community Areas. The Advisory Board shall provide guidance to the Board to ensure that the CCCF's investment strategy remains aligned with its original purpose.
(iii) The Board shall adopt bylaws setting forth the CCCF's governance and administration by majority vote of the Voting Members at a meeting in which a quorum is present.
(d) Conflict of interest.
(i) Any Voting Member or Advisory Board Member who has a Financial Interest in any entity (an "Affiliated Entity") that is being considered by the CCCF to receive funds from the CCCF (whether directly as an Investment Fund or indirectly as a Project Investment), shall recuse himself or herself from any vote or debate of the Board regarding such Affiliated Entity. For purposes of this section, the term "Financial Interest" shall be defined as an interest held in an Affiliated Entity by such Voting Member or Advisory Board Member that is valued or capable of valuation in monetary terms with a current value of more than $1,000. All Voting Members and Advisory Board Members owe the CCCF a fiduciary duty (with the Ex Officio Voting Members having a primary fiduciary duty to the City), and accordingly are strictly prohibited from making decisions or recommendations on behalf of the CCCF for personal financial gain; provided, however, that this prohibition shall not apply to any personal financial gain of an Investor Voting Member arising from the investment in the CCCF of the funds of such Investor Voting Member or of an Other Investor whose investment of funds in the CCCF is represented on the Board by such Investor Voting Member.
(ii) No Investment Fund shall invest in any Project Investment in which, to the knowledge of the Investment Fund, any Voting Member or Advisory Board Member has a Financial Interest; provided, however, that this prohibition shall not apply to any personal financial gain of an Investor Voting Member arising from the investment in the CCCF of the funds of such Investor Voting Member or of an Other Investor whose investment of funds in the CCCF is represented on the Board by such Investor Voting Member.
(iii) No Other Investor, Voting Member or Advisory Board Member shall be retained by the CCCF to perform work for the CCCF.
(e) Funding. Eligible Funds (as defined in Section 2-32-520(r) of this Code) may be transferred to the CCCF in amounts and at times as follows:
(i) Initial funding period. During the period commencing on the effective date of this section and ending December 31, 2019, amounts of Eligible Funds may be transferred to the CCCF as follows:
(A) In fiscal year 2017, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the Treasurer may transfer Eligible Funds to the CCCF in an amount up to $50,000,000.
(B) In fiscal year 2018, the Treasurer may transfer Eligible Funds (which may include, subject to subsection (e)(iii) below, up to $37,500,000 of funds in the Service Concession and Reserve Fund) to the CCCF in an amount up to the greater of (1) $25,000,000 or (2) the Annual Limit for 2018.
(C) In fiscal year 2019, the Treasurer may transfer Eligible Funds (which may include, subject to subsection (e)(iii) below, up to $37,500,000 of funds in the Service Concession and Reserve Fund) to the CCCF in an amount up to the greater of (1) $25,000,000 or (2) the Annual Limit for 2019.
(ii) Ongoing funding. In fiscal year 2020 and thereafter, the Treasurer may transfer to the CCCF in each year Eligible Funds (which may include, subject to subsection (e)(iii) below, up to $37,500,000 of funds in the Service Concession and Reserve Fund) to the CCCF in an amount up to the Annual Limit for such year.
(iii) Maximum limit on use of funds in the Service Concession and Reserve Fund. The aggregate amount of funds transferred from the Service Concession and Reserve Fund to the CCCF may not exceed $37,500,000.
(iv) Returns. At the discretion of the Treasurer, investment earnings on Eligible Funds previously transferred to the CCCF may be reinvested by the Treasurer in the CCCF.
(v) Limit for expenses. Up to five percent (5%) of each transfer of Eligible Funds pursuant to this subsection (e) may be expended on the costs of CCCF's initial organization, governance and administration.
(f) Authorized investments. The CCCF shall adopt a fund-of-funds investment strategy by investing CCCF assets with persons or entities (each, an "Investment Fund") with proven track records and qualified as one or more of the following: (1) an investment manager duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission; (2) a registered investment adviser under the Illinois Securities Law of 1953; (C) a community development financial institution certified by the United States Department of the Treasury; (D) a bank, as defined in the Investment Advisers Act of 1940; or (E) a manager of assets pursuant to the terms of an agreement with a limited liability company, limited liability partnership, commingled investment fund, collective investment fund, or such other similar investment vehicle, provided that the investment manager of such investment vehicle qualifies under (A) through (D) of the above. Each Investment Fund shall invest its funds in Project Investments, which may include debt or equity, and shall administer its investments. The CCCF's bylaws shall set forth a process for selecting Investment Funds. The CCCF shall invest its funds in Investment Funds in accordance with the following:
(i) All Project Investments by Investment Funds shall be made within one or more of the Community Areas, with priority given to Investment Funds that will make direct investments in Project Investments located in census tracts that are eligible for Community Reinvestment Act credit.
(ii) No investment of CCCF funds in any Investment Fund shall be made without the affirmative vote of a majority of the Voting Members present at a meeting of the Board in which a quorum is present.
(iii) Investments of CCCF funds shall be made in Investment Funds focused on real estate, infrastructure improvements, commercial developments, or small business investments in one or more of the Community Areas.
(iv) In total, no more than twenty percent (20%) of the Eligible Funds transferred to the CCCF may be invested by the CCCF in any single Investment Fund.
(v) No single Project Investment may receive an amount exceeding twenty percent (20%) of one Investment Fund's investment allocation from the CCCF.
(g) Reporting.
(i) Investment Funds which receive CCCF investment capital shall make a quarterly report to the Board detailing investment performance.
(ii) The Treasurer shall report on the CCCF's performance (including a description of (1) amounts of Eligible Funds transferred by the Treasurer to the CCCF, (2) names of Other Investors and the amounts of such Other Investors' investments therein, (3) identity of Investment Funds receiving CCCF funds and amounts so invested therein, and (4) identity of Project Investments made by Investment Funds and amounts invested by the Investment Funds therein) to the City Council on an annual basis and such report shall be published.
(h) Administration. In furtherance of organizing and administering the CCCF, the Board may retain staff and enter into and execute service agreements with outside providers for legal, investment management, accounting, audit and consultant expertise, including the expenditure of funds as shall be necessary or advisable in connection with such retention and execution. The Board is authorized to enter into investment agreements with Other Investors and with Investment Funds.
(i) Conditions to receipt of CCCF investment capital. As a condition to the execution and delivery of any agreements authorized by this Section 2-32-622, such agreements will provide for the following:
(i) The Board will, consistent with the purposes and objectives as described in this section, establish criteria for all investments received and made by the CCCF.
(ii) The Board shall have no power to pledge the full faith and credit of the City nor shall any obligation issued by the CCCF in connection with any investment be a general obligation of the City.
(iii) The Board will require Investment Funds to provide information satisfactory to the Board regarding Project Investments and investment strategies.
(iv) The Board will be responsible for overseeing preparation and auditing of its financial statements, including full compliance with applicable generally accepted accounting principles.
(v) The CCCF shall indemnify and hold harmless the Voting Members and the Advisory Board Members from and against all claims, demands, actions, suits, damages, liabilities. losses, settlements, judgments, costs and expenses (collectively, "Claims"), whether or not involving a third party claim, which arise out of or relate to their service on the Board, other than any Claim arising from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any such Voting Member or Advisory Board Member.
(j) City decisions and actions. The City shall make decisions and take actions as an owner or member of the CCCF as follows:
(i) amendments to the CCCF's articles of incorporation (or organization) shall be approved by a majority of the Ex Officio Voting Members;
(ii) determinations, within the parameters set by Section 2-32-622(e)(i) – (iv), of the amount and timing of the transfers of Eligible Funds to the CCCF shall be made by the Mayor;
(iii) the liquidation, bankruptcy, merger, or sale of all or a substantial portion of the assets of the CCCF shall be subject to City Council approval;
(iv) any transfer of a portion of the City's ownership or membership interests in the CCCF shall be approved by a majority of the Ex Officio Voting Members; provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing, any transfer of the City's entire ownership or membership interests in the CCCF shall be subject to City Council approval;
(v) the withdrawal of the City as an owner or member of the CCCF shall be subject to City Council approval;
(vi) the determination of where the CCCF's books and records are to be located shall be approved by a majority of the Ex Officio Voting Members; and
(vii) except as otherwise specified in this section, any decision to be made by the City as an owner or member of the CCCF shall be done by a majority vote of the Ex Officio Voting Members.
(Added Coun. J. 11-16-16, p. 38042, Art. X, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 54180, § 2)
ARTICLE VII. ACQUISITION OF REALTY AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS (2-32-625 et seq.)
(a) As used in this section:
"Assessed value" means the market value set for real estate tax purposes, as determined by the Office of the Cook County Assessor or the Cook County Board of Tax Appeals, or its successor the Cook County Board of Review, multiplied by the level of assessment for Class 2 property as defined in the Cook County Real Property Assessment Classification Ordinance;
"Class 2 property" mean Class 2 property as defined in the Cook County Real Property Assessment Classification Ordinance and located in the City of Chicago;
"Executive director" means the Executive Director of the Chicago Tax Assistance Center within the Office of Budget and Management;
"Extension loan" has the meaning given such term in paragraph (c) herein;
"Homeowner" means an individual who: (i) is the owner of record of or has a legal or equitable interest, except for a leasehold interest, in Class 2 property that is used by the individual as the individual's principal place of residence; and (ii) is liable for paying the real estate taxes on the property. For purposes of the definition of "homeowner", an equitable interest shall include a beneficial interest in property that is held in an Illinois land trust;
"Household" means the homeowner, the spouse of the homeowner and all persons using the residence of the homeowner as their principal place of residence;
"Household income" means the combined income of the members of a household for the calendar year preceding the date that the application for the homeowner assistance program is filed with the executive director;
"Initial loan" means the first loan received by the homeowner pursuant to this section with respect to increases in the homeowner's real estate tax liability attributable to a given qualifying triennial;
"Longtime homeowner exemption program" means the program administered by the Office of the Cook County Assessor pursuant to the Cook County Longtime Homeowner Property Tax Assessment Exemption Ordinance;
"Qualifying triennial" means any triennial assessment by the Office of the Cook County Assessor, pursuant to which the assessed value of the homeowner's residence increases more than one and one-quarter times the median increase in assessed value for Class 2 property in the city; and
"Real estate taxes" means the taxes on real property for which the taxpayer is liable under the Property Tax Code, 35 ILCS 200/1-1 et seq.
(b) The executive director is authorized to establish and administer a homeowner assistance program for the purpose of providing tax relief to homeowners with limited incomes whose properties' assessed values have significantly risen, or whose properties may be lost because of a tax sale or tax lien foreclosure. Under the homeowner assistance program, a homeowner who meets the program's eligibility requirements for an initial loan shall be eligible for an initial loan from the city in an amount not to exceed the portion of the homeowner's liability for real estate taxes for his or her principal place of residence which is attributable to the amount of increase of the assessed value of the residence as a result of the most recent assessment which is more than the median increase in assessed value for Class 2 property in the city in the most recent assessment; provided that the amount of the loan offered to an eligible homeowner shall not be less than $500 nor more than $4,000. Repayment of the initial loan, plus interest at a rate to be determined by the city comptroller, but in no event to exceed six percent simple interest per year, must be made by the homeowner prior to or at the time of the sale or transfer of ownership of the residence. The rate of interest on the initial loan shall be determined by the city comptroller in order to benefit and advance the purposes of the homeowner assistance program. A homeowner shall be eligible for an initial loan under the program if he or she meets the following criteria:
(i) the assessed value of the homeowner's residence has increased as a result of the most recent assessment more than one and one-quarter times the median increase in assessed value for Class 2 property in the city in the most recent assessment, or the executive director determines that the homeowner is in imminent danger of losing his or her home as the result of a tax sale or tax lien foreclosure under the Property Tax Code;
(ii) the applicant became the homeowner prior to January 1st of the calendar year immediately preceding the qualifying triennial for such initial loan or, if there is no qualifying triennial, the applicant has owned the home for at least two years prior to the date the application is filed;
(iii) the homeowner's household income does not exceed 80 percent of the Chicago area median family income as calculated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
(iv) the homeowner does not qualify for the longtime homeowner exemption program.
A homeowner who receives an initial loan and subsequently qualifies for the longtime homeowner exemption program is eligible for extension loans but is not eligible for additional initial loans. Prior to qualifying for the longtime homeowner exemption program, a homeowner may receive multiple initial loans provided that a homeowner may not receive more than one initial loan for any given qualifying triennial.
(c) A homeowner must file an application to participate in the program with the Chicago Tax Assistance Center within the Office of Budget and Management. The application for an initial loan shall be on a form prescribed by the executive director and shall include evidence of the homeowner's income, evidence that the applicant became the homeowner prior to January 1st of the calendar year immediately preceding the qualifying triennial for such initial loan or otherwise has owned the home for the required period of time, evidence that the homeowner does not qualify for the longtime homeowner exemption program, and, if the loan is based upon a qualifying triennial, certification from the Office of the Cook County Assessor that the assessed value of the homeowner's residence has increased as a result of the most recent assessment more than one and one-quarter times the median increase in assessed value for Class 2 property in the city in the most recent assessment. If the executive director determines that a homeowner is eligible for the program, the homeowner shall be eligible to receive an initial loan and to apply for and receive additional loans on an annual basis (each such loan, an "extension loan"), with each extension loan in an amount equal to the amount of the applicable initial loan, for as long as the homeowner applies for and receives extension loans each year without interruption. Repayment of each extension loan, plus interest at a rate to be determined by the city comptroller, but in no event to exceed six percent simple interest per year, must be made by the homeowner prior to or at the time of the sale or transfer or ownership of the residence. The rate of interest on each extension loan shall be determined by the city comptroller in order to benefit and advance the purposes of the homeowner assistance program.
(d) As a condition of any loan, the executive director may require that the homeowner agree to a lien on the title to the homeowner's residence in favor of the city.
(e) The provisions of Section 2-156-110 of this Code shall not apply to city employees with respect to their participation in the homeowner assistance program created pursuant to this section.
(f) The executive director shall have authority to expend legally available funds for the implementation of this section. However, the program created pursuant to this section shall be suspended at any time that no funds are legally available for the program. The executive director shall additionally have authority to enter into intergovernmental agreements and all other agreements and/or documents necessary to implement this section, to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this section and to prescribe application forms and other forms necessary to elicit relevant information concerning participants in the homeowner assistance program.
(g) Loans received by homeowners under the program prior to the effective date of the amendatory ordinance that added to this section the terms initial loan and extension loan (such loans being referred to herein as "prior loans") shall be recharacterized as initial loans or extension loans for purposes of such homeowners' ongoing participation in the program. A prior loan shall be recharacterized as an initial loan if it was the first loan received by a homeowner with respect to increases in the homeowner's real estate tax liability attributable to a given triennial assessment by the Office of the Cook County Assessor. Prior loans that are not recharacterized as initial loans shall be recharacterized as extension loans. For homeowners with prior loans, the requirement set forth in paragraph (c) hereof that extension loans be applied for and received each year without interruption shall commence in 2002.
(Added Coun. J. 7-29-98, p. 74787; Amend Coun. J. 9-1-99, p. 10119, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-25-01, p. 64952, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-6-02, p. 95856, § 1)
Editor's note – Coun. J. 11-6-02, p. 95856, § 1, amended the Code by renumbering former § 2-44-080 as § 2-32-630; however, because that section already existed, this section has been renumbered as § 2-32-625 at the discretion of the editor.
(a) As used in this section:
"Adjusted Gross Income" or "AGI" means adjusted gross income as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of the United States of America, 26 U.S.C. § 62.
"Applicable year" means tax year 2015.
"Director" means the Director of the Office of Budget and Management of the City of Chicago, or the Director's designee.
"Homeowner" means an individual who, at the time of the application and since January 1, 2014: (i) was the owner of record of, or had a legal or equitable interest in, property in this city that was used by the individual as the individual's principal place of residence; and (ii) was liable for paying the property taxes on the property, either directly or indirectly as the owner of a unit in a residential cooperative or as the owner of a beneficial interest in an Illinois land trust. For purposes of the definition of "homeowner," an equitable interest shall include a beneficial interest in property that is held by the owner of a unit in a residential cooperative or in an Illinois land trust.
"Household" means the homeowner and the spouse or domestic partner of the homeowner.
"Household adjusted gross income" or "HAGI" means the combined adjusted gross income of the household for the applicable year.
"Property taxes" means the taxes on real property for which a homeowner is liable under the Property Tax Code, 35 ILCS 200/1-1, et seq., when that property is used by the homeowner as the homeowner's principal place of residence.
"Property tax increase" means the amount by which the property taxes payable to the City of Chicago in tax year 2015 exceeds the property taxes payable to the City of Chicago in tax year 2014 for the same property.
"Senior homeowner" means any homeowner who is 60 years of age or older as of January 1, 2016.
(b) The Director is authorized to establish and administer a property tax relief program under this section for the purpose of providing assistance to certain homeowners whose property tax liability has risen, particularly relative to their household incomes as provided in this section, and supplemental assistance to certain long term senior homeowners whose property tax liability has risen. Under this program, a homeowner who meets the eligibility requirements under this section may receive a grant in the amount specified in this section. A homeowner shall be eligible for a grant under this section, if:
(1) the homeowner is granted the Homeowner's Exemption for the applicable year as specified in 35 ILCS 200/15-175;
(2) the homeowner is not delinquent in payment of property taxes on any property in the city; and
(3) the property tax increase for the property and the homeowner's household adjusted gross income are within the ranges specified in subsection (c).
(c) The amount of the grant to a homeowner meeting the eligibility requirements specified in subsection (b) shall be as set forth in the following chart, but shall not exceed the amount of that homeowner's property tax increase:
Grant Chart
Property Tax Increase Amount | HAGI $0 To $24,999 Grant Amount | HAGI $25,000 To $49,999 Grant Amount | HAGI $50,000 To $75,000 Grant Amount |
Property Tax Increase Amount | HAGI $0 To $24,999 Grant Amount | HAGI $25,000 To $49,999 Grant Amount | HAGI $50,000 To $75,000 Grant Amount |
$ 0 – $49.99 | $25 | $25 | $0 |
$ 50 – $99.99 | $50 | $25 | $0 |
$100 – $149.99 | $75 | $50 | $25 |
$150 – $199.99 | $100 | $75 | $50 |
$200 – $249.99 | $125 | $100 | $75 |
$250 – $299.99 | $150 | $125 | $100 |
$300 – $349.99 | $175 | $150 | $125 |
$350+ | $200 | $175 | $150 |
(d) A senior homeowner who satisfies the eligibility requirements of subsection (b), whose household adjusted gross income is less than $75,000, and whose Equalized Assessed Value of his or her residence has increased by 30 percent or more in the most recent Cook County triennial assessment, may also apply for and receive a senior supplement grant of $150.00 if the senior homeowner:
(1) has used the property identified in the grant application as his or her principal place of residence since January 1, 1998 or longer;
(2) has not received the Senior Freeze for the applicable year pursuant to 35 ILCS 200/15-172; and
(3) has not received the Homestead Improvement Exemption for the applicable year pursuant to 35 ILCS 200/15-180.
(e) No property tax relief grant or senior supplement grant shall be allowed if an applicant owes the city a debt, as defined in section 4-4-150(a)(1) and (a)(3) of this Code; provided, however, that the Director may allow a grant if: (i) the applicant has entered into a written agreement with the department or other appropriate city department for the payment of all debts owed the city and such applicant is in compliance with the agreement; or (ii) the applicant is contesting liability for or the amount of the debt in a pending administrative or judicial proceeding; or (iii) the applicant is a debtor in a pending case under the Bankruptcy Code in which an automatic stay is in effect; or (iv) the grant is first applied against the outstanding balance of debt owed by the applicant.
(f) To obtain a property tax relief grant and/or a senior supplement grant, a homeowner or senior homeowner shall file an application with the Office of Budget and Management or its designee. The application shall be on a form prescribed by the Director, and shall include all evidence reasonably required by the Director to show that the applicant is eligible to obtain a property tax relief grant and/or senior supplement grant, as applicable, under this section.
(g) The Director shall have authority to expend up to $20,000,00.00* of legally available funds for the implementation of this section. For purposes of this section, 2016 revenues in excess of actual expenses shall be deemed legally available and are hereby appropriated for purposes of the program established by this ordinance. However, the program created pursuant to this section shall be suspended at any time that no funds are legally available for the program. The Director shall additionally have authority to enter into agreements and execute documents necessary to implement this section (including entering into agreements with an entity or entities selected by the Director, on such terms as the Director determines reasonable, to process applications under the program), to promulgate rules necessary or appropriate to implement this section, and to prescribe application forms and other forms necessary to elicit relevant information concerning participants in the property tax relief program. The Director may conduct audits to determine eligibility of an applicant to participate in the program created pursuant to this section. Any personal financial information provided to the City in connection with an application submitted under this section shall remain confidential. The Director shall also have authority to develop criteria for, implement and administer an enhanced grant that exceeds the amount set forth in subsection (c) of this section in individual cases of extraordinary hardship. Any such enhanced grant shall not exceed the amount of that homeowner's property tax increase.
* Editor’s note – As set forth in C.J. 7-20-16, p. 28065, § 1; future legislation will correct if needed.
(h) This section shall be repealed on December 31, 2016. Such repeal shall not affect the Director's ability to process applications filed under subsection (f) prior to such date.
(Added Coun. J. 7-20-16, p. 28065, § 1)
Editor's note – Former section, as enacted by Coun. J. 12-2-09, p. 79513, § 1, was repealed by its terms on March 31, 2010.
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