Cook County Property Tax Bridge Fund

Service Information

Property Tax Bridge Fund

To help local governments manage the resulting cash-flow gap, Cook County intends to reopen and expand the Property Tax Bridge Fund Program, making up to $300 million in no-interest loans available to eligible taxing districts.

Pending Board approval in July, the application window is expected to be July 20, 2026 - August  24, 2026. Each local taxing district interested in receiving a loan will need to complete an application and upload the required supporting documents for review by the County.

This year, the County intends to provide additional program guidance. In response to feedback from taxing districts and community partners, the County also plans to expand eligibility from the previous year, allowing institutions heavily reliant on property tax revenue better access to the assistance.

In addition, the County is moving to reopen the program sooner this year so taxing districts can plan ahead, evaluate their cash-flow needs and begin preparing applications before a funding gap occurs.

Eligibility Requirements

Local taxing districts meeting all the following eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply for a loan:

  • 50% Reliance on Property Taxes: Only local taxing jurisdictions (LTJ) that are reliant on property taxes for 50% or more of their total Governmental revenues (excluding enterprise funds) are eligible​
  • Disinvested Communities that do not meet the first criteria will be offered additional consideration. The County will approve those loans according to availability and need on a rolling basis using the County’s Equitable Allocation Model
  • Suburban Cook County: Only local taxing jurisdictions wholly within Suburban Cook County are eligible for the loans​
  • Paper Districts are Excluded: All local taxing jurisdictions that pass-through property tax collections to a third party for the provision of services are ineligible 

Technical Assistance

More information, including eligibility details, required documentation and frequently asked questions, will be available at the County’s Tax Bridge Fund webpage in the coming weeks.

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