Cook County Now Accepting Applications for $300 Million Bridge Loan Fund for Local Governments 

No-interest loans will help schools, libraries, parks, fire districts and other taxing bodies manage cash flow 

COOK COUNTY, IL— Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced today that the expanded Property Tax Bridge Fund Program, making up to $300 million in no-interest loans available to eligible taxing districts, is now accepting applications.  

With the next round of property tax bills expected to be delayed by approximately two months, the program is designed to help local governments manage the resulting cash-flow gap. The Bridge Fund will support school districts, park districts, libraries, fire protection districts, municipalities and other local governments that are primarily reliant on property tax revenue to fund essential public services. 

“This bridge fund is a short-term tool to assist local taxing districts while we continue the deeper work of fixing a fragmented property tax system,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “The program provides immediate relief so that we can continue advancing long-term reforms that will make the system more reliable.” 

The Bridge Fund Program provides no-interest, short-term loans to eligible local taxing bodies that need assistance covering operating expenses while awaiting property tax distributions. This is the third time Cook County has offered the program in response to delays in the property tax cycle. 

In response to feedback from taxing districts and community partners, the County has expanded eligibility from the previous year, allowing institutions heavily reliant on property tax revenue better access to the assistance. In addition, the County moved to reopen the program sooner this year so taxing districts could plan ahead, evaluate their cash-flow needs and begin preparing applications before a funding gap occurs. 

The final cost of the program will depend on the number of districts that apply starting July 20 and the amount requested. A clearer picture of the total cost will be available after the application window closes on August 24, 2026.  

The renewed Bridge Fund comes as Cook County continues the long-term modernization of its property tax system. Over the last several years, the County has transitioned away from a decades-old mainframe system, advanced tax sale reform, established the Cook County Property Tax Reform Group and worked across offices to improve coordination, transparency and reliability. 

More information, including the now open application portal, eligibility specifics and frequently asked questions, are available at the County’s Tax Bridge Fund webpage starting today at cookcountyil.gov/bridgefund. 

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About the Cook County Property Tax Bridge Fund Program 

The Cook County Property Tax Bridge Fund Program provides no-interest, short-term loans to eligible taxing districts affected by delays in the property tax cycle. The program is designed to help local governments continue operating and providing essential public services while awaiting property tax distributions. 

About Cook County 

Cook County is the second-largest county in the United States, home to more than five million residents. The Cook County Board President serves as the chief executive officer of Cook County government and oversees the Offices Under the President. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

Local taxing district meeting all the following eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply for the 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