Peoria Standard

The Peoria County Board has unanimously voted to allow taxpayers to split real estate taxes into two equal installments.

The meeting, which was held virtually, according to 25News week.com, allowed members to approve the first payment on June 9 for those who choose to make half a payment. Those who take the payment option, the remainder is due Aug. 10.

The vote was based on a recommendation from Peoria County Treasurer Nicole Bjerke. Bjerke was looking for a way to offer some relief to taxpayers who have been impacted negatively by the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposal is mainly geared toward those who are unemployed or are struggling financially through limited hours or other issues. Those who can make the full payment should do so.

The proposal first passed through the committee before being passed through to the county board.

“I understand that many of our residents have financial concerns and may have suffered a loss of income,” Bjerke wrote in a press release. “I recognize some may need a little longer to pay this year and I have also tried to balance that need with the needs of the taxing districts that my office distributes monies for.”

25News reported Bjerke said she looked at three options, delay property taxes, waive penalties or split the payment. Split payments were the only option she had authority to pursue.

There are approximately 150 taxing units in the county. They fund first responders in addition to schools, local governments and other entities, Bjerke noted in the release. 

Bjerke took pains to find a process that would not only benefit residents who have been financially impacted by the virus, but also not hurt the public services the tax monies help fund.

Bjerke also wrote those with mortgages that do not escrow taxes through mortgage payments should contact their lending institutions to see what help is available.

Those with questions regarding payment of taxes should contact the treasurer’s office at (309) 672-6065 or at treasurer@peoriacounty.org.