During its May 12 meeting, the Lake County Board passed a measure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that gives property owners more time to pay each installment of their property taxes.

Many people across the state and in the Lake County community are dealing with financial difficulties due to the pandemic. 

The Lake County Board recognized those hardships and enacted an ordinance that allows taxpayers to spread their property tax payments over four installments, rather than two. If the second half of the payment is made by the second due date, no late fees will be incurred. 

The payments were originally due on June 8 and Sept. 8. However, under the ordinance, Lake County property owners can spread their payments out as follows:

• 50% of the first installment payment is due by June 8, 2020.
• 50% of the first installment payment is due by Aug. 7, 2020.
• 50% of the second installment payment is due by Sept. 8, 2020.
• 50% of the second installment payment is due by Nov. 9, 2020.

The Lake County treasurer's office said it will send notice of the deferred payment plan to Lake County property owners through the mail within the next two weeks. 

Additionally, Cook County officials announce what they’re going to do to help COVID-19-stressed property owners deal with their property taxes later this week.