Superintendent Scott Rowe spoke before the Cook County Board of Commissioners on January 15 to highlight the significant financial impact caused by delays in the county’s property tax distribution system. He joined fellow suburban Cook County superintendents to collectively outline how the disruption has affected schools, municipalities, libraries, park districts, and other local taxing bodies across the region.
During public comments, Superintendent Rowe explained that the county’s failed implementation of the Tyler Technologies tax system delayed both the issuance of tax bills and the distribution of tax dollars already collected. While schools and local governments continued to operate without interruption, the lack of timely disbursement forced districts to rely on financial workarounds, including drawing down reserves, selling investments earlier than planned, or borrowing short-term to meet routine obligations.
For High School District 214, the impact was substantial. The district experienced nearly $1 million in lost investment income as a direct result of the delayed distribution, funds that otherwise would have supported classrooms, student services, and educational programs. District 214 managed the disruption without affecting daily operations, but the loss underscores the importance of reliable systems to protect taxpayer resources.
In response to ongoing system challenges, District 214 is in the process of moving away from Infinite Visions, a financial system owned by Tyler Technologies, due to persistent issues with reliability and performance.
“The systems responsible for managing taxpayer dollars must be reliable, transparent, and accountable,” Superintendent Rowe said. “When tax distributions are delayed, public institutions are forced into costly financial decisions just to keep schools running, and taxpayers ultimately pay the price.”
Superintendent Rowe also raised concerns about the lack of clear communication regarding distribution timelines, noting that uncertainty makes responsible financial planning difficult and places unnecessary strain on public institutions working to act as good stewards of public funds.
In closing, he called on the county to provide accountability for what occurred, commit to consistent and transparent communication with taxing bodies, and ensure safeguards are in place to prevent similar disruptions in the future. Reliable funding timelines help ensure schools and local governments can focus on serving their communities rather than managing financial uncertainty.