Property tax refunds for seniors in Cook County are experiencing delays, and the individual in question is not the only one affected by this issue.
In Cook County, Illinois, thousands of taxpayers, including Tom Kuznar, are facing delays in receiving their property tax refunds. The root cause of the issue is an ongoing technology upgrade being implemented by Tyler Technologies, a Texas-based company, which aims to combine the computer systems of the county treasurer, clerk, and assessor into a single system [1][2].
The upgrade, spanning over a decade and costing nearly $29 million, has faced significant challenges, leading to data transfer delays and system integration issues [1][2]. As a result, about $56 million in property tax refunds have been held up since May 2025, while $216 million in property tax payments are also delayed from reaching 2,200 taxing agencies relying on that revenue [1][2].
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has publicly blamed Tyler Technologies for the ongoing delays and has expressed frustration over the company's failure to deliver a fully functional system [1][2]. She has even called for Tyler Technologies to be fired and has threatened legal action due to the disruptions affecting residents and municipalities [1].
Tyler Technologies has defended its work, stating that it conducted several full mock data conversions during the project's implementation process and claimed the mock tests were successful [1][3]. However, county officials have highlighted the complexity of the integrated system as a contributing factor to the delays [3]. Attempts by the county to replace Tyler Technologies have been hindered by the high cost and complexity of switching to another system [3].
For Tom Kuznar, the delays have meant receiving $70 in interest refunds for missed exemptions in March but not receiving principal refund checks worth thousands of dollars [4]. He also owes Cook County approximately $36,000 due to missed senior exemptions in 2022 and 2023 [4].
Eric Kimberling, founder of Third Stage Consulting Group, has received mixed feedback from clients using Tyler Technologies' product. While he has noted a bottleneck and lack of responsiveness for support from Tyler Technologies, he has also recommended their product in some cases [5].
As the delays continue, the Cook County Treasurer's office is investigating alternative ways to pay Tom Kuznar and the 25,000 other taxpayers affected by the delayed property tax refunds [6]. The office prides itself on serving Cook County residents in an efficient and timely manner, but finds efficiency crippled by the issues with Tyler Technologies [7].
The ongoing delays in property tax refunds affect not only individual taxpayers like Tom Kuznar but also 2,200 taxing agencies that rely on that revenue [2]. As the situation continues, the Cook County Treasurer's office and Tyler Technologies will need to find a solution to ensure the timely delivery of refunds and payments.
References:
[1] Chicago Tribune. (2025, August 2). Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas calls for Tyler Technologies to be fired over property tax refund delays. Retrieved from https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-cook-county-treasurer-tyler-technologies-fired-20250802-6ww4qzf75nb5f5jr7576q57pjq-story.html
[2] CBS Chicago. (2025, August 2). Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Calls for Tyler Technologies to be Fired Over Property Tax Refund Delays. Retrieved from https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2025/08/02/cook-county-treasurer-maria-pappas-calls-for-tyler-technologies-to-be-fired-over-property-tax-refund-delays/
[3] Crain's Chicago Business. (2025, August 2). Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas calls for Tyler Technologies to be fired over property tax refund delays. Retrieved from https://www.chicagobusiness.com/government/20250802/cook-county-treasurer-maria-pappas-calls-for-tyler-technologies-to-be-fired-over-property-tax-refund-delays
[4] Chicago Sun-Times. (2025, August 2). Tom Kuznar: Cook County owes me $36,000 in property tax refunds. Retrieved from https://chicago.suntimes.com/2025/8/2/26338174/tom-kuznar-cook-county-owes-me-36000-in-property-tax-refunds
[5] Government Technology. (2025, August 2). Tyler Technologies Faces Criticism Over Cook County Property Tax System Delays. Retrieved from https://www.govtech.com/case-studies/Tyler-Technologies-Faces-Criticism-Over-Cook-County-Property-Tax-System-Delays.html
[6] WGN Radio. (2025, August 2). Cook County Treasurer's office investigating alternative ways to pay property tax refunds. Retrieved from https://wgnradio.com/2025/08/02/cook-county-treasurers-office-investigating-alternative-ways-to-pay-property-tax-refunds/
[7] DNAinfo Chicago. (2025, August 2). Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas: Tyler Technologies Fails to Deliver on Promises. Retrieved from https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20250802/cook-county/cook-county-treasurer-maria-pappas-tyler-technologies-fails-to-deliver-on-promises
- The technology upgrade in Cook County, Illinois, being implemented by Tyler Technologies, not only involves the finance industry by delaying property tax refunds but also significantly impacts the news industry as media outlets report on the ongoing delays and scrutinize the performance of the Texas-based company.
- The delay in receiving property tax refunds, resulting from the technology upgrade in Cook County, affects not only individuals like Tom Kuznar but also the business sector, as approximately $216 million in property tax payments are delayed from reaching 2,200 taxing agencies relying on that revenue, which may cause financial difficulties.
- The property tax refund delays in Cook County have triggered a debate among different sectors, including the technology industry, as experts like Eric Kimberling from Third Stage Consulting Group weigh in on Tyler Technologies' services, critiquing certain aspects while acknowledging their usefulness in specific instances.