Barrington woman receiving thousands in property tax refunds sent out by Cook County Treasurer's Office after year-long delay

CHICAGO (WLS) — The ABC7 I-Team has revealed new developments in their investigation concerning extensive delays, with signs of progress finally emerging.

A woman from the northern suburbs is at last receiving property tax refunds amounting to thousands of dollars after enduring months of unfulfilled promises from Cook County.

This breakthrough comes 18 months after the I-Team initially exposed errors in the square footage calculations performed by the Cook County Assessor’s Office.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Assisting a resident of South Barrington, the I-Team helped demonstrate that the county assessor’s office had inaccurately measured the square footage of her property.

Though the initial report surfaced in October 2024, she has been eagerly awaiting the refund of her property taxes ever since.

Initially, bureaucratic red tape caused significant delays, requiring a subsequent I-Team report to secure her the necessary certificates of error.

Then, just when Sherry Schnell though that she was going to get almost $10,000 in refund checks, there was another delay. The major holdups were due to upgrades to the county’s computer system by the private company, Tyler Technologies.

RELATED | Cook Co. sending out millions in property tax refunds after year-long delay

Tyler blamed delays on missing data from the county and the treasurer’s office, but the treasurer blamed Tyler. Tyler says it is working with the county, and the treasurer is now using AI experts to get refunds out to people like Schnell.

“I’m excited. I am happy, I really am. Finally, it’s a really happy time,” Schnell said. “You know it’s only fair, but I actually didn’t think I would get it, actually… I think you were a great help with you and your team, and I appreciate it.”

Overall, delays from the computer issues have held up property tax refunds since May of 2025. The treasurer says since she started getting checks out in the last several weeks, more than $80 million has been sent out. The remaining delayed refunds, $178 million, should be sent to property owners in the next three to four months.

Others also are getting interest for all the time that money sat waiting.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Thousands of Cook County homeowners waiting on $186M in refunds ahead of property tax bill deadline

Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson continues Italy trip by touring historic sites with Rome mayor after Pope Leo XIV meeting

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Advances Italy Visit with Historic Site Tour in Rome Following Meeting with Pope Leo XIV

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is currently in Italy, where he embarked on…
Illegal immigrant Jose Medina accused of killing Loyola student Sheridan Gorman caught with weapon in his pants inside jail

Loyola Student’s Suspected Killer, Jose Medina, Found with Concealed Weapon in Jail

A Venezuelan immigrant facing charges for the murder of Loyola University student…
‘Designated target’ Mojtaba Khamenei to sign Trump deal in ‘unprecedented’ courier setup

Breaking: Secret Courier Mission Set to Seal Trump Deal with ‘Designated Target’ Mojtaba Khamenei

Experts in counterterrorism have indicated that any ultimate agreement between Iran and…
NYC taxpayers on the hook for shocking $375K tab -- just to replace 2 water fountains in 3 years

NYC Taxpayers Face $375K Bill for Replacing Two Water Fountains Over Three Years: A Costly Infrastructure Update

New Yorkers are set to shoulder a hefty $375,000 bill for the…
5 economic signals suggest U.S. consumers are feeling the strain

5 Key Economic Indicators Reveal Growing Financial Strain on U.S. Consumers

For years, American consumers have defied predictions, propelling the economy forward with…
Sea lions once on the brink of death get adorable beach release

Rescued Sea Lions Make Heartwarming Return to the Ocean Beach

In a heartwarming scene along the Southern California coast, a group of…
FBI Chicago shooting: Abdulhafedh Abdulhafedh killed in Garfield Park shooting involving agent, ME says

FBI Involved in Fatal Garfield Park Shooting: Abdulhafedh Abdulhafedh Confirmed Dead

A man who was fatally shot in an encounter with an FBI…
Death toll from U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats climbs above 200 with latest attack

U.S. Strikes Targeting Suspected Drug Boats Result in Over 200 Fatalities

The United States military conducted another strike on Friday targeting a vessel…
Israeli ambassador compares France's far-left leader's rhetoric to Hitler as antisemitism surges

Israeli Ambassador Slams French Far-Left Rhetoric: A Modern Echo of Hitler Amid Rising Antisemitism

PARIS, France — The Israeli ambassador to France has drawn a stark…
Judge blocks closure of Kennedy Center and orders removal of Trump's name

Federal Judge Halts Kennedy Center Closure and Orders Trump’s Name Taken Down

Washington — A federal judge has prevented the Kennedy Center from shutting…
White House says Trump is in

White House Confirms Trump’s Current Status

According to a letter released late Friday by President Trump’s physician, the…
Spencer Pratt spills truth about celebrity endorsements after touting support from Leo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx

Spencer Pratt Reveals Insider Secrets on Celebrity Endorsements Featuring Leo DiCaprio and Jamie Foxx

Spencer Pratt has made it clear that he isn’t chasing the glitz…