Peoria County treasurer reports $353.9 million distributed to taxing districts, explains tax-sale redemption process

County Treasurer Nicole Bierke told the Peoria County Ways and Means Committee on Jan. 6, 2025 that the county completed its year-end distributions and is closing its financial books in preparation for audit.

"We finally finished all the distributions. We did the interest distribution Dec. 17th. So in total, we've distributed about $353,900,000 to about 150 different taxing districts. The interest that we distributed was about $1,300,000," County Treasurer Nicole Bierke said.

Bierke said staff are finishing the tax cycle, balancing accounts and preparing for the county audit. During committee discussion she clarified the county's tax-sale and redemption timeline for members.

"We hold our annual tax sale in November. And then once we do that, and we process the tax sale, all that information goes up to the county clerk's office. So anyone who's had their taxes sold will contact the county clerk's office for the amount to redeem. And then they would take that amount and pay it at the county clerk's office. And then that lien is basically extinguished," Bierke said. She added that property owners who do not redeem immediately have "2 and a half to 3 years" before a tax buyer may petition the court for a tax deed, and emphasized that purchase of taxes by a buyer by itself does not confer rights to enter the property.

The treasurer said staff completed interest distributions on Dec. 17 and are working on closing financial records for audit; no additional revenue or budget amendments were announced at the meeting.

The committee had no public comments following the treasurer's report and proceeded to other agenda items.