Mayor Emanuel announced today that the City’s Debt Relief Program has started. The program, passed as part of the 2016 budget process, allows individuals and businesses who owe debt to the City to pay what they owe without additional costs.

“The Debt Relief Program was developed in response to requests from residents and aldermen to provide a path forward for those who may be struggling to get out from under the debt they owe to the City,” said Mayor Emanuel. “This program is also part and parcel of the City’s stronger scofflaw enforcement strategy that ensures those who owe debt to the City are paying their fair share.”

Under the Debt Relief Program, individuals or businesses with debt from unpaid parking violations, red light violations, violations imposed by the Department of Administrative Hearings or taxes incurred prior to 2012, will not be required to pay the penalties, interest and collection costs associated with the debt if they pay it off by December 31, 2015. Debt that is currently subject to a payment plan or legal activity is not eligible for the Debt Relief Program.

Along with providing debt relief, Mayor Emanuel and the City are developing additional options to make it easier for vehicle owners to pay their bills and avoid the debt from being created in the first place, options such as early payment plans (prior to penalty) and online payment plans.

The additional payment plan options and the Debt Relief Program are components of the Mayor's overall enforcement effort to ensure individuals and businesses pay their delinquent debt owed to the City. As part of scofflaw enforcement, the City is cracking down on business with unpaid and delinquent tickets, including pursuing a process for business license revocation for any business with significant amounts of outstanding debt.

For more information on the City’s Debt Relief Program visit: http://bit.ly/1kMA2OS

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