Cook County officials plan to waive late penalties on property taxes due in the summer for two months, potentially easing the strain on homeowners and commercial property owners battered financially by the coronavirus pandemic, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Treasurer Maria Pappas said she and commissioners came to the idea of waiving late penalties after weighing the need for revenue for local governments with the financial strain inflicted on property owners.

"It's sort of like in the middle of nowhere, the building caught fire," Pappas said. "Therefore, the firetrucks are allowed to come in and douse everything with water."

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