"The city feels that is a reasonable and legally justifiable amount to collect to help offset the cost of the investigation," said Bill McCaffrey, a spokesman for the city's Department of Law. "The next step is for Mr. Smollett to immediately make arrangements to reimburse the city and taxpayers for the cost."
"The City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department take seriously those who make false statements to the police, thereby diverting resources from other investigations and undermining the criminal justice system," reads the letter, which was obtained by The Post.
"Over two dozen detectives and police officers participated in the investigation, ultimately spending weeks investigating your false claims, including a substantial number of overtime hours," the stern missive continued. "Ultimately, the Chicago police investigation revealed that you knowingly filed a false police report and had in fact orchestrated your attack."
The city is giving Smollett one week to cough up a "money order or certified cashier's check" for $130,106.15 - or just over double the $65,000 he reportedly makes per episode of "Empire."
That figure represents the total amount of overtime the Windy City's police department had to pay out during the investigation.
"If the amount is not timely paid, the Department of Law may prosecute you for making a false statement to the city," the letter added.
A spokesman for the city's Department of Law said they were more than entitled to the sum.
Even though Smollett has maintained his innocence and on Tuesday had all charges against him abruptly dropped by prosecutors, McCaffrey said the city is well within their rights to collect, citing two local ordinances on collections and penalties for false statements.
"The city is not committing to any future legal actions at this time, however we have a lengthy and successful track record of recovering costs under this ordinance," said McCaffrey, who also cited as precedent the case of Dr. Gary Hunninghake.
The city in 2011 successfully recovered costs from Hunninghake after he falsely claimed that he had been stabbed during a mugging, McCaffrey said.
The $10,000 bail Smollett forfeited when charges against him were dropped will not count towards Smollett's tab, said McCaffrey.
Smollett's legal team previously responded to word of the impending collection by saying it was the city that owes Smollett an apology.
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