Category: Cook County

Property Tax Exemptions: How Homeowners and Seniors Can Save on Taxes

February 27, 2026February 27, 2026 News Editor No Comments

Property Tax Exemptions: How Homeowners and Seniors Can Save on Taxes Column: Your Property Taxes with the Cook County Treasurer Property taxes can be a financial burden but exemptions can reduce those costs by offering significant savings to property owners. There are three exemptions that do the most good for the most people. They are…

Cook County, News

Important News: Chicago Tribune endorses Patricia Joan “Trish” Murphy in 6th Cook County District

February 22, 2026February 22, 2026 News Editor No Comments

Important News: Chicago Tribune endorses Patricia Joan “Trish” Murphy in 6th Cook County District The Chicago Tribune has endorsed Patricia Joan “Trish” Murphy for the important Cook County Board 6th District election in the Democratic Primary on March 17, 2026. The seat is held by Donna Miller who is retiring from that position and is…

Cook County, elections, Important News, News

Pappas says pay property tax bills online now at cookcountytreasurer.com

February 20, 2026February 20, 2026 News Editor No Comments

Pappas says pay property tax bills online now at cookcountytreasurer.com Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas will mail nearly 1.8 million Tax Year 2025 First Installment property tax bills by March 2. Payments are due Wednesday, April 1, 2026. But if you want the peace of mind that comes from paying early, you can make payments…

Cook County, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Taxes

Preckwinkle and Pappas announce on-time First Installment tax bills, ensuring prompt distributions to taxing agencies

February 17, 2026February 17, 2026 News Editor No Comments

Preckwinkle and Pappas announce on-time First Installment tax bills, ensuring prompt distributions to taxing agencies Property owners face an important tax deadline in the coming weeks, and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Treasurer Maria Pappas are encouraging residents to plan ahead and take advantage of available payment tools. First Installment property tax bills…

Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, News, news release, Taxes

Treasurer’s website offers easy way to update property tax bill name and address information

February 13, 2026February 13, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Treasurer’s website offers easy way to update property tax bill name and address information Your Property Taxes with The Cook County Treasurer offers insight on services available at the Treasurer’s Office to homeowners You may not look forward to receiving your property tax bill, but it’s crucial that you get it. Not getting it can…

Chicago, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

How a Treasurer’s Office Study Closed a Loophole that Allowed Wealthy Investors to Siphon Hundreds of Millions of Dollars from Low-Income areas

January 30, 2026January 30, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

How a Treasurer’s Office Study Closed a Loophole that Allowed Wealthy Investors to Siphon Hundreds of Millions of Dollars from Low-Income areas For years, wealthy investors exploited loopholes in the property tax system to funnel money from local schools and governments into their collective wallets. But the loopholes were closed after a Cook County Treasurer’s…

Cook County, Maria Pappas, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Cicero Man Charged in Fatal Stabbing

January 21, 2026January 21, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cicero Man Charged in Fatal Stabbing A 54-year-old Cicero man is facing a murder charge in connection with the fatal stabbing of another man, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today. Just before 4 a.m. on Jan. 19, Cook County Sheriff’s Police responded to the 5000 block of South Luna Avenue in unincorporated Stickney…

Cook County, Crime, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Want to go paperless? eBilling lets you receive tax bills via email

January 17, 2026January 17, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Want to go paperless? eBilling lets you receive tax bills via email Cook County property owners can sign up for eBilling for themselves or family members to receive property tax bills through their computers or smart phones instead of the mail. The eBilling option offers the convenience of allowing spouses to each receive copies of…

Cook County, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Taxes

Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Hosts Open House at District Office

January 15, 2026January 15, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Hosts Open House at District Office On Tuesday, January 13th, Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar hosted an open house at his district office. The event attracted over 50 attendees from throughout the district and connected residents to government, health, and community services. Joining Commissioner Aguilar and his office were staff from the…

Cook County, Government, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Candidate Harrell joins regional Pastors to demand “freeze and rollback” of Cook County Property Taxes

January 12, 2026January 12, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Candidate Harrell joins regional Pastors to demand “freeze and rollback” of Cook County Property Taxes Chicago, IL – John Harrell, a candidate for the 8th Illinois House District, joined a coalition of Pastors, mostly from the region’s south and West Sides and representing minority and low-income communities to demand that Cook County officials and the Illinois…

Cook County, elections, John Harrell, News, NewsWire, Politics, Taxes

Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Hosts Sixth Annual Three Kings Celebration

January 7, 2026January 7, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Hosts Sixth Annual Three Kings Celebration The Three Kings Day event hosted by Abuilar remains one of the largest celebrations of the important Mexican holiday in Chicagoland, drawing support from important leaders and elected officials, including Lyons Mayor Chris Getty and Pastor John Harrell, co-founder of Black Men United…

Cook County, elections, Entertainment, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Illinois lets senior citizens defer up to $7,500 a year in property taxes

January 2, 2026January 2, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Illinois lets senior citizens defer up to $7,500 a year in property taxes By Maria Pappas Illinois offers senior citizens a property tax relief program that works like a loan. The Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program allows qualifying seniors to defer or postpone the payment of up to $7,500 a year in property…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Opinion, Seniors

Cook County Pastors from the south and west sides and suburbs urge property tax reform

December 16, 2025December 18, 2025 News Editor No Comments

Cook County Pastors from the south and west sides and suburbs urge property tax reform Chicago, IL — A coalition of African American Pastors representing more than 100 churches on Chicago’s South and West sides and suburbs called for immediate reforms in the property tax system, warning recent tax hikes will force thousands to lose…

Cook County, Economy, elections, Government, News, NewsWire, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Financial planning tool offers free online help to budget late tax payments

December 11, 2025December 11, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Financial planning tool offers free online help to budget late tax payments By Maria Pappas Property owners unable to pay their tax bills in full by the Dec. 15 due date should look at our free online financial planning tool that helps you make smaller, more manageable payments over time. It’s called the Payment Plan…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Taxes

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas column explores options to help pay property taxes by Dec. 15

December 5, 2025December 5, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas column explores options to help pay property taxes by Dec. 15 If you can’t pay your taxes by the December 15 due date, there’s a 13-month payment plan available! Register now at CookCountyTreasurer.com. Second-Installment Cook County property taxes are due Dec. 15, for nearly 1.8 million Cook County properties. That…

Cook County, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Taxes

Homeowners shocked by tax hikes should read bills to find out where their money goes

November 30, 2025November 30, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Homeowners shocked by tax hikes should read bills to find out where their money goes By Maria Pappas Record-high increases in property tax bills have angered many Cook County property owners. My office has released an analysis of the nearly 1.8 million tax bills. It showed that in Chicago the median tax bill jumped 16.7%,…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Taxes

Treasurer Pappas welcomes visitors to ‘Christmas Trees from Around the World’ exhibit

November 27, 2025November 28, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Treasurer Pappas welcomes visitors to ‘Christmas Trees from Around the World’ exhibit more countries and cultures represented than the Museum of Science and Industry’s Display For the 22nd year, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas is celebrating the ethnic holiday traditions of nearly 100 different nationalities in the free “Christmas Trees from Around the World” exhibit…

Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, News, Taxes

Loop’s declining value fuels record 16.7% jump in median property tax bill for Chicago homeowners

November 17, 2025November 17, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Loop’s declining value fuels record 16.7% jump in median property tax bill for Chicago homeowners Homeowners in Black communities hit with biggest percentage increases A dramatic decline in the value of commercial property in Chicago’s Loop, the city’s longtime economic engine, fueled a record property tax increase on homes across the city, according to an…

Chicago, Cook County, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes