Category: Cook County

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

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

Want to go paperless? eBilling lets you receive Cook County tax bills via email By Maria Pappas Cook County property owners can sign up for eBilling for themselves or family members to receive property tax bills via email instead of print copies by snail mail. The eBilling option offers the convenience of allowing spouses to…

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

Apply for a refund yourself and keep the money you would have paid to a third party

Posted on By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Apply for a refund yourself and keep the money you would have paid to a third party
Apply for a refund yourself and keep the money you would have paid to a third party

Apply for a refund yourself and keep the money you would have paid to a third party By Maria Pappas Some Cook County homeowners are bombarded with ads and solicitations from vendors offering help to obtain refunds on their property taxes. My office has about $93 million available in potential refunds for property tax overpayments…

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

Suspect arrested in connection with aggravated vehicular hijacking, carjacking, in Orland Park

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Suspect arrested in connection with aggravated vehicular hijacking, carjacking, in Orland Park

Suspect arrested in connection with aggravated vehicular hijacking, carjacking, in Orland Park On June 6, 2024, the Orland Park Police Department responded to a call of an aggravated vehicular hijacking at the Mercedes-Benz of Orland located at 8430 W. 159th St. The victim, a vehicle transporter, was preparing to load a black 2021 Mercedes-Benz onto…

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Cook County, Crime, News, Orland Park, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities
Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities

Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities By Maria Pappas State lawmakers have made it easier for people with disabilities to continue receiving property tax relief on an annual basis. Cook County homeowners who receive the Persons with Disabilities Exemption no longer have to reapply for the benefit every year….

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

Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers
Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers

Katsenes and Pekau are angry that I blew the whistle on their TIF district threat to taxpayers By Ray Hanania 09-04-24 The dangers of Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau’s secretive TIF district proposals I am not surprised Orland Park Trustee Cindy Katsenes, a local realtor with Village Realty, attacked me personally at the Village Board…

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Orland Fire District hosts Open House Saturday 11 AM to 2 PM with live emergency/life saving demonstrations

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Orland Fire District hosts Open House Saturday 11 AM to 2 PM with live emergency/life saving demonstrations
Orland Fire District hosts Open House Saturday 11 AM to 2 PM with live emergency/life saving demonstrations

Orland Fire District hosts Open House Saturday 11 AM to 2 PM with live emergency/life saving demonstrations The Orland Fire Protection District will host its annual Open House on Saturday, Sept. 7, from 11 AM until 2 PM featuring live demonstrations in fighting fires and engaging in life-saving rescues. The Open House is one of…

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Cook County, Fire, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Orland Township, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Union leader says former Cook County Commissioner Ed Moody lied to union, public and can’t be trusted

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Union leader says former Cook County Commissioner Ed Moody lied to union, public and can’t be trusted

Union leader says former Cook County Commissioner Ed Moody lied to union, public and can’t be trusted By Ray Hanania Former Cook County Commissioner Ed Moody had a bad habit of lying about how he would act on controversial policies from the prevailing wage to the one-cent per-ounce tax on soda pop. Published in The…

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, elections, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Unincorporated Orland homeowners blast mayor’s annexation move

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Unincorporated Orland homeowners blast mayor’s annexation move

Unincorporated Orland homeowners blast mayor’s annexation move Residents of Unincorporated Orland Township blast Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau for trying to grab their land and violate their rights. Residents say Mayor Pekau failed to properly notify them of his plans that began quietly in 2022 and continued to 2023 before residents could address the board…

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Blogger, Civil Rights, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Orland Township, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Videos

Illinois expands property tax breaks for veterans to include World War II vets

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Illinois expands property tax breaks for veterans to include World War II vets

Illinois expands property tax breaks for veterans to include World War II vets By Maria Pappas Illinois lawmakers have enacted significant changes to property tax exemptions benefiting veterans, including a landmark provision for those who served during World War II. These amendments, effective for the 2024 tax year, underscore our commitment to supporting our veteran…

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Veterans

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

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Financial planning tool offers free online help to budget late tax payments 
Financial planning tool offers free online help to budget late tax payments 

Financial planning tool offers free online help to budget late tax payments  By Maria Pappas Property owners who were unable to pay their tax bills in full by the Aug. 1 due date need not worry about losing their home – at least not right away. As a homeowner you have time to pay off…

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

Pappas: New Payment Plan Calculator helps homeowners pay late taxes in smaller increments to avoid ‘merciless’ Annual Tax Sale

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Pappas: New Payment Plan Calculator helps homeowners pay late taxes in smaller increments to avoid ‘merciless’ Annual Tax Sale

Pappas: New Payment Plan Calculator helps homeowners pay late taxes in smaller increments to avoid ‘merciless’ Annual Tax Sale Cook County property owners have a free financial planning tool that can help them pay off their past-due property tax bills and avoid the “merciless” Annual Tax Sale, Treasurer Maria Pappas said today. A Payment Plan…

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

Sale-in-error study shows how tax buyers transfer wealth from low-income areas

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Sale-in-error study shows how tax buyers transfer wealth from low-income areas

Sale-in-error study shows how tax buyers transfer wealth from low-income areas By Maria Pappas My office redesigned this year’s property tax bills to clearly show where your tax dollars go. On the front of every bill, you can see how much of your hard-earned money goes to each taxing body What is less visible, however,…

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland

Treasurer Maria Pappas sending $22 million in automatic refunds to more than 10,000 who overpaid property taxes

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Treasurer Maria Pappas sending $22 million in automatic refunds to more than 10,000 who overpaid property taxes

Treasurer Maria Pappas sending $22 million in automatic refunds to more than 10,000 who overpaid property taxes Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas is sending more than $22 million in automatic refunds to more than 10,000 property owners who overpaid their property taxes last year. “For many senior citizens and others, the value of tax breaks…

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

No injuries at home fire in unincorporated Orland Township

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No injuries at home fire in unincorporated Orland Township

No injuries at home fire in unincorporated Orland Township A homeowner at the 16500 Block of Lee Avenue in unincorporated Orland Township on Tuesday night, July 23, 2024, called 911 to report that he suspected his property may have been struck by lightning. He reported experiencing some electrical issues during the apparent strike to a…

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Cook County, Fire, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Township, Suburban Chicagoland

Paying tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person 

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Paying tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person 
Paying tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person 

Paying tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person  By Maria Pappas Property owners face an Aug. 1 due date to pay their Second Installment 2023 tax bills. Many homeowners authorize their mortgage company to pay their two annual property tax installments from an escrow account….

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

Read your property tax bill Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas urges homeowners

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Read your property tax bill Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas urges homeowners

Read your property tax bill Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas urges homeowners Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas urges homeowners hit by record property tax hikes to see ‘Where Your Money Goes’ by visiting her website which provides details and comparisons on where increases occurred Cook County taxpayers should read their property tax bills to better…

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

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

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

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 shocked and angered many Cook County property owners, especially in the south suburbs. Second Installment 2023 bills are online at cookcountytreasurer.com and arriving in mailboxes in early July. Bills are…

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

Treasurer Maria Pappas analysis shows record-high property tax increases for south suburban homeowners 

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Treasurer Maria Pappas analysis shows record-high property tax increases for south suburban homeowners 

Treasurer Maria Pappas analysis shows record-high property tax increases for south suburban homeowners  Homeowners in many south and southwest suburbs will have to pay a lot more in property taxes as the median tax bill jumped a record 19.9% in the region, according to an analysis released today by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. The…

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Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, News, Taxes