Category: Taxes

Podcast: Chicago Public School priority union wages and jobs over educating children

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Podcast: Chicago Public School priority union wages and jobs over educating children

Podcast: Chicago Public School priority union wages and jobs over educating children Political consultant and analyst Frank Calabrese and syndicated political columnist and former Chicago City Hall reporter Ray Hanania dig deep into the challenges facing the Chicago Public Schools, detailing how spending shows the priority is protecting union jobs over enhancing student education in…

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Chicago, Commentary, Education, Government, News, NewsWire, Politics, Taxes, youth

Homeowners hit again as Property Taxes increase $743.8 million in Cook County

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Homeowners hit again as Property Taxes increase $743.8 million in Cook County
Homeowners hit again as Property Taxes increase $743.8 million in Cook County

Homeowners hit again as Property Taxes increase $743.8 million in Cook County Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas analysis of property taxes shows that the homeowners have been hit with a $743.8 million increase in property taxes. The bills in mailboxes by Sept. 1, payment due Oct. 1 Cook County homeowners face a sharper increase in…

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

Second Installment 2025 tax bills are now online, two weeks before they’re mailed 

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Second Installment 2025 tax bills are now online, two weeks before they’re mailed 

Second Installment 2025 tax bills are now online, two weeks before they’re mailed  Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas announced today that property owners can now go to cookcountytreasurer.comto view, download and pay their Second Installment bill for the 2025 Tax Year. “If you own property in Cook County, you don’t have to wait until your…

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

Chicago Public School budget challenges analyzed in Political-Review podcast hosted by Hanania and Calabrese

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Chicago Public School budget challenges analyzed in Political-Review podcast hosted by Hanania and Calabrese

Chicago Public School budget challenges analyzed in Political-Review podcast hosted by Hanania and Calabrese Political Analyst and consultant Frank Calabrese and political columnist and former Chicago City Hall reporter Ray Hanania analyze the financial challenges facing the Chicago Public Schools in the second episode of their video podcast, Political-Review. The podcast, taped on August 10,…

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Chicago, Commentary, Education, Government, News, NewsWire, Podcast, Political-Review Podcast, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Union

Your Mortgage Company May Pay Your Taxes but Keep an Eye Peeled on it

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Your Mortgage Company May Pay Your Taxes but Keep an Eye Peeled on it

Your Mortgage Company May Pay Your Taxes but Keep an Eye Peeled on it By Maria Pappas, Cook County Treasurer Every year, my office mails more than 1.8 million tax bills to property owners across Cook County. If you have a home mortgage, your lender may collect money from you each month and put it…

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

ICC Approves Rare Second Public Hearing in Bolingbrook on Proposed Illinois American Water Rate Increase 

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ICC Approves Rare Second Public Hearing in Bolingbrook on Proposed Illinois American Water Rate Increase 

ICC Approves Rare Second Public Hearing in Bolingbrook on Proposed Illinois American Water Rate Increase  BOLINGBROOK, IL — August 14, 2026- After listening to the concerns of Bolingbrook residents at the Illinois Commerce Commission’s (ICC) July 14 public hearing, Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta asked the ICC to give the community another opportunity to be heard—this time…

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breaking news, Events, Government, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill

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What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill

What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill By Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Twice each year, my office mails out about 1.8 million tax bills to Cook County property owners. Most people glance only at the amount due.  But your bill is much more than a dollar figure. It’s a detailed breakdown of how…

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

Treasurer Maria Pappas: Homeowners Blast Property Tax Increases, but Skip Voting When Given a Chance to Reject Them

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Treasurer Maria Pappas: Homeowners Blast Property Tax Increases, but Skip Voting When Given a Chance to Reject Them

Treasurer Maria Pappas: Homeowners Blast Property Tax Increases, but Skip Voting When Given a Chance to Reject Them Just one in five Cook County voters bothered to vote in the last two elections when asked whether to approve property tax increases, allowing a distinct minority of voters to approve hundreds of millions of dollars in…

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Cook County, elections, Government, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Taxes

Cook County Board of Review Opens 2026 Property Tax Appeal Season on Monday, July 27

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Cook County Board of Review Opens 2026 Property Tax Appeal Season on Monday, July 27

Cook County Board of Review Opens 2026 Property Tax Appeal Season on Monday, July 27 Chicago, IL – Tuesday, July 21, 2026 – The Cook County Board of Review (CCBOR) will officially open the 2026 property tax appeal season on Monday, July 27, providing homeowners, businesses, and property owners across Cook County the opportunity to…

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Cook County, News, news release, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Your Property Index Number or PIN; What You Need to Know

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Your Property Index Number or PIN; What You Need to Know

Your Property Index Number or PIN; What You Need to Know By Maria Pappas If you own property in Cook County, there’s one number you should always know: your PIN. That’s short for Property Index Number—a 14-digit code assigned to every piece of real estate in the county. It’s tied to the legal description of…

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

Historic Property Tax Reforms Championed by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas signed into Law

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Historic Property Tax Reforms Championed by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas signed into Law

Historic Property Tax Reforms Championed by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas signed into Law Gov. JB Pritzker today signed into law landmark legislation pushed by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas to protect homeowners from losing their equity through property tax foreclosure. The new law marks the most significant overhaul of Illinois’ property tax foreclosure system…

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Cook County, Illinois Legislature, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Taxes

Bolingbrook Mayor, Legislators, Urge ICC to Reject Latest Illinois American Water Rate Hike

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Bolingbrook Mayor, Legislators, Urge ICC to Reject Latest Illinois American Water Rate Hike

Bolingbrook Mayor, Legislators, Urge ICC to Reject Latest Illinois American Water Rate Hike The ICC will host a public hearing in Bolingbrook to allow residents to speak out on the proposed massive rate hike by Illinois American Water. The meeting will be Tuesday, July 14, 2026 beginning at 6:30 PM at the Bolingbrook Community Center,…

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Bolingbrook, Government, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Support Muslim Radio show 820 AM fundraiser on July 29 in Bolingbrook

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Support Muslim Radio show 820 AM fundraiser on July 29 in Bolingbrook

Support Muslim Radio show 820 AM fundraiser on July 29 in Bolingbrook Radio talkshow host Mohammed Faheem is hosting a fundraiser dinner banquet on Wednesday evening, July 29, 2026 at the Bolingbrook Community Center, 201 Canterbury Lane to support the Lightning Strike Radio Show broadcast every Sunday morning at 8 AM in WCPT 820 AM…

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Civil Rights, Cook County, DuPage, elections, Events, Illinois Legislature, Kane County, Media Bias, News, NewsWire, Politics, rayhanania, Regional Midwest, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Will County

The levy: It’s not a dam, but it is a word you should know!

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The levy: It’s not a dam, but it is a word you should know!

The levy: It’s not a dam, but it is a word you should know! Since I first stepped into my office 27 years ago, one question has repeatedly come up: “Why do my property taxes always go up?” It’s a valid concern. At the heart of the answer is something called the tax levy. Simply…

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

Speaker Welch says keeping Bears Stadium in Illinois important

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Speaker Welch says keeping Bears Stadium in Illinois important

Speaker Welch says keeping Bears Stadium in Illinois important The Illinois General Assembly, House and Senate,  did not pass the key stadium bill before adjourning last week as public concern focused on proposals to pass tax breaks for the Bears organization which is extremely profitable and earned more than $600 million last year, according to…

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Government, Illinois Legislature, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Taxes

Illinois Takes a Major Step to Protect Homeowners

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Illinois Takes a Major Step to Protect Homeowners

Illinois Takes a Major Step to Protect Homeowners By Maria Pappas Owning a home has long been the foundation of financial security for American families.   It’s typically a person’s largest investment, one that represents hard work, sacrifice, and a chance to build generational wealth. That’s why the Illinois General Assembly’s passage of House Bill…

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

Important News: WLS TV spotlights achievements of Maria Pappas, returns millions to taxpayers

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Important News: WLS TV spotlights achievements of Maria Pappas, returns millions to taxpayers

Important News: WLS TV spotlights achievements of Maria Pappas, returns millions to taxpayers By Ray Hanania WLS TV recently did an extensive report that showed how Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas was refunding property tax overpayments and crediting failed deductions to tens of thousands of Cook County property tax owners. The return of the overpayments…

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breaking news, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Taxes