Category: Taxes

Police unfairly targeted in new Illinois laws and politics in Palos

April 1, 2021July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Opinion: Police unfairly targeted in new Illinois laws and politics in Palos Police are again being unfairly targeted in legislation that strips away their “qualified immunity” and exposes them to unjustified and frivolous lawsuits, while the legislators who are stripping them of protection continue to enjoy “qualified immunity” for their actions … and the Cook…

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

Pekau’s Salary in Orland Park: $600,000 in four years

March 27, 2021April 28, 2025 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Pekau’s Salary in Orland Park: $600,000 in four years Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau doesn’t want you to talk about the FACT that he has taken the $150,000 salary that he criticized every year since he was been elected. That’s $600,000 collected from Orland Park Taxpayers over the past four years. Instead, Pekau misleadingly claims…

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

Pappas commemorates Arab American Heritage Month

March 25, 2021March 25, 2021 Ray Hanania

Pappas commemorates Arab American Heritage Month By Ray Hanania Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas on Tuesday saluted two leaders of the Arab American community in conjunction with the celebration this April of Arab American Heritage Month. Pappas presented Certificates of Excellence to Samir Khalil, a businessman and founder of the Arab American Democratic Club, and…

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Building on Efforts to Protect Illinois Families, Gov. Pritzker Delivers Third Balanced Budget Proposal

February 17, 2021February 17, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Building on Efforts to Protect Illinois Families, Gov. Pritzker Delivers Third Balanced Budget Proposal Proposed Budget Does Not Increase Income Taxes, Closes Nearly $1 Billion in Corporate Tax Loopholes; Invests in Human Services to Strengthen Safety Net During Pandemic Crisis With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to hurt families across Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker proposed his…

Chicago, Cook County, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, NewsWire, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

First installment of tax bills due March 2, penalties waived thru May 3

February 2, 2021February 2, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

First installment of tax bills due March 2, penalties waived thru May 3 First installment property tax bills for tax year 2020 were mailed in the last week of January. According to Assessor Rich Kelly, the bills indicate that taxes are due on March 2, but taxpayers can pay them as late as May 3…

Government, News, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Orland Township Government Keeps Its Levy Flat

February 1, 2021February 1, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Township Government Keeps Its Levy Flat Orland Township Government Keeps Its Levy Flat, On Property Tax Bills Arriving by this Week. Additionally, to Help Promote Public Health by Encouraging Vulnerable Citizens to Stay at Home, Multiple Property Tax Exemptions Will Automatically Renew Recognizing the continuing financial stress facing many local taxpayers, the Orland Township Board…

Cook County, Government, NewsWire, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Pappas: Which properties have the biggest property tax increases since 2000? If you didn’t vote … Don’t complain

January 5, 2021January 5, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas: Which properties have the biggest property tax increases since 2000? If you didn’t vote … Don’t complain Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas today released a study which reveals the properties in Chicago and the suburbs with the largest property tax increases since 2000, dramatic examples of how the tax burden has soared on homeowners…

Chicago, Cook County, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Pappas: Areas high in delinquent property taxes lose residents, pay larger tax increases and have the most violent crime

December 10, 2020December 10, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas: Areas high in delinquent property taxes lose residents, pay larger tax increases and have the most violent crime Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas today released a study which shows that the areas in Cook County where delinquent properties are a severe problem are losing population, experiencing larger property tax increases, and confronting high levels…

Cook County, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Democrat Tammy Wendt sworn in to Board of Review

December 7, 2020December 7, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Democrat Tammy Wendt sworn in to Board of Review Tammy Wendt was sworn in as the new commissioner for the Cook County Board of Review for the First (1st) District during ceremonies on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020. Wendt was sworn-in to her new office by Cook County Judge Pat Coghlan. Here are Tammy’s remarks following…

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

Pappas: Get early look at next year’s property taxes

December 3, 2020December 3, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas: Get early look at next year’s property taxes Pappas: Get early look at next year’s property taxes; Download your bill at cookcountytreasurer.com Next year’s First Installment Cook County property tax bills are available at cookcountytreasurer.com so that property owners can make payments before the end of this year or plan their finances for 2021,…

Chicago, Cook County, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Technology

Massive rise in COVID-19 infections slam Orland Park

December 1, 2020December 2, 2020 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Massive rise in COVID-19 infections slam Orland Park Coronavirus hits alarming level with a surge of nearly 1,400 more infections in Orland Park just in the past month, as incompetent Mayor Keith Pekau continues to pander with his “Politics over People” party, hosting a $500-per-person fundraiser so he can turn his do-nothing four years in…

Blogger, Commentary, elections, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Study shows Cicero has lowest tax increases in Chicagoland

November 26, 2020November 26, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Study shows Cicero has lowest tax increases in Chicagoland A recent study released by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas shows that the Town of Cicero had the lowest tax increases of more than 35 suburban Chicagoland communities during the past 20 years. The Pappas study shows the average increase is 95.4 percent with many communities…

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Patlak and Wendt exchange courteous words in example of positive election transition

November 24, 2020November 24, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Patlak and Wendt exchange courteous words in example of positive election transition After a grueling election fight for the First District of the Cook County Board of Review, the Cook County Board of Elections issued a certification officially declaring Democrat Tammy Wendt as the winner over Republican incumbent Dan Patlak. The two contenders issued statements…

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As mail-in votes are counted, Tammy Wendt surges to apparent victory over Dan Patlak in election upset

November 13, 2020November 17, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

As mail-in votes are counted, Tammy Wendt surges to apparent victory over Dan Patlak in election upset As mail-in ballots continue to be counted, the Cook County contest for Board of Review inn the First District race between Dan Patlak & Tammy Wendt flipped with Wendt now soundly leading by 3,695 votes. Patlak was declared…

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Orland Park experiences worst COVID-19 infection spike in 8 months

November 2, 2020November 2, 2020 Ray Hanania 4 Comments

Orland Park experiences worst COVID-19 infection spike in 8 months As Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau fiddles, Orland Park burns as Coronavirus infections experienced its largest ever increase during the past 28 days, of 696 new cases, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Pekau has resisted issuing a mandate requiring all residents to…

Cook County, coronavirus, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, Orland Park, Politics, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Pappas study shows Cook County Property taxes doubled in past two decades

October 29, 2020October 29, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas study shows Cook County Property taxes doubled in past two decades Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas discusses how property taxes have doubled over the past 20 years in Cook County with the largest increases in Suburban Chicagoland, increasing more than 116 percent during the past two decades. Pappas discusses the study her office completed…

Chicago, Cook County, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Nothing Fair about the so-called “Fair Tax”

October 18, 2020July 13, 2021 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Nothing Fair about the so-called “Fair Tax” When you have to label something as “Fair,” it usually means that it is lacking that quality. There is nothing “fair” about the Fair Tax. Have you ever known government to end a “temporary” tax, or return tax money that has been collected for special time-length projects like…

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8,500 Cook County homeowners are owed automatic refund for tax overpayments

September 8, 2020September 8, 2020 Ray Hanania No Comments

8,500 Cook County homeowners are owed automatic refund for tax overpayments Pappas: Are you one of the 8,500 homeowners getting an automatic refund? Find out at CookCountyTreasurer.com More than 8,500 homeowners who overpaid their First Installment taxes are set to receive $12.8 million in refunds without filing an application, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said…

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