Category: Taxes

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

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

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…

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

John Harrell hosts taxpayer review workshops for residents, urges extension of appeals period and tax hike limits

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on John Harrell hosts taxpayer review workshops for residents, urges extension of appeals period and tax hike limits
John Harrell hosts taxpayer review workshops for residents, urges extension of appeals period and tax hike limits

John Harrell hosts taxpayer review workshops for residents, urges extension of appeals period and tax hike limits 8th Legislative District candidate Harrell calls for extension of property tax payment deadline, new laws to make it more difficult for homeowners to lose their properties because of property tax debts, and to limit how much property taxes…

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Chicago, elections, Government, News, news release, NewsWire, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

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

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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 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…

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

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

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

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…

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Cook County, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Taxes

Village of Orland Park Announces New Utility Billing System

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Village of Orland Park Announces New Utility Billing System

Village of Orland Park Announces New Utility Billing System The Village of Orland Park is introducing a new utility billing system designed to enhance the customer experience and improve day-to-day operations. The new system will provide customers with more flexibility in managing their utility account and streamline the overall payment process. As part of this…

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Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, 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 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%,…

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

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

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

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…

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Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, News, Taxes

Rickey Hendon urges freeze on property taxes and new regulations to address unjustified dramatic hikes

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Rickey Hendon urges freeze on property taxes and new regulations to address unjustified dramatic hikes

Rickey Hendon urges freeze on property taxes and new regulations to address unjustified hikes Former Senate leader Hendon urges Freeze on Property taxes, and proposes reforms during a press conference held at the Cook County Building on Thursday, November 20, 2025, Watch video of press conference below Rickey Hendon, former Illinois State Senator and former…

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Government, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Taxes, Videos

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

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

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…

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

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 in recent years have enacted significant changes to property tax exemptions benefiting veterans, including a landmark provision for those who served during World War II. These changes underscore our commitment to support veterans in Cook County and…

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

Get information on the Illinois Energy Omnibus Bill in Springfield

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Get information on the Illinois Energy Omnibus Bill in Springfield

Get information on the Illinois Energy Omnibus Bill in Springfield Get information on the Illinois Energy Omnibus bill and how it could impact your electricity rates in Illinois. Consumers need to be aware of the full impact of the legislation. For more information, visit the website of the Illinois Industrial Energy Consumers, which provides updated…

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Business, Energy, Environment, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, NewsWire, Taxes

Your Mortgage Company May Pay Your Taxes — But You Still Need to Watch

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Your Mortgage Company May Pay Your Taxes — But You Still Need to Watch

Your Mortgage Company May Pay Your Taxes — But You Still Need to Watch 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 mortgage, your lender may collect money from you each month and put it in…

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

The 5 Most Common Mistakes Homeowners Make with Property Taxes

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The 5 Most Common Mistakes Homeowners Make with Property Taxes

The 5 Most Common Mistakes Homeowners Make with Property Taxes By Maria Pappas Every year, my office hears from thousands of homeowners who run into problems with their property taxes due to common errors. Here are the five most common mistakes homeowners make and what you can do to avoid them. Paying Twice for the…

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Cook County, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Taxes

The Pappas Portal: Free News You Can Use

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The Pappas Portal: Free News You Can Use

The Pappas Portal: Free News You Can Use By Maria Pappas When it comes to property taxes in Cook County, a lot of people feel like they’re staring at a 1,000-piece puzzle—and someone hid the box with the picture on the cover. That’s why I want to tell you about a tool that helps you…

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Cook County, Maria Pappas, 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 your…

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

Don’t Pay for What You Can Get for Free: How to Claim Your Property Tax Refunds 

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Don’t Pay for What You Can Get for Free: How to Claim Your Property Tax Refunds 

Don’t Pay for What You Can Get for Free: How to Claim Your Property Tax Refunds  By Maria Pappas Every year, many Cook County homeowners are bombarded with letters, emails and phone calls from vendors offering to help secure property tax refunds — for a fee. But here’s the truth: You don’t need to pay…

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

Village of Orland Park Receives Clean Audit Opinion for Fiscal Year 2024

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Village of Orland Park Receives Clean Audit Opinion for Fiscal Year 2024

Village of Orland Park Receives Clean Audit Opinion for Fiscal Year 2024 Audit Completed on Time for First Time in Three Years By Ray Hanania After former Mayor Keith Pekau attempted to politicize the Village of Orland Park’s financial spending and his growing debt by intentionally withholding the filing of financial audits in 2022 and…

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Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Taxes