Category: Taxes

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

October 4, 2024October 4, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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

Orland Park mayor defends school district 230 chief who scolded colleague for raising TIF concerns

October 1, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Park mayor defends school district 230 chief who scolded colleague for raising TIF concerns Mayor Keith Pekau used his eNewsletter to defend School District 230 President Lynn Zeder who attacked a school colleague for raising concerns about the impact Pekau’s 3 new TIFs will have on schools and property taxes By Ray Hanania Mayor…

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

High School District 230’s President Lynn Zeder should resign from the board

September 27, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

High School District 230’s President Lynn Zeder should resign from the board Opinion: District 230 President Lynn Zeder was aware of plans involving three TIF districts that will siphon hundreds of millions in property taxes from the district’s three high schools, but she has been publicly silent about it. Instead of addressing these TIFs, which…

Blogger, Commentary, Education, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

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

September 20, 2024September 20, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

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…

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

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

September 6, 2024September 6, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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….

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

September 4, 2024April 28, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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

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

September 3, 2024September 3, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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

Press Release: Orland Park should suspend TIF district plans until they release delinquent financial audits

August 29, 2024August 31, 2024 Ray Hanania 4 Comments

Press Release: Orland Park should suspend TIF district plans until they release delinquent financial audits Orland Park, IL — Plans by Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau to create three TIF districts to address “blighted land developments” should be put on hold until after he releases two delinquent financial audits detailing the true nature of the…

Education, Government, News, news release, NewsWire, Orland Park, Politics, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Unincorporated Orland homeowners blast mayor’s annexation move

August 25, 2024April 27, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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

August 23, 2024August 23, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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

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

August 10, 2024August 10, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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

July 31, 2024July 31, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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

Orland Fire District audit shows financial strength and responsibility

July 26, 2024July 26, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Fire District audit shows financial strength and responsibility Orland Fire District, Il — The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) released its official annual audit on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 that reflects solid financial management and a “great respect” for the interests of taxpayers. Audits of government agencies are mandated by State Law in order…

Fire, Government, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

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

July 24, 2024July 24, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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

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

July 13, 2024July 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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….

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

Hanania syndicated columns on Pritzker, Biden, Trump and Roe V Wade

July 13, 2024July 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Hanania syndicated columns on Pritzker, Biden, Trump and Roe V Wade Syndicated columnist and award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter writes 5 columns each week addressing politics, slice of life and the Middle East Here is a summary of the most recent columns which you can subscribe to free of charge (or become a…

Commentary, elections, Features, Government, National, News, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Seniors, Taxes

Pressure mounts on Biden to step down, fueling support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and 3rd party candidates

July 13, 2024July 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pressure mounts on Biden to step down, fueling support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and 3rd party candidates Video Podcast: Former Congressman Bill Lipinski and columnist and award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter Ray Hanania discuss the pressures on President Biden to withdraw from the presidential election, and the impact it will have on…

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

July 10, 2024July 10, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

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