Category: Taxes

Homeowner exemptions slash tax bills. So why do so many fail to apply? 

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Homeowner exemptions slash tax bills. So why do so many fail to apply? 
Homeowner exemptions slash tax bills. So why do so many fail to apply? 

Homeowner exemptions slash tax bills. So why do so many fail to apply?  By Maria Pappas Homeowners can reduce their property tax bills by hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year by taking advantage of the Homeowner Exemption. Exemptions are tax breaks. To qualify for the Homeowner Exemption, first-time applicants must have occupied the…

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Baby Boomers, Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Taxes

Chicago aldermen embrace selfish politics over public need

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Chicago aldermen embrace selfish politics over public need
Chicago aldermen embrace selfish politics over public need

Chicago aldermen embrace selfish politics over public need Nine Chicago aldermen are hoping to undermine Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson using emotional distractions and are failing to address real issues like cracking down on increasing crime. They are demanding Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) should be stripped of power because he was at a rally where an American flag…

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Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Crime, Culture, Government, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Taxes

Top 10 tips that help homeowners better understand their property taxes 

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Top 10 tips that help homeowners better understand their property taxes 
Top 10 tips that help homeowners better understand their property taxes 

Top 10 tips that help homeowners better understand their property taxes  By Maria Pappas Homeowners have taught me a few things about property taxes while I have served as Cook County Treasurer. One lesson is that the property tax system is complicated. Many people unfamiliar with the process have told me that they wished there…

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

Pekau builds re-election campaign on anti-Muslim bias

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Pekau builds re-election campaign on anti-Muslim bias

Pekau builds re-election campaign on anti-Muslim bias By Ray Hanania (Originally published in the Southwest News Newspaper Group newpapers): True to his colors, Orland Park’s beleaguered Mayor Keith Pekau is turning to racism and community division to base his re-election campaign. In a recent letter to “supporters,” Pekau launched his campaign using the racist slogan,…

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

Pappas: When it comes to voting on referendums, the few decide for the many

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Pappas: When it comes to voting on referendums, the few decide for the many
Pappas: When it comes to voting on referendums, the few decide for the many

Pappas: When it comes to voting on referendums, the few decide for the many By Maria Pappas If you’ve ever voted, you’ve probably seen one.  It’s a referendum, usually asking you to approve some numbers. A referendum is a proposed law on a social or economic issue on which the people can vote, even as…

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

Pappas: How a few voters control the fate of more than $1 billion in new spending

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Pappas: How a few voters control the fate of more than $1 billion in new spending

Pappas: How a few voters control the fate of more than $1 billion in new spending Statement from Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas This election season, voters throughout Cook County will decide whether to repair aging schools, improve a lake front beach, shut down a fire department and give local politicians new powers to tax….

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

Word of mouth helps homeowner get $6,805 refund for missed exemptions 

Posted on By Guest Columnist 2 Comments on Word of mouth helps homeowner get $6,805 refund for missed exemptions 
Word of mouth helps homeowner get $6,805 refund for missed exemptions 

Word of mouth helps homeowner get $6,805 refund for missed exemptions  By Maria Pappas Word of mouth helped chef Gabriel Miranda of Hickory Hills obtain a $6,805 refund for missed homeowner exemptions. Miranda said he and his wife deposited the money into their savings account. Their monthly bills include private high school tuition for the…

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

Hanania’s columns: Dune review, Pekau’s disrepect in Orland, #AbandonBiden and Best Middle East Bakeries

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Hanania’s columns: Dune review, Pekau’s disrepect in Orland, #AbandonBiden and Best Middle East Bakeries
Hanania’s columns: Dune review, Pekau’s disrepect in Orland, #AbandonBiden and Best Middle East Bakeries

Hanania’s columns: Dune review, Pekau’s disrepect in Orland, #AbandonBiden and Best Middle East Bakeries By Ray Hanania My new syndicated column at www.Hanania.com or www.RayHanania.com has touched on a lot of topics this past week. I write four to six columns every week now, driven by what provokes my mind and I share them through…

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Baby Boomers, Blogger, Books & Films, Commentary, Culture, Government, Health, Humor, immigrant, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Veterans

Pappas urges property owners to pay First Installment tax bills by Friday, March 1 due date

Posted on By Ray Hanania 2 Comments on Pappas urges property owners to pay First Installment tax bills by Friday, March 1 due date
Pappas urges property owners to pay First Installment tax bills by Friday, March 1 due date

Pappas urges property owners to pay First Installment tax bills by Friday, March 1 due date First Installment Tax Year 2023 property taxes are due Friday, March 1, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas reminded taxpayers today. The Treasurer’s Office posted nearly 1.8 million bills online at cookcountytreasurer.com in early December and mailed printed bills to…

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

Pay your property tax bill online to avoid risk of check-washing fraud 

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Pay your property tax bill online to avoid risk of check-washing fraud 
Pay your property tax bill online to avoid risk of check-washing fraud 

Pay your property tax bill online to avoid risk of check-washing fraud  By Maria Pappas As the March 1 due date approaches for Cook County property owners to pay their First Installment 2023 tax bills, I encourage people to pay online. It’s more convenient — and much safer. People who still pay their bills by…

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

Erika Maldonado to lead Spanish-language outreach for Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Erika Maldonado to lead Spanish-language outreach for Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas
Erika Maldonado to lead Spanish-language outreach for Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas

Erika Maldonado to lead Spanish-language outreach for Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Erika Maldonado will lead Spanish-language outreach to taxpayers for the Office of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. Maldonado has strong connections throughout the Chicago-area Latino community. She is a journalist with 30 years of experience who has co-anchored evening newscasts for Univision WGBO-TV…

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Chicago, Cook County, Culture, Government, Maria Pappas, News, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Money from your property taxes pays for essential local services

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Money from your property taxes pays for essential local services
Money from your property taxes pays for essential local services

Money from your property taxes pays for essential local services Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas My office recently mailed property tax bills to owners of nearly 1.8 million parcels in Cook County. First Installment tax bills are due March 1. Local governments, such as school districts and municipalities,…

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Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, News, Taxes

Illinois program lets senior citizens defer up to $7,500 per year in property taxes

Posted on By Ray Hanania 3 Comments on Illinois program lets senior citizens defer up to $7,500 per year in property taxes
Illinois program lets senior citizens defer up to $7,500 per year in property taxes

Illinois program lets senior citizens defer up to $7,500 per year in property taxes Your Property Taxes column with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas Illinois offers senior citizens a property tax relief program that works like a loan. The Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral program allows qualifying seniors to defer up…

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Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Slashed interest rate on late property tax payments could prevent home loss

Posted on By Ray Hanania 2 Comments on Slashed interest rate on late property tax payments could prevent home loss
Slashed interest rate on late property tax payments could prevent home loss

Slashed interest rate on late property tax payments could prevent home loss By Maria Pappas As my office prepares for the Annual Tax Sale, we’re doing all we can to help people avoid losing their homes because of unpaid property taxes. One of the biggest legislative reforms to the Illinois property tax system in decades…

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

New tool shows where property tax dollars go and informs fed up taxpayers

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New tool shows where property tax dollars go and informs fed up taxpayers

New tool shows where property tax dollars go and informs fed up taxpayers By Maria Pappas When I saw how recent property tax bills shocked and angered many Cook County homeowners I knew people needed to understand why their taxes are so high. I began hearing from frustrated homeowners before tax bills landed in early…

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

Treasurer Maria Pappas unveils online tool detailing property tax spending as Dec. 1 tax due date looms

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Treasurer Maria Pappas unveils online tool detailing property tax spending as Dec. 1 tax due date looms
Treasurer Maria Pappas unveils online tool detailing property tax spending as Dec. 1 tax due date looms

Treasurer Maria Pappas unveils online tool detailing property tax spending as Dec. 1 tax due date looms Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas today unveiled an innovative online tool that for the first time calculates year-to-year changes for each property tax bill and shows where tax dollars go. The search tool at cookcountytreasurer.com is available as…

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Chicago, Cook County, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Citizens Against Government Waste Names Sen. Dick Durbin November 2023 Porker of the Month

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Citizens Against Government Waste Names Sen. Dick Durbin November 2023 Porker of the Month
Citizens Against Government Waste Names Sen. Dick Durbin November 2023 Porker of the Month

Citizens Against Government Waste Names Sen. Dick Durbin November 2023 Porker of the Month Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) named on Thursday Nov. 16, 2023 U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) its November 2023 Porker of the Month for trying to take away everyone’s credit card benefits. In 2010, Sen. Durbin led the effort to pass…

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Economy, Federal, Government, National, News, NewsWire, Politics, Taxes

Vote against any member of Congress who doesn’t support this Social Security protection bill

Posted on By Ray Hanania 2 Comments on Vote against any member of Congress who doesn’t support this Social Security protection bill
Vote against any member of Congress who doesn’t support this Social Security protection bill

Vote against any member of Congress who doesn’t support this Social Security protection bill By Ray Hanania US Rep. Thomas Massie (Republican Kentucky) continues to reintroduce a bill that would prevent the double taxation of Social Security payments to seniors and retirees, but not enough members of Congress will support it. In fact, opposition to…

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Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Opinion, Seniors, Taxes