Tag: Cook County Treasurer

Money from your property taxes pays for essential local services

February 4, 2024February 4, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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,…

Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, News, Taxes

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

January 21, 2024January 21, 2024 Ray Hanania 3 Comments

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…

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

December 16, 2023December 16, 2023 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

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…

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

December 3, 2023December 3, 2023 Guest Columnist 1 Comment

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…

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

November 28, 2023November 28, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

Chicago, Cook County, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Black Men United cohost veterans event at Hines VA Hospital

November 7, 2023November 7, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Black Men United cohost veterans event at Hines VA Hospital Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas will help military veterans and their families search for savings on their property tax bills during a Veterans’ Appreciation event Wednesday, Nov. 8, at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital with Black Men United. Treasurer’s…

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

Pappas: School districts hiked property taxes on Cook County homes, businesses

October 30, 2023October 30, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas: School districts hiked property taxes on Cook County homes, businesses An analysis of Cook County’s 1.8 million property tax bills for 2022 shows that school districts are chiefly responsible for hefty tax bills that are due Dec. 1, according to Treasurer Maria Pappas. The median residential tax bill in the north and northwest…

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

Qualifying disabled veterans are fully exempt from paying property taxes

October 28, 2023October 28, 2023 News Editor No Comments

Qualifying disabled veterans are fully exempt from paying property taxes By Maria Pappas Veterans deserve our thanks, especially those whose abilities were diminished as a result of active military service. Illinois law recognizes that. Qualifying veterans whose disabilities are certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are eligible for tax breaks. Veterans classified as…

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

Pappas: Second Installment 2022 tax bills are now online, two weeks before they are mailed

October 21, 2023October 24, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas: Second Installment 2022 tax bills are now online, two weeks before they are mailed Cook County property owners who don’t want to wait until their property tax bills arrive in the mail may now view, download and pay their Second Installment bill for the 2022 Tax Year online at cookcountytreasurer.com, Treasurer Maria Pappas announced…

Cook County, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Pappas: Property tax bills will soon be due. Are you getting all your exemptions?

October 15, 2023October 24, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas: Property tax bills will soon be due. Are you getting all your exemptions? Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas If you own a home or other real estate in Cook County, chances are you will have a property tax bill due soon. Property taxes in Illinois are billed…

Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Pappas’ office helps Chicago couple get $2,447 property tax refund

September 15, 2023September 15, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas’ office helps Chicago couple get $2,447 property tax refund Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas Many Cook County homeowners are losing thousands of dollars in savings because they are not taking advantage of property tax breaks. My office recently helped an older couple on Chicago’s North Side receive…

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

Pappas, Jordan join Fresh Farms, Bloom ‘N Toss and Black Men United for pre-Mother’s Day giveaway of flowers and chocolates on Michigan Avenue

May 12, 2023May 12, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas, Jordan join Fresh Farms, Bloom ‘N Toss and Black Men United for pre-Mother’s Day giveaway of flowers and chocolates on Michigan Avenue Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and media personality “Candid” Candace Jordan will take part in a pre-Mother’s Day giveaway on Chicago’s North Michigan Avenue Saturday, May 13. The flowers and chocolate giveaway…

Cook County, Events, Government, News, women

Remembering Pat Michalski who dedicated her life to diversity and fairness

December 30, 2022December 30, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Remembering Pat Michalski who dedicated her life to diversity and fairness Very few people have done more to strengthen diversity in Illinois than Patricia Michalski, who passed away on December 17, 2022. Pat was an activist dedicated to bringing people of all races, ethnicities and nationalities in the Chicagoland area together. And she did it…

Blogger, Chicago, Civil Rights, Commentary, Culture, Government, Illinois Legislature, Obituary, Opinion, Racism, rayhanania, Religion, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland, women

Cook County Treasurer analysis shows dramatic tax increases in Latino wards

December 2, 2022December 2, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cook County Treasurer analysis shows dramatic tax increases in Latino wards Cook County property tax analysis: Latino wards see dramatic increases; new state law, reassessments and controversial TIF funds result in higher taxes for most property owners As property tax bills land in Cook County mailboxes over the coming days, businesses and homeowners will likely…

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

Maria Pappas: Your Cook County property tax bill is online now

November 15, 2022November 15, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Maria Pappas: Your Cook County property tax bill is online now Cook County’s Second Installment property tax bills have been posted at cookcountytreasurer.com, where bills can be viewed, downloaded and paid with no added surcharge. “My office has finally received the figures to print 1.8 million property tax bills,” said Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas….

Cook County, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas changes 2022 Scavenger Sale to benefit bidders and communities

January 12, 2022January 12, 2022 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas changes 2022 Scavenger Sale to benefit bidders and communities Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ 2022 Scavenger Sale will look different as the Treasurer’s Office takes steps to help small developers, homeowners and investors rebuild neighborhoods and create generational wealth. Under Illinois law, the Treasurer’s Office is required to conduct a…

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

American Arab Chamber honors Tabares, Lopez and Pappas with its prestigious annual “Action” Award

December 11, 2021December 12, 2021 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

American Arab Chamber honors Tabares, Lopez and Pappas with its prestigious annual “Action” Award The American Arab Chamber of Commerce gave its prestigious annual “Action” Award to three elected officials who went out of their way to defend the rights of Arabs and Muslims in Chicago and Cook County. More than 200 Arab and Muslim community…

Chicago, Cook County, Events, Features, Government, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas posts First Installment property tax bills on website

December 7, 2021December 7, 2021 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas posts First Installment property tax bills on website Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has posted the First Installment Tax Year 2021 bills on cookcountytreasurer.com. The First Installment, which is 55 percent of the previous year’s total tax, is due March 1, 2022. By providing an early look at the bills,…

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