Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Chicago matched record year-end high $3.2 billion in Property Taxes in TIF accounts on January 1, 2026 By Tom Tresser A review of the 2025 annual reports of Chicago’s 108 active Tax Increment Financing Districts (TIFs) by researchers with the TIF Illumination Project has revealed some startling facts about local government finance. The TIF Illumination…
Your Mortgage Company May Pay Your Taxes but Keep an Eye Peeled on it 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 home mortgage, your lender may collect money from you each month and put it…
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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 Property Index Number or PIN; What You Need to Know By Maria Pappas If you own property in Cook County, there’s one number you should always know: your PIN. That’s short for Property Index Number—a 14-digit code assigned to every piece of real estate in the county. It’s tied to the legal description of…
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The levy: It’s not a dam, but it is a word you should know! Since I first stepped into my office 27 years ago, one question has repeatedly come up: “Why do my property taxes always go up?” It’s a valid concern. At the heart of the answer is something called the tax levy. Simply…
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Treasurer Maria Pappas to Unveil Indonesian Language Property Tax Guide Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas is inviting the public to the unveiling of her office’s newest multilingual property tax brochure. The tax guide has been translated into Indonesian and will be showcased during a special ceremony at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 11. The event will…
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Property Tax Pointers: 10 Must-Know Tips for Homeowners By Maria Pappas As Cook County Treasurer, I’ve learned that the property tax system can be confusing and intimidating. To help, I’ve created 10 tips to better understand your property taxes. Familiarize yourself with the Cook County Treasurer’s Office Website Visit cookcountytreasurer.com, your one-stop shop for property…
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The 5 Most Common Mistakes Homeowners Make with Property Taxes Column: Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas 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…
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