Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
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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Statement from John Harrell Candidate for the 8th Illinois House District in the March 17, 2026 Democratic Primary election Voters in the 8th District face many challenges and issues that need to be addressed and that are at stake in this election. One of the most important is curtailing rising property taxes. They need to…
Pappas says pay property tax bills online now at cookcountytreasurer.com Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas will mail nearly 1.8 million Tax Year 2025 First Installment property tax bills by March 2. Payments are due Wednesday, April 1, 2026. But if you want the peace of mind that comes from paying early, you can make payments…
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Preckwinkle and Pappas announce on-time First Installment tax bills, ensuring prompt distributions to taxing agencies Property owners face an important tax deadline in the coming weeks, and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Treasurer Maria Pappas are encouraging residents to plan ahead and take advantage of available payment tools. First Installment property tax bills…
Treasurer’s website offers easy way to update property tax bill name and address information Your Property Taxes with The Cook County Treasurer offers insight on services available at the Treasurer’s Office to homeowners You may not look forward to receiving your property tax bill, but it’s crucial that you get it. Not getting it can…
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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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…
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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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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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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We Can Help You Understand Your Property Taxes—In Nearly Any Language By Maria Pappas Understanding Cook County’s property tax system can be a challenge even for people born and raised here. Words like “assessments,” “exemptions,” and “multipliers” aren’t part of everyday conversation. For many homeowners, deciphering a tax bill feels like solving a puzzle. Now…
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How Technology Changed the Cook County Treasurer’s Office By Maria Pappas, Cook County Treasurer When I became Cook County Treasurer in 1998, I walked into an office stuck in the past. Boxes containing $30,000,000 of uncashed checks lined the floor, collecting dust rather than earning interest. Just four working computers and six typewriters served a…
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Understanding Cook County Property Taxes: A Guide for Homeowners Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas Navigating the complexities of the property tax system in Cook County can be daunting for homeowners. My hope is this column makes it less intimidating by breaking down a complex process into simple concepts….
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Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas The levy: It’s not a dam, but it is a word you should know! By Maria Pappas 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…
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When it comes to voting on property tax referendums, the few decide for the many There are two types of referendums — binding and advisory. The government is legally required to act on binding referendum results. Advisory referendums aren’t legally binding and are often used to measure public opinion before making a governmental decision. That…
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Why We Pay Property Taxes In Arrears? Column: Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas One of the most common questions I get in my office, is, “Why do we collect taxes for the previous year?” Here’s the backstory. Cook County’s property tax system has changed dramatically since The Treasurer’s…
Property Tax Pointers from the County Treasurer: 10 Must-Know Tips for Homeowners By Maria Pappas As Cook County Treasurer, I’ve learned the property tax system can be confusing and intimidating. Whether you’re a new or longtime homeowner, or a senior citizen, I understand your frustrations. To help, I’ve created 10 tips to better understand your…
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Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Urges Seniors to Take Advantage of Property Tax Deferral Program Amid growing concerns that increases in property tax bills are pushing senior citizens to leave their homes, Cook County Treasurer María Pappas reminded senior homeowners today of a state program that allows them to defer paying their property taxes. The…