Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
PRESS RELEASE: Town Hall meeting in Orland Park Wednesday to address 3 NEW TIFS and impact on taxpayers, homeowners Town Hall meeting will explain and identify issues with Orland Park’s current Triangle TIF and 3 New TIFs being considered by Village of Orland Park Tom Tresser, a recognized authority on Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts…
Tresser to lead Town Hall on damage Orland Park’s 3 New TIFs will have on taxpayers A Town Hall meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 beginning at 6:30 PM to help homeowners and taxpayers in Orland Park understand the negative impact on local governments and schools that the three NEW TIFs that…
Read More “Tresser to lead Town Hall on damage Orland Park’s 3 New TIFs will have on taxpayers” »
Orland Park withholds Finance and TIF audits and brings State censure State Comptroller Susana Mendoza slaps the wrist of Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau as TIFs, Taxes, and Audits continue to plague the Southwest suburban village, but is it enough? By Ray Hanania State Comptroller Susana Mendoza suspended the Village of Orland Park from the…
Read More “Orland Park withholds Finance and TIF audits and brings State censure” »
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….
Read More “Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities” »
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…
Sale-in-error study shows how tax buyers transfer wealth from low-income areas By Maria Pappas My office redesigned this year’s property tax bills to clearly show where your tax dollars go. On the front of every bill, you can see how much of your hard-earned money goes to each taxing body What is less visible, however,…
Read More “Sale-in-error study shows how tax buyers transfer wealth from low-income areas” »
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…
Read More “Orland Fire District audit shows financial strength and responsibility” »
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…
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….
Read More “Paying tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person ” »
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…
Read More “Read your property tax bill Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas urges homeowners” »
Treasurer Maria Pappas analysis shows record-high property tax increases for south suburban homeowners Homeowners in many south and southwest suburbs will have to pay a lot more in property taxes as the median tax bill jumped a record 19.9% in the region, according to an analysis released today by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. The…
Treasurer’s website offers easy way to update property tax bill address information By Maria Pappas My website, cookcountytreasurer.com, offers people an easy way to correct, change or update name and address information about where property tax bills are mailed. The best option is to electronically request the change online. You may request a change in…
Read More “Treasurer’s website offers easy way to update property tax bill address information” »
Senior citizen exemptions help give homeowners a break on big tax bills By Maria Pappas Senior citizens can get a break on their property tax bills, but they need to apply when seeking savings for the first time. The popular tax break is known as the Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption. For homeowners already receiving the…
Read More “Senior citizen exemptions help give homeowners a break on big tax bills ” »
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…
Read More “Top 10 tips that help homeowners better understand their property taxes ” »
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….
Read More “Pappas: How a few voters control the fate of more than $1 billion in new spending” »
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…
Read More “Word of mouth helps homeowner get $6,805 refund for missed exemptions ” »
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…
Read More “Pay your property tax bill online to avoid risk of check-washing fraud ” »
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…
Read More “Illinois program lets senior citizens defer up to $7,500 per year in property taxes” »