CHICAGO, July 10,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cook
County taxpayers should read their property tax bills to
better understand record-high increases that have walloped
homeowners, especially in the south and southwest suburbs,
Treasurer Maria Pappas said
today.
Cook
County taxpayers should read their tax bills to better
understand record increases, Treasurer Maria Pappas said.
Tax bills are posted online at
cookcountytreasurer.com, where property owners may view,
download and pay bills. The Treasurer's Office mailed bills
July 2 to owners of nearly 1.8
million parcels in Cook County.
The due date is Thursday, Aug. 1.
Newly redesigned bills show taxpayers, "Where Your Money Goes."
Bills show the amount of taxes owed for 2023 and how much the bill
changed from 2022. The typical bill displays about a dozen taxing
districts and shows how much is paid to each taxing body.
"The first thing homeowners should do about their property taxes
is to read their tax bill," Pappas said. "In order to fix the
broken property tax system, you must first understand where the
money goes."
Pappas explained that this year's record-high 19.9% increase in
median homeowner tax bills in the south and southwest suburbs were
the result of two factors: increases in the amount of taxes
requested by schools, municipalities and other taxing agencies;
and, more significantly, a shift in tax burden from businesses to
homeowners that resulted from the reassessment process that
determines how much each property owner pays.
The online version of "Where Your Money Goes" allows taxpayers
to click links for each taxing body. Visitors who enter an address
or Property Index Number can search websites for school districts
and other taxing bodies to research levies, budgets and other
financial information. The website
cookcountytreasurer.com also offers links to browse all
financial reports filed by units of government.
Taxpayers can use the information from "Where Your Money Goes"
to contact representatives of taxing bodies with questions and to
learn when budget hearings and other public meetings are held.
Taxpayers can research elections for their local taxing bodies and
have a say in choosing their representatives at the next
election.
To help homeowners burdened by high property tax bills, Pappas
led a push to slash the interest rate charged for late taxes by
half, from 18% to 9% per year. The reformed state law now means
property owners who do not pay their taxes in full by the due date
are charged interest of 0.75% per month instead of 1.5%. Those
unable to pay in full may make partial payments that can reduce the
amount of interest charged.
There is no fee to pay bills at
cookcountytreasurer.com from bank accounts. There is a 2.1%
processing fee for those who pay with a credit card. To view,
download and pay tax bills online, select the blue box labeled "Pay
Online for Free." Enter an address and Property Index Number (PIN),
and a photo of the property should appear.
Contact: Maria Pappas
312.603.6202
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content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/read-your-bill-treasurer-pappas-tells-homeowners-hit-by-record-property-tax-hikes-to-see-where-your-money-goes-302192620.html
SOURCE Cook County Treasurer Maria
Pappas