Automation Working in Treasurer’s Office!

Maria Pappas, Treasurer
November 2, 2015 Budget Presentation

The budget for the Treasurer’s Office is $12.2 million of which $11.1 million comes from fees and $1.1 million from the budget the Board approves. Employee count is 89 FTE (down from 250 in 1998). Ms. Pappas credits all the automation efforts in her office for reducing the cost of running the
Treasurer’s office. Among other cost reduction procedures are the following methods of tax payment:

• Chase Bank (and other local banks) used by taxpayers to pay property taxes
• locked box payments
• wire payments
• credit card payments

Only about 20,000 residents come in to the office to pay their property taxes. This saves a lot of employee time.

The Treasurer’s website provides extensive information for taxpayers and others who need information from this office. Brochures and FAQs are offered in many languages besides English. Tax sale time has been decreased because of electronic use by buyers and at the office. A “STOP”
measure prevents taxpayers from double-paying. There is increased transparency for municipal governments regarding TIF data and debt load.

The office plans to be almost paperless within a few years, with other agencies in Cook County following the technology gains/methods in this office.

Because of increased efficiencies and some accounting measures (which this observer did not understand), the Treasurer’s Office will return $5-8 million to the county for 2015 only. Ms. Pappas suggested the Board form a committee to pursue digitizing the warrant books which are the only
accurate source of property tax information. This could then be sold to law firms, mortgage companies, title companies, etc.

Praise was heaped on this office by many commissioners. One concern by them and Ms. Pappas was the State of Illinois pushing the tax delinquency date up for those who didn’t pay their taxes on time. Many felt this was unfair to homeowners who have difficulty paying.

Karin Hribar, Observer