Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas announced today that her office will be open specifically to attorneys making property-tax payments for their clients on Saturday, October 26.

"Providing this special service is good for the attorneys and good for our office," Pappas said. "The attorneys can get fast service, and our office can focus on processing their bills alone."

Cook County's second-installment bills for Tax Year 2001 are due by November 1, 2002. Pappas' office, Room 112, Cook County Building, 118 N. Clark Street, Chicago, will be open to tax-paying attorneys from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 26. Coffee will be served.

Payments will be accepted in two ways:

One payment coupon per check, with the Property Index Number (PIN) and the name of the property owner written on the check. The coupon should be on top of the check. No partial payment will be accepted.

Batches of up to 300 coupons paid for with one check. The coupons should be on top of the check, with a calculator printout that balances with the check on top of the batch. There is no limit on the number of such batches.

"Attorneys will receive a receipt that will serve in court proceedings as proof of payment for every PIN on which they pay," Pappas said.

Pappas urged attorneys to ensure that their numbers balance because her office will not be able to process unbalanced payments. She added that payments by attorneys usually are correct.