Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said today homeowners should pay property taxes at one of 120 LaSalle Banks, over the internet or by mail.

Pappas announced that 1.7 million second-installment property-tax bills for the tax year 2001 are being printed and mailed, and property owners have until November 1 to make payment.

Payment can be made the following ways:

• Mail check or money order to: Cook County Collector, P.O. Box 802448, Chicago, IL, 60680-2448. Never mail cash.
• Go to any of 120-plus LaSalle Bank branches across Chicagoland.
• From October 1 through November 1, make internet payments from banking and checking accounts via Pappas' web site at www.cookcountytreasurer.com. This electronic channel, through Amalgamated Bank, has a $1 fee and is the only one the Office accepts.
• Pay in person at the Treasurer's Office at 118 N. Clark Street, Room 112, Chicago.

To avoid mortgage-company errors, Pappas said that when payment is made by mail or at LaSalle, taxpayers should write the following on checks or money orders:

• Property Index Number (PIN) that identifies the home or other property.
• Telephone number and fax number (if available).
• E-mail address (if available).

If payment is to be made by a mortgage company from an escrow account, the taxpayer should ask the company if it will in fact make payment, then check a week later to see that payment was made by going to www.cookcountytreasurer.com, opening the "Payment Status" icon and entering the PIN, Pappas said.

"A mortgage-company error can cause the homeowner huge problems and even compromise ownership of the property," Pappas said.