"Snowbirds" Can Pay Property Taxes Early 

County Treasurer Maria Pappas said today that "snowbirds," homeowners leaving for warmer climates over the winter, can prepay property taxes that will be due early next year.

The deadline to prepay is December 31, 2005.

Pappas' office mailed 2,705 bills to owners who had registered for the program to pay early on first-installment property taxes for tax year 2005, which will be due March 1, 2006. This ensures that the bills can be paid when owners cannot receive them at their winter address.

"Cook County 'snowbirds' can enjoy the sunshine without thinking about the next bill," Pappas said, adding that some 1.6 million bills will be mailed to other Cook County property owners at the end of January.

Persons who want to participate in the prepayment program should send a written request to:

Attn: Winter Traveler
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas
118 N. Clark St., Room 112
Chicago, IL 60602

Prepayments must be submitted by mail with a postmark no later than Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005, or submitted in person at the Treasurer's downtown Chicago office by the close of business on Friday, Dec. 30, 2005.