Because of greater notification efforts and other precautions, the number of Cook County properties whose 1999 delinquent taxes are eligible to be sold has been reduced by about 75,000, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said today.

At last years Annual Tax Sale, the number of properties on which 1998 taxes were owed was almost 130,000. This years list is under 55,000 because of measures undertaken by Pappa's office, including greater efforts to find and notify property owners that they owe taxes for 1999.

"We have 75,000 fewer property owners on the list in great part because we made extra efforts to update names and addresses and sent two extra delinquent notices to owners," Pappas said. "Now, many owners have paid the 1999 taxes they may not have realized they owed, thus avoiding the trouble and greater expense of buying the taxes back and the risk of losing their property."

"I urge every property owner who owes 1999 property taxes to pay them, to avoid having those taxes sold," Pappas said, emphasizing that the taxes must be paid before the tax sale begins.

The 1999 Annual Tax Sale begins Monday (April 9, 2001), in Room B, lower level, 69 West Washington St., Chicago. At the month-long sale, state law allows tax buyers to purchase unpaid 1999 taxes. The property owners then may buy the taxes back - redeem them - but at higher cost. If the owners do not redeem the taxes, the tax buyers may eventually take possession of the property.

Pappas said some property owners pay their general taxes but miss paying a back tax, arrearage tax or special assessment that becomes delinquent and eligible for sale.

Along with greater notification efforts, other precautions ordered by Pappas to keep property owners off the delinquent list:

• Made lists of delinquent property owners available to Chicago's 50 aldermen and Cook County's 17 commissioners, as well as township assessors, so they also can notify residents of wards and districts who owe 1999 back taxes.
• Established a Third Party Notification program to notify selected relatives and friends of senior citizens who may need assistance with financial matters.
• Created a Task Force of ministers who helped remove churches and other houses of worship from the lists, and notified parishioners and other individuals about their back taxes.
• Raised the minimum threshold of eligibility for sale of taxes from $10 to $100.

The Tax Sale is conducted daily, by township, and is to continue until May 4. The schedule is:

April 9 - Barrington, Berwyn and Bloom townships.
April 10 - Bloom, Bremen.
April 11 - Bremen, Calumet, Cicero, Elk Grove, Evanston.
April 12 - Hanover, Lemont, Leyden, Lyons, Maine, New Trier, Niles.
April 13 - Northfield, Norwood Park, Oak Park, Orland, Palatine, Palos, Proviso.
April 16 - Rich, River Forest, Riverside, Schaumburg, Stickney, Thornton.
April 17, 18 - Thornton.
April 19 - Wheeling, Worth, Hyde Park.
April 20, 23 - Hyde Park.
April 24 - Jefferson, Lake.
April 25, 26, 27, 30 - Lake.
May 1 - Lake View, North Chicago, Rogers Park, South Chicago.
May 2 - South Chicago, West Chicago.
May 3, 4 - West Chicago.

The list of Cook County properties owing 1999 taxes is available on paper or zip disks from the Legal Department, Room 222, County Building, 118 N. Clark St., Chicago. The fees are $250 for the general list, $100 for the special assessment list, and $100 (one time) for weekly updates.

Tax buyers may register in Room 222. Complete registration applications, including collateral, must be submitted. Registration must be complete 10 days prior to participation. Thus, only tax buyers who completed registration before March 29 may participate in the first day of the sale (April 9). For further information, contact Gina Quesada, 312-603-6205.