Maria Pappas has served as Cook County Treasurer since 1998. She has led the Treasurer’s Office through a series of transformative technological, automation and modernization advancements. 

Treasurer Pappas oversees the second-largest property tax collection and distribution system in the United States. She is responsible for printing and mailing bills to owners of more than 1.8 million parcels, collecting more than $17 billion in taxes and distributing those funds to more than 2,200 local units of government.

During her tenure she has reduced staff from 250 employees in 1998 to 59 employees in 2023. She introduced online payments, established payment facilities at numerous banks across Cook County, and developed a system to identify and refund overpayments to taxpayers without extensive paperwork.

Pappas has been a champion of transparency, introducing the Debt Disclosure Ordinance to provide taxpayers with detailed information about local government spending. She has conducted outreach to ethnic homeowners, returning millions in refunds through her Black and Latino Houses Matter programs. 

Pappas has helped countries like China and Greece with property tax systems and automation. She has spoken at international forums, including the Organization of American States and the Cities Summit of the Americas.

Pappas was born in 1949 and hails from Warwood, West Virginia. She has earned degrees in sociology from West Liberty State College, guidance and counseling from West Virginia University; a doctorate in counseling and psychology from Loyola University of Chicago; and a law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law. 

Her public service began with a grant from the Illinois Attorney General's Office, where she worked at Chicago's Altgeld Gardens public housing project. Her work in youth drug prevention led her to prisons and jails and eventually to law school. She served as a Cook County Commissioner from 1990 to 1998.

Government

Cook County Treasurer's Office

Cook County Treasurer's Office's headquarters in Chicago, IL, United States

This department focuses on designing, writing, and maintaining software applications and systems.

Software Development

The Information Technology team at the Cook County Treasurer's Office is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the technological infrastructure that supports the second-largest property tax collection and distribution system in the United States. This includes managing the database systems for tax records, implementing and overseeing online payment solutions, ensuring network security and stability, and modernizing technological processes to improve efficiency and transparency. The team also supports various initiatives such as the Debt Disclosure Ordinance and the different taxpayer outreach programs initiated by Treasurer Maria Pappas.

Information Technology

The Administration and Finance Team at the Cook County Treasurer's Office is responsible for overseeing the office's financial operations, human resources, and strategic planning. This includes managing the county's property tax collection and distribution system, ensuring accurate and timely billing, and facilitating online and in-bank payment methods. The team ensures compliance with financial regulations, manages cash flow, and supports transparency initiatives like the Debt Disclosure Ordinance. They also handle inter-departmental coordination and assist with technological advancements to improve efficiency and taxpayer services.

Administration and Finance Team

The Leadership Team at the Cook County Treasurer's Office, led by Maria Pappas, is responsible for the strategic oversight, financial management, technological advancement, legal compliance, and operational efficiency of the office. Comprising key roles such as the Chief Of Staff/Chief Deputy Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer, and Chief Legal Counsel, the team ensures the effective collection and distribution of over $17 billion in property taxes, drives technological innovation, fosters transparency, and upholds legal standards.

Leadership Team

The Legal Team at the Cook County Treasurer's Office is responsible for providing legal advice and support to ensure compliance with county, state, and federal laws related to property tax collection and distribution. This includes managing legal disputes, drafting and reviewing contracts, handling litigation, interpreting legislation, and advising on policy decisions. The team plays an essential role in safeguarding the legal interests of the Treasurer's Office, facilitating transparency initiatives, and ensuring smooth operational processes.

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Information Technology

Administration and Finance Team

Leadership Team

Legal Team