Monday, November 05, 2007
Chicago Tribune
by Tribune staff report

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS - Delays in sending out tax bills have cost Arlington Heights-based Township High School District 214 nearly $1 million in interest, officials say.

"That's almost a third of the interest we anticipate for the year," said school board member Bill Dussling.

The Cook County tax bills usually go out in August but were held up this year after wrangling over extending a tax cap to 7 percent. The holdup meant delayed collections for taxing bodies, District 214 officials said.
"Last year we started receiving money in August," said Deborah Parenti, associate superintendent for finance. "So far this year, none."

Parenti said she has written to ask Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas to release the district's share of any collected taxes by the end of November.

The tax bills have been sent to the Postal Service and residents should begin receiving them shortly, Pappas said Friday.