Annual Cook County tax sale is Aug. 5-8

The office of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has urged some 73,000 property owners to pay delinquent bills to avoid their unpaid taxes from being offered for auction at the annual tax sale in August. Pappas’ warning involves unpaid bills for tax year 2011 (originally payable in 2012). To pay up before the tax sale, pay at cookcountytreasurer.com before midnight, July 26; or at any Chase Bank by the close of business, Aug. 1, with a certified check, cashier’s check or money order. Personal checks not accepted. This year’s tax sale is a four-day auction, Aug. 5-8. “For most of us, our home is our biggest investment,” Pappas said. “Don’t risk losing it for an unpaid bill.”