Brace Yourself Department: Grim Christmas for Cook County Homeowners

Horrible news. The Cook County tax bills won't be out until Thanksgiving and will be due December 22, just 3 days before Christmas. In a recession-battered economy which has beaten local household budgets to a pulp, it will be impossible to plan sensibly for Christmas spending. No one knows what kind of tax increase is planned for this year, and paying the property taxes has to take priority over the Christmas stocking. Dare we even go shopping? This late timing also will give Cook County homeowners who don't pay their taxes through an escrow only three months to plan for their first half tax bills in 2011.

Of course, this has absolutely nothing to due with the election in November, we are assured. Thank goodness. When Cook County officials (all Democrats, just in case you're wondering) know their party is in trouble for that election, no suspicion--no, none at all--could possibly be raised for their motives or timing.