Northbrook resident named to Clerk post

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Cook County Clerk David Orr with Director of Real Estate & Tax Services Barbara Pressl

Updated: February 27, 2012 8:03AM

Cook County Clerk David Orr recently named Barbara Pressl of Northbrook as the new Director of Real Estate and Tax Services.

“Barbara has a long, successful history with our tax department and extensive knowledge of property tax issues,” Orr said. “I’m confident in her skills and believe this will be a seamless transition.”

Pressl, a 26-year veteran of the Clerk’s office and other county departments, will succeed Fredda Berman, who is retiring after 20 exemplary years as Director of Real Estate and Tax Services.

Pressl has served as the Deputy Director of the division since 2000.

“I am grateful for the opportunity and look forward to serving Cook County’s taxpayers in this new capacity,” Pressl said. “My goals are to continue excellent customer service and find more ways to provide taxpayers with helpful information.”

Pressl’s service in the Clerk’s office dates to 1982. Just two years after being hired, Pressl was named Director of Tax Extension, a role she held until 1991 when she became the Director of Operations for the Cook County Treasurer’s office.

In 2000, Pressl returned to the Clerk’s office as the Deputy Director of Real Estate and Tax Services. At that time, she spearheaded the effort to consolidate delinquent tax records.

Pressl earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Indiana State University. She has done graduate studies in public administration at Northern Illinois University.

A lifelong resident of Cook County, Pressl was raised in Skokie and graduated from Niles North High School. Pressl lives in Northbrook with her 12-year-old son.

The Clerk’s Real Estate & Tax Services division handles the redemption process for taxpayers whose taxes have been sold, maintains the county’s property tax maps, and calculates the tax rates for more than 1,500 taxing districts in Chicago and suburban Cook County.