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CHICAGO, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas announced her 2006 re-election campaign Sunday, promising to build on her record of delivering more services at less cost to taxpayers. Pappas revolutionized the Treasurers Office in her first two terms through automation and the introduction of new services on the Internet. Managing the second largest property-tax system in the United States, Pappas reduced the Treasurers Office staff from 250 to 146 and cut her offices budget. Since taking office in 1998, Pappas delivered on her promises to streamline and simplify services. Pappas "Top 10" achievements include: 1. Taxpayer convenience in offering the ability to pay at 278 Chase Banks, including 69 Dominicks Finer Foods (3.6 million payments), plus online payments (208,000) and 213 community bank locations 2. A website with nearly 6.4 million visits that allows taxpayers to make payments year-round, check tax balances, search for refunds, verify exemptions and find tax-system explanations in 20 languages 3. An automated phone system that has handled more than 1.2 million calls that lets taxpayers check tax balances and search for refunds in English, Spanish and Polish 4. An e-mail system that has answered more than 34,000 inquiries with the work of 70 employees throughout the office cross-trained in customer service 5. Budgets that have been marked by returning $4.2 million in unspent funds 6. Reduced positions by 41 percent, while hiring specialized professional employees in technology, auditing and finance 7. Internet systems that have collected 3.1 million payments totaling $6.7 billion from mortgage companies, provided detailed distribution reports to more than 2,000 taxing agencies and provided an on-line and transparent system for banks to bid on Cook County investments 8. An outreach system to inform taxpayers about the property-tax system at more than 1,100 events annually 9. Creation and execution of a comprehensive 5-year automation plan through an in-house Information Technology staff that is developing 36 modules, including imaging and work-flow systems -- something an outside vendor projected would cost $13 million through the private sector 10. Taxpayer brochures in 20 languages to effectively reach Cook Countys diverse ethnic property owners. On the Internet alone, 17,000 have been downloaded this year "I consider public service a sacred trust," Pappas said. "I am proud of my record, and I am asking voters to let me continue developing ways to make Cook Countys systems the most efficient and effective and to reduce the cost of government." Prior to being elected Treasurer, Pappas, 56, served eight years as a Cook County Commissioner, where she worked to reduce government spending. Pappas also sponsored ground-breaking legislation to: -- roll back taxes -- enact the first ethics and human rights ordinances -- require competitive bidding on bond ordinances Pappas is an attorney who holds a doctorate in psychology and counseling. Pappas has taught around the globe. Today, Pappas regularly participates in international think tanks that focus on trends such as globalization and immigration. Paid for by the Committee to Elect Maria Pappas. Copies of the committees reports are available for purchase from the Illinois State Board of Elections in Springfield, Illinois.