MONEE TOWNSHIP
NEWSLETTER
Monee
Township
Founded 1859
HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER’S REPORT
all and Winter months are a busy time of year for Monee Township:
OCTOBER: The Senior Halloween party will be held on October 27 at 11 a.m. at the Township office. You must be registered
to attend this free event.
NOVEMBER: NOVEMBER 8TH IS ELECTION DAY! Please Vote!
Personally I’m with Hillary but it is important for you to vote for your candidate of choice. As Americans, it is our right to vote that keeps our country
strong. Besides the presidential race, there are candidates to vote for
in the United States Senate and Congress plus many county and state
candidates as well as judges to be retained. It is important to do your duty
as a citizen and vote. Early voting started September 29 at the Will County Building in Joliet and runs through November 5th. In Monee Township, the Monee Village Hall does early voting but not until October 29th.
NOTE: A list of Monee Township Polling Places appears in this newsletter, so check before you go
as some sites have changed. GO VOTE!
In November, the Township fills Thanksgiving Food baskets for our less fortunate Township residents. Low-income residents can start signing up on November 1st. Look for the article in this
newsletter showing all details, dates, and items to donate.
DECEMBER: December 6th is the Township’s Senior Holiday Brunch. This year it will be held at
the Green Garden Country Club straight west on Monee-Manhattan Road. It will be in the main building, behind the white golf dome. Very easy to find. Monee Township Seniors age 65 and up must
pre-register for this free event. Seating is limited so please register ASAP at 534-6020. Note that
the time of this event is 9:00 a.m. Monee Township Seniors will enjoy a free breakfast style brunch
with great holiday entertainment. The Monee Township Senior Committee works very hard to make
sure this event is one of the highlights of the holiday season. Be sure to note the change in location!
In December, our biggest outreach program of the year is our Santa’s Sack program. The Township helps low-income families with food baskets and presents for children and adults. Last year we
gave 4 presents to each child 12 and under, and 1 present to everyone 13 and over. We were able
to do this thru the many generous donations from Township residents and the Toys for Tots program.
This is a huge program that requires help from Monee Township residents with donations of food,
personal products, toys, gifts and Money. A list of needed items to donate is in this newsletter. Details on signing up for the program and application deadlines are listed too. We also need volunteers
to help sort donated foods as each food item is checked for expiration dates before we put it in our
food baskets. Call Willa at 534-6020 to volunteer and Thank You!
Sadly our Youth program “Family night at GSU” is still on hold as GSU is suffering from not having a state budget in place. While a temporary, 6-month stop-gap budget did get passed, it does
not allow for community programs like ours. The Township’s Youth Committee has been exploring
alternatives but at this time, nothing is planned until after the holidays. If anything changes, we will
get the information out.
Enjoy the crisp Fall weather and be careful on Halloween to watch out for excited children trick or
treating who might forget to watch for traffic! I keep hearing that this will be a snowy winter so winterize vehicles and homes and please stay safe!
VOTE ON NOVEMBER 8TH!
Donna T. Dettbarn
Monee Township Supervisor
MONEE TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS
Donna T. Dettbarn, Supervisor
Bobby R. Lathan Sr., Clerk
TRUSTEES
Terri Boles
James W. Young
Deborah Burgess
Maurice Brown
Sandra Heard, Assessor
David Deutsche, Highway Commissioner
Calvin Lacefield, Collector
Location: 26121 Egyptian Trail, Monee, IL 60449
Telephone: 708-534-6020
Fax: 708-534-6080
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.moneetownship.com
Office hours:
Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed Noon to 1 p.m.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Location: 26121 Egyptian Trail, Monee, IL 60449
Telephone: 708-534-8166
Fax: 708-534-8162
Email: [email protected]
Office hours:
Monday–Friday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
MONEE TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR
Location: 46 Towncenter, University Park, IL 60484
Telephone: 708-534-6023
Fax: 708-534-6027
Web site: www.moneeassessor.com
Summer Hours: March 16­–August 31
Monday and Wednesday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m
Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Closed Friday
Closed for lunch 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Winter Hours: September 1 – March 15
Monday and Wednesday 9 a.m. – Noon
Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Closed Friday
Closed for lunch Noon – 1 p.m.
PRSRT STD
ECRWSS
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
EDDM Retail
Volume 25 - Published by Monee Township - Fall 2016
Serving Monee, University Park, the Will County portion of
Park Forest and unincorporated parcels in the Township
From the Supervisor
F
Local
Postal Customer
The Monee Township Highway Department’s
projects for 2016 included repaving the following
roads:
• Highland Avenue from Pauling Road to
Crete-Monee Road
• Harlem Avenue from Monee-Manhattan
Road to Dralle Road
• Willow Lane from Monee-Manhattan Road
to Harlem Avenue
We also patched various roads as needed and
mowed and trimmed the highway right of ways.
With winter just around the corner we will be
installing our snowplows and salt spreaders.
The department has contracted for 500 tons of
salt for the roads. Mailboxes should be checked
to see if they are up to the challenges of winter
weather. Most mailboxes are able to withstand
the rigors of normal snowplowing, but if your
mailbox poles are older they can be damaged by
snowplowing. As residents it is our responsibility
to maintain the mailboxes to withstand the snowy
weather. If anyone has a problem they think was
caused by the highway department’s snowplows,
please call us and we will come out and inspect
the damage as soon as possible after the roads
have been cleared.
Nicor Gas has installed pipeline markers
throughout Monee Township. Some of the markers are too close to the main road. I have been
in contact with a representative from Nicor and
have notified them that these markers are a hazard for both traffic and road maintenance. Nicor
said they are studying the problem to see what
they can do to correct it.
The weather forecast is predicting a cold and
snowy winter. Monee Township has three snowplows and a John Deere end loader for snow removal. This equipment is in excellent condition
and we will be out plowing and clearing roads
as soon as possible in a snowstorm. Please be
aware that we are limited by visibility concerns
during blizzard-like or “white out” conditions.
Please listen to weather and road conditions and
plan accordingly.
The Monee Highway Department wishes
all residents a safe winter and a happy holiday
season.
Respectfully submitted,
David E. Deutsche
Monee Township Highway Commissioner
LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Program helps income-eligible households
pay home energy bills whose income is at or
below 150 percent of the poverty level. This
help may be in the form of a one-time direct
payment to your utility company providing heat
and/or electric or a one-time direct payment
to you when your heat is included in the rent,
but only if rent exceeds 30 percent of your 30days total gross income.
Applications will start for the general public
November 1, 2016. The program will be available to all low-income households, including
households who are under imminent threat
of disconnection. Applications will be taken
through May 31, 2017 or until funding has
been exhausted, whichever comes first.
Documents needed to apply are: Proof of
Social Security Cards for all household members, proof of gross income from all household
members for past 30 days, a copy of your
current gas and/or electric bills, and if you do
not pay any utility bills, all printouts from other
agencies (food stamps, medical card, social
security, child support), a rent receipt or lease
is needed, along with landlord phone number.
Any member age 18 or older will need proof
they are or are not receiving benefits from
DHS (Public Aid) and IDES (Unemployment).
For more information call 1-815-722-0722.
Applications will be taken at the Monee
Township Office on the following days: November 4, 2016, December 2, 2016, January
6, 2017, February 3, 2017, March 3, 2017,
April 7, 2017 and May 5, 2017.
GENERAL ASSISTANCE FUND
GENERAL ASSISTANCE
General Assistance is available to persons
in Monee Township, under the following
guidelines:
• Those who are ineligible for categorical
assistance from the Illinois Department of
Human Services (Temporary Assistance to
Needy Families, TANF)
• Those who are ineligible for Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) from the Social Security Administration
Those who meet the other financial and
non-financial eligibility criteria
• Those who have lived at their address for
six (6) months or longer.
GA provides monthly financial assistance
to meet basic maintenance needs such as
food, shelter and utilities, and also provides
basic medical assistance.
A written application for GA must be filed
with the Township. The Township will determine whether you are eligible for GA within
30 calendar days of the date you file your
application.
Persons who receive GA must participate
in the Township’s Work Training and Job
Search Program.
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
Emergency Assistance is available to
persons:
• Who are eligible for GA
• Who are not receiving categorical assistance or SSI
• Who face a life-threatening situation due
to loss of income, medical emergency or
other unusual circumstances and
• Who meet the other financial and nonfinancial eligibility criteria
• Who have lived at their address for six (6)
months or longer.
You may receive EA up to a maximum
established by the Township only once in a
12-month period. EA is paid
directly to a provider (such as a landlord or
utility company) to alleviate the life-threatening situation.
A written application for EA must be filed
with the Township. The Township will determine whether you are eligible for GA within
30 calendar days of the date you file your
application. However, every effort will be
made by the Township to make a decision
within ten business days of receiving all
needed paperwork. For more information,
please contact the Township at 708-5346020.
FOOD PANTRY
The Township operates a Food Pantry to
provide food on a temporary basis to persons in immediate need. Foodstuffs will not
be provided to supplement food stamps or
on a long-term basis. Applicants are asked
to apply for food stamps before receiving
foodstuffs a second time. Donations are accepted year-round for the Food Pantry.
DIAL-A-RIDE
Monee Township has entered into an
agreement with Will County Will Ride,
through PACE Bus Company, for Transportation services. The bus will service senior
residents 60 years of age or over for medical
visits and disabled residents for medical
visits, vocational/educational training and
shopping one day a week for seniors and
disabled. Once you are registered, contact
PACE Dial-A-Ride, 1-800-244-4410 for reservations. There is a fee of $2.00 per ride
within the Township and $4.00 per ride outside the Township, which will be collected at
the time of service by PACE Bus. All riders
must NOW register and have a Dial-A-Ride
ID. Contact the Monee Township for more
information on registration, 1-708-534-6020.
No transportation services on major holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King,,
Jr. Day, Lincoln’s Birthday, President’s Day,
Good Friday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July,
Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day,
Thanksgiving, The day after Thanksgiving
and Christmas Day.
MEALS-ON-WHEELS
The Community Outreach Specialist for
Kankakee County Service, Inc. for Will
County is now over the Meals-On-Wheels
program for homebound seniors. There’s
also a Congregate Dining program held on
Mondays at 1 Thornwood Drive in University Park. For more information, please call
1-815-726-0094. Volunteers are greatly
needed.
HAUNTS AGAINST HUNGER
Haunts Against Hunger presents a 4-day
haunted house to help out the local food
pantries. Bring in your non-perishable food
items for a discount to enter into the haunted
house. The haunted house will be Friday,
October 28, 2016 through Monday, October
31, 2016 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Location, The
Village of Park Forest (Rec & Parks), 350
Victory Drive, Park Forest. Come out and
support your local food pantry!
BENEFITS ACCESS LICENSE PLATE
DISCOUNT AND/OR RIDE FREE TRANSIT
CARD
This is a program through the Department
of Aging, formerly known as the Circuit
Breaker Program, allows for the Secretary
of State’s office to provide for a reduced-fee
license plates for those who are 65 years of
age or persons with disabilities with specific
qualifications. You also must live in the state
of Illinois. Income Limit Eligibility for the License Plate
discount and/or Ride Free Transit Card:
Your total household income last year must
be less than:
• $27,610 for a 1 person household (yourself only); or
• $36,635 for a 2 person household (yourself and your spouse, or yourself and one
Qualified Additional Resident); or
• $45,657 for a 3 person household (yourself, your spouse and one Qualified Additional Resident, or yourself and two Qualified
Additional Residents).
For more information call toll-free: 1-800252-8980, or visit: www.cyberdriveillinois.
com/services. You may also contact the
Monee Township Office, 708-534-6020 or
the Monee Township Assessor’s Office, 708534-6023.
OTHER PROGRAMS
The other programs the Township provides
are Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter Basket
and School Supply. The Township accepts
donations for all programs. For more information about these programs, contact the
Township Office.
Page 2 Monee Township Newsletter Fall 2016
Youth Tutoring
Program
Monee Township
RECYCLE YOUR
ELECTRONICS
Old TVs, computers,
etc. can be recycled
at one of the
following locations:
A M Green Tek
3241 East End Avenue
South Chicago Heights
Takes all electronics 24/7 – all old TVs, computer
towers, laptops, monitors, cell phones, printers,
copiers and more.
Lockport Public Works
17112 Prime Blvd (East of I-355)
Lockport
Tuesday and Friday only, 6 a.m.-11 a.m.
Limit 2 televisions per vehicle
ID required to prove Will County area residency
Peotone Police Department
208 East Main Street
Peotone
1st and 3rd Wednesdays 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
Limit 2 TVs per vehicle
ID required to prove Will County area residency
New Lenox Township
1100 South Cedar Road
New Lenox
2nd and 4th Wednesdays 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
Limit 2 TVs per vehicle
ID required to prove Will County area residency
EDUCATION
CORNER
NEED TUTORING?
Check out these websites!
www.k12.gov
www.khanacademy.org
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/childrensproducts/tutoring-website-reviews/a16511/free-online-tutoring
FREE LEARNING
WEBSITES FOR KIDS
www.switcheroozoo.com
www.funbrain.com
www.kids.nationalgeographic.com
www.reading.ecb.org
www.pbskids.org
www.starfall.com
www.seussville.com
www.storylineonline.net
www.abcya.com
www.highlightskids.com
FREE EBOOKS
www.openEbooks.net
REMEMBER TO VOTE IN
THE GENERAL ELECTION
NOVEMBER 8, 2016
POLLING PLACES
FOR MONEE TOWNSHIP
Precinct 1
90 Town Center Drive
University Park
Precinct 2
90 Town Center Drive
University Park
Precinct 3
St. Paul’s United Church
5323 Margaret Street
Monee
Precinct 4
New Hope Community
Christian Church
4700 Court Street
Monee
Precinct 5
Thornwood House
1 Thornwood Drive
University Park
Precinct 6
First Baptist Church
450 University Parkway
University Park
Precinct 7
University Park Library
1100 Blackhawk Drive
University Park
Precinct 8
St. Paul’s United Church
5323 Margaret Street
Monee
THANKSGIVING BASKETS
Thanksgiving is traditionally a time for sharing our bounty and being thankful for our many blessings.
In keeping with this tradition, the Monee Township Pantry will be giving Thanksgiving Baskets again this
year. Donations of the following food are
needed:
• Cranberry Sauce
• Canned or Packaged Turkey Gravy
• Muffin Mixes
• Boxed Mashed Potatoes
• Canned Yams/Sweet Potatoes
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Boxed Stuffing
• Packaged/boxed desserts
These items may be dropped off at the
Monee Township, 26121 Egyptian Trail
Road in Monee through November 11,
2016. Money to purchase food may be
taken to the Township Hall or mailed to
P.O. Box 74, Monee Illinois 60449. Checks
should be made to Monee Township and
designated for the food pantry.
Monee Township residents in need of food
for the Thanksgiving holiday may sign up at the Monee Township Hall beginning November 1st. Applications for Santa’s Sack (Christmas Baskets) will also be available beginning November 1st. Applicants
are asked to bring:
• Photo ID showing current address
• Proof of residence (lease or deed)
• Proof of household income for October, 2016
• Social Security cards
• Birth certificates and other verification of the number of persons in the household.
Applications for Thanksgiving Baskets will be taken through November 18th, Monday through Friday,
9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Applications for Santa’s Sack will be taken through December 3rd.
Baskets will be picked up by appointment.
WORK 4 ILLINOIS
www.work.illinois.gov
Work 4 Illinois is the State of Illinois’ web-based electronic hiring system. This website provides information and resources for State
of Illinois government jobs, employment, and careers. This website will guide you through the state employment process for the
departments under the jurisdiction of the Governor. In addition to providing a comprehensive posting of current openings, it provides:
• Examination schedules
• Agency contact numbers
• A listing of all job titles
• Job salaries and duties
• Examining and career counseling services
• Various other informational resources
Page 3 Monee Township Newsletter Fall 2016
SANTA’S SACK COLLECTION
Rainy Day Picnic
Santa’s Sack provides Holiday food and gifts for
low-income families in Monee Township. Applications
for this program will be taken from 9 a.m. to noon
and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
from November 1, 2016 through December 2, 2016 at the
Monee Township Hall, 26121 Egyptian Trail, Monee.
Those applying are asked to bring picture ID showing
current address, written verification of the amount of ALL
household income for the last 30 days and birth certificates or Social Security cards for all household members.
Recipients will pick up their baskets and gifts by appointment.
Monee Township is again asking the community to help
with this program by making donations of new toys, games
and books (for young people through the age of 17 years),
hats and gloves in all sizes, non-perishable food, and cash
to purchase gifts and food, in order to provide help for residents who are experiencing financial difficulties. Unfortunately,
the Township is unable to accept used clothing or home canned
items.
Donations to Santa’s Sack may be dropped off at the Monee
Township Office, 26121 Egyptian Trail Road, Monee, from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
on Monday through Friday. Please have your donations in no later than December 9, 2016.
Volunteers are also needed to help sort food and gifts, pack boxes and wrap gifts. To volunteer
or obtain further information about the Santa’s Sack program, please contact Willa Simmons at
1-708-534-6020, or any Township official.
ATTENTION
JOB SEEKERS:
MONEE TOWNSHIP
SENIOR COMMITTEE
Monee Township Senior Committee is
looking for seniors to join the committee. If
you are 65 years of age and would like to be
on the committee, please contact the Monee
Township office, 708-534-6020. The committee meets and plans activities through the
year.
Please join in the next event: Holiday
Brunch Tuesday, December 6, 2016, Green
Garden Country Club, 9511 West MoneeManhattan Road, Frankfort. Deadline to
make your reservation is November 18,
2016, or until list is full. Must be 65 years of
age and make reservations to attend.
Monee Township has computers
available for use by Monee Township
residents to look for jobs. No charge.
VETERANS ASSISTANCE
COMMISSION
T
he Veterans Assistance Commission of Will
County provides assistance for veterans living
in Will County. Some of the services: interim
and/or emergency financial assistance for basic living expenses, advocacy service to veterans and
their families in applying to the proper local, state or
federal agencies to procure benefits and provides
assistance in filing claims to the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. For more information, please call
1-815-740-8389.
Township meetings
videotaped by WPAL
can be viewed on
YouTube.
Visit www.youtube.
com/WPALTV
HOW TO CONTACT YOUR STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS
SPRINGFIELD
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Bruce Rauner, Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-0244
CHICAGO
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Bruce Rauner, Governor
James R. Thompson Center
100 W. Randolph St., Ste. 16-100
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-814-2121
SPRINGFIELD OFFICE
Evelyn Sanguinetti,
Lieutenant Governor
214 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-558-3085
Fax: 217-558-3094
Video Phone for Sign
language users: 217-717-2331
CHICAGO OFFICE
Evelyn Sanguinetti,
Lieutenant Governor
James R. Thompson Center
100 W. Randolph St., Ste. 15-200
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-814-5240
Fax: 312-814-5228
Video Phone for sign
language users: 217-717-2331
15TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Senator Napoleon Harris
M-108 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-8066
369 East 147th Street, Unit H
Harvey, IL 60426
Phone: 708-893-0552
40TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Senator Toi W. Hutchinson
501 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-7419
222 Vollmer Road, Ste. 1D
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
Phone: 708-756-0882
29TH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT
Representative Thaddeus Jones
240-W Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-8087
1910 Sibley Blvd.
Calumet City, IL 60409
Phone: 708-933-6018
80TH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT
Representative Anthony DeLuca
271-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-1719
195 West Joe Orr Road
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
Phone: 708-754-7900
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
Representative Michael J. Madigan
Springfield Office:
300 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-5350
District Office:
6500 South Pulaski Road
Chicago, IL 60629
Phone: 773-581-8000
Page 4 Monee Township Newsletter Fall 2016
Assessment Review by the Will County Supervisor of Assessments
Monee Township Assessor, Sandra Heard, and our office
staff welcomes the residents of Monee Township to visit our
office or website, call or email us using our contact information at the end of this article. Our office hours are as follows:
Winter - Monday & Wednesday from 9 am - 12 pm, Tuesday
and & Thursday from 9am - 3 pm, (Lunch from 12-1 pm) and
Fridays the office is closed.
During the month of August our office hosted a Meet and
Greet event, where the Will County Supervisor of Assessments, Rhonda Novak was the speaker.
This meeting was very informative and helpful to those
Sandra Heard,
who were able to attend. The primary subject discussed Township Assessor
was the explanation of why 2016
assessments received increases across the entire township.
Rhonda explained that based
on the three (3) year Sales Ratio Study that is conducted each
year by the Illinois Department of
Revenue, decisions were made
by the Will County Supervisor of
Assessments office that assessments were lower than the repOur Meet and Greet event
resentative sales indicate they
should be. The sales used in
this study were all market sales
and they indicated under valuations for the township as a whole
and an increase factor was determined.
As Township Assessors receive the increase or decrease
factors from the Supervisor of
Assessments (SOA), we have
the responsibility to review each
neighborhood where these market sales occurred to determine
the appropriate increases or
decreases that are needed in
a given neighborhood. Some
neighborhoods were still highly
impacted by the presence of
foreclosures and short sales and
there were no market sales to
support any increase, those neighborhoods did not receive increases from the
Assessor. However, if there were increases applied it would have been allocated
by the SOA because the factor was not met in those neighborhoods as was required to meet the correct assessment levels expected by the SOA.
2016 REASSESSMENT
All properties were reassessed according the Illinois State Tax code, and other
county guidelines. The 2016 property assessments reflect an upward adjustment
applied by the Will County Supervisor of Assessments, in the form of a multiplier.
Notices were sent out in early August. Many taxpayers came in to discuss these
increases and to get a better understanding of what this means to them and how
it will affect their tax bill.
These are some questions and answers you need to know.
Question: Will an increase in your assessment cause your tax dollars to
increase?
Response: One of the biggest accomplishments that I see as a result of assessments increasing is that the taxpayers have questions and come in to get answers. One of the worries was that the % of increase in the assessments would
directly reflect the same increase in taxes. This is one worry that was dispelled
when it was explained to the taxpayers that when assessments go up then the
tax rate goes down. This means that taxpayers should only see a minor change
in their tax bill as a result of assessment increases. In fact, some may even see a
savings. However, please be aware that some taxing bodies may schedule special meetings where their boards will approve additional increases that exceed
the usual 1-5% increase in their levy. It would be wise to keep an eye on this
activity from your major taxing bodies including the School districts and Villages.
Question: How does assessments relate to taxes?
Response: All taxpayers are affected by decisions that are made for anyone
else in the township. The Assessors’ office is responsible for applying fair as-
sessment for the entire township. When assessments go down, the rates usually
goes up so that the taxing bodies can receive at least what they received the
previous year in their levy to meet their budget.
Example: If old assessment was 50,000 with rates at 10% then taxes = $5,000
but if the assessments are reduced to 25,000 then the rate that would have to
be increased to 20% in order to raise the same $5,000 in tax revenue. And if
assessments increase to 60,000 then the rate would be expected to be lower to
about 8.4% to get the same $5,000.
Question: Should foreclosure sales prices represent market value since
that is what houses are selling for currently?
Response: Foreclosure prices by definition are prices that are less than market value. These are the prices that are accepted in a situation where you have
a motivated seller or bank owned inventory that needs to move fast. Buyers of
foreclosures and short sale homes will receive discounts when buying homes.
Then they fix them up so a profit can be made when they resell or they may decide to rent them out. The problem here is that market value cannot move downward as fast as foreclosure prices do. But even if they did, the following year the
new foreclosure prices would be even lower. There has to be a limit established
that separates market price from foreclosure prices, they should never be the
same number.
Question: How does Investor purchases and assessment reduction request affect residents of the Township?
Response: This appeal season has consisted of primarily investors who do not
live in the township but purchases properties at low values and then resell within
a year to make a significant profit, sometimes 2-4 times their purchase prices.
While investors do have the right to appeal just as other property owners in the
township, and they generally do so by hiring attorneys, they sometimes do not
qualify to file. At our office, we diligently review the appeals documents provided
and research the particular property’s sales history, conditions of the property
at the time of sale via MLS information, verify that the comparables provided
are in Monee Township (some come from Cook County and we cannot consider
these) and the condition of these sales. Then we provide supporting evidence for
the subject property’s current assessment. Also many times the property may
have had multiple owners in the current year and the person filing is no longer
the current owner. When assessors go to appeals to defend the assessments,
if there was no agreement between the property owner and the assessor, the
purpose is to be fair. At the same time, assessors must be cognizant of certain
circumstances that may represent an unfair advantage that some investors may
be seeking. If a thorough job is not done in these instances and a reduction is
granted giving an unfair advantage to any property owner, then the difference in
taxes not paid will eventually be obtained from the homeowners who live in the
township. This is why I stand my ground to encourage and ensure that fairness
and equity remains.
Question: What else can be done to help taxpayers lower their tax bill?
Response: Assessors advocate options to help taxpayers save on their tax bill.
Assessments have been lowered so you can see some saving in the past years.
Keeping in mind, if the taxpayers in the tax base are diminishing then there is less
revenue for any of the taxing bodies like your schools, police and fire, parks, libraries, community colleges and forest preserves. However, I continue to fight for
Seniors to be fairly treated with their Senior Assessment Freeze and minimize
increases to their taxes in their retirement years. Every year, I review thousands
of assessments to ensure neighborhood equity. I am constantly trying to arrive
at resolutions that will lend to the best solution for all involved.
Exemptions: Check your tax bill for exemptions to see if you have all that is
due to you. The list of exemptions includes Homestead exemptions, senior
exemptions (65 years or older) and senior assessment freeze (based on income of $55,000 a year or under for the entire household), disabled person or
disabled veteran, returning veterans and home improvement exemptions.
If you are not sure which exemption you should have on your property or what is
your current exemption, and then call us during office hours and someone will be
able to assist you in obtaining this information. Do you know anyone 65 years
or older, then contact us ASAP!
You may contact us by phone 708-534-6023, fax 708-534-6027 and website www.moneeassessor.com; email [email protected]. If you
have questions, you may call during office hours (Monday and Wednesday from
9 am- 12 pm, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am- 3 pm are winter hours) drop in
or set an appointment as needed.
Announcements and Upcoming Events
The Monee Township Assessor’s Office would like to remind everyone that in
this election season everyone’s vote counts. Let your voice be heard. We also
would like to wish everyone a Happy holiday season to come.
Ideas or concerns?
Office Employees
Your ideas and concerns that
might help improve our community
are welcome. You may email them
at [email protected].
Office location is 46 Town Center,
University Park, Illinois.
We look forward to seeing
some of you at events and many
of you throughout the year!
Make sure to like the
Monee Township
Assessor’s
Facebook page to
stay current with
office events!
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