May 2011

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ROAD CLOSURE @ ROUTE 22

AND CN RAILROAD INTERSECTION 

 

Monday, May 16 at 8:00 AM

until Friday, May 20 at 6:00 PM

  

The CN (Canadian National) Railway will be fully closing IL Route 22 at the railroad crossing immediately east of Prairie Rd. in Lincolnshire, Lake County beginning at 8:00AM, Monday, May 16, 2011 and continuing until approximately 6:00PM, Friday, May 20, 2011 for the purpose of repairing the railroad crossing grade on IL Route 22 at this location.

 

The posted detour for WB IL Route 22 will be for WB IL Route 22 traffic to turn left (south) on IL Route 22/US Route 45 (Milwaukee Ave.); south on IL Route 21/US Route 45 to Aptakisic Rd. right (west); west on Aptakisic Rd. to right (north) on Prairie Road; Prairie Road north back to WB IL Route 22. 

 

The posted detour for EB IL Route 22 will be for EB IL Route 22 traffic to turn right (south) on Prairie Road; south on Prairie Road to left (east) on Aptakisic Road; east on Aptakisic Road to left (north) on IL Route 21/US Route 45 (Milwaukee Ave); north of IL Route 21/US Route 45 back to EB IL Route 22. 

 

 

IN THIS ISSUE
PROPERTY TAX BILLS MAILED
PROPERTY TAXES BY THE NUMBERS
BECAUSE YOU ASKED: EMPLOYEE PENSIONS
RESIDENT RESOURCE CENTER
QUICK LINKS
  

Property Tax Bills Mailed

 

Lake County property owners should have received their tax bills in the mail. The bills are for 2010 property taxes, which are payable in 2011, in two installments. The first due date is June 6, and the second installment due date is September 6.

 

An assessment is the process of appraising real property and giving it a value, which is the basis for determining what portion of the total tax burden each property owner will bear. Learn more at www.lakecountyil.gov/Assessor.

 

Keep in mind, tax bills are based on the assessment of your property that took place last year, and the appeal process has already passed.

 

You should have received a yellow postcard from me last August letting you know that assessment cards were coming out and describing the appeals process.

 
If you think there is an error on your tax bill, you can talk to your local township assessor to be sure that a factual error has not occurred. By law, only factual errors can be corrected once the bills go out

It is extremely important for property owners to pay close attention to their total property tax exemptions listed on the bill. These exemptions could lower the current tax bill. For a complete list of exemptions, go to www.lakecountyil.gov/TREASURER/PROPERTYTAXRELIEF.
 
Per Illinois law, the County is required to add 1.5% penalty for taxes paid or post-marked after the due dates. Those homeowners that are unable to pay their property taxes on time should be aware that Lake County will accept partial payments with the understanding that a penalty will be charged on any outstanding balance.
 
Payment options include by mail, in person at the Lake County Treasurer's Office, 18 N. County Street, Waukegan, or at most Lake County banks. Taxpayers may also make payments online by credit card or e-check at www.lakecountyil.gov/treasurerA fee is charged by the processing company for these payments.
 
Ela Township Assessor
John Barrington
847-438-8370

 

Libertyville Township Assessor
Peggy Freese
847-362-5900

 

Vernon Township Assessor
Gary Raupp
847-634-4602
 
 

Because You Asked: Where

Do My Property Taxes Go?

 

 
 
Who has control over these different taxing bodies?

 

Each taxing body is governed by a separately elected board.  In April we elected candidates to local village, school district, library district, park district and other boards. 
  
They will oversee 90% (on average) of your tax bill through their budgets and tax levys.

The County Board only has control over the county and forest preserve levies.  While residents send their tax payments to the county, we do not have authority over other taxing bodies and how they spend money.  The County Treasurer collects tax payments and redistributes the revenue accordingly to taxing bodies in the county.

Interesting fact: 15% of voters participated in last month's election. 
 
Because YOU Asked: The IMRF Pension System

 

This was in my newsletter last month, but with tax bills coming out, I thought it would be pertinent to include it again. 

 

Many of you have asked what Lake County's role is in overseeing pensions for our employees.

 

The bottom line is, we pay into the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, but policy decisions regarding who is entitled to what is set in Springfield.

 

Most importantly, you may have read about the Elected County Official (ECO) pension system (click here to read more).  Lake County does not participate in this pension plan.

 

Here is how it works:

 

Lake County employees participate in IMRF (The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund).  IMRF was created by the Illinois General Assembly. 

 

IMRF is not a state agency, and IMRF is not funded by the State of Illinois. IMRF is funded by participating individual municipal employers, participating employees and primarily by investment returns. IMRF has more than 180,000 active members working for nearly 3,000 different units of government, including school districts, counties, cities and villages, parks and libraries. It has more than 93,000 retirees.

 

Both County employees and Lake County government (as the employer) contribute into IMRF. Per State law, IMRF calculates the amount Lake County is required to contribute toward full funding; in other words, so the pension fund has enough money in reserve today to meet future pension obligations for benefits earned to date.

 

In 2010, IMRF earned a rate of return on investments of 13.4 percent, resulting in an 86.5% "Funded Status." This means for IMRF pension plans are 86% fully funded, which is very good - especially compared to state employee pension systems which legislators have underfunded for decades. 

 

Members who retired in 2009 (with approximately 21 years of service) received an average annual benefit of approximately $11,000.

 

The State recently passed some reforms:

 

The State reformed the pension system last year, creating a "two-tier" system, where current employees keep their existing pension plans, but new hires join a tighter new system.  New hires aren't able to retire with full benefits until age 67.  The maximum salary on which their pension can be based is capped at $106,800. Their payout will be based on their highest salary during eight consecutive years of the last ten.  Also, "Double-dipping," where a government employee retires, is re-hired by the government elsewhere, retires again, and collects two pensions, has been banned.

 

Aaron Lawlor - Representing District 18

 

AaronLawlor2

Dear Neighbor, 

 

I hope you find this information helpful.  Please continue to ask questions and suggest topics for the e-newsletter. 

 

With so much going on at all levels of government, don't hesitate to contact me with your questions and concerns regarding this or other issues.  You can reach me via email or on my cell at (847) 971-0454.  

 

It is an honor to serve YOU on the County Board and Forest Preserve Board.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Aaron Lawlor

 

 

P.S.  If this email was forwarded to you, please click here to sign up so I can get you information directly - especially in the case of a road closure, weather emergency or other issue. 

 

 

Lake County Resident Resource Center

 

NEW Dental Discount Card
 

A new dental discount card program is now available that will help Lake County residents save money on their dental service expenses.

 

Individuals or families may opt to pay for a monthly or yearly membership. The cost for a yearly individual membership is $59 and $69 for families.

 

More than 200 providers in Lake County are participating in this program. Discount card holders will receive significant savings from these providers on dental cleanings, x-rays, braces, dentures, crowns, root canals and more. This plan is not insurance.

  

Cardholders can simply schedule an appointment with a participating dentist or specialist and present their card to receive a discount at the time of service. 

  

To sign up for the Dental Discount Card Program, residents can download a registration form at: www.nacodentalprogram.com.  A list of participating providers and more information is available.

 
Prescription Drug Discount Card

County residents can take advantage of a prescription drug discount card program. 

The card is free and accepted at most pharmacies.  The average card savings is 20 percent off retail prices.
This is intended for people without prescription coverage or on medicines not covered by your plan. 

The card may also be used where accepted to fill prescriptions for pets.   

To receive a card, click here or email me your address and I will send you one!
 

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