Orland Park Plans Media Blitz on Tax Rebate
Village is pushing residents to apply electronically for their share of a $2.5 million property tax rebate.
Orland Park has drawn up a media blitz to get out the word on applying for a property tax rebate from the village next year.
“We wanted to make this as easy as possible,” said Trustee James Dodge. "And accurate."
The plan includes news releases to media outlets, stories in the village newsletter, postcards mailed to every household in the village, links to an electronic application on the village website, how-to apply videos that will be posted on the village website as well as cable access and YouTube, messages on the village Facebook page and via Twitter, and staffers who will be available at village hall to discuss the rebate.
“We want people to apply electronically,” Dodge said. “It cuts down on entry errors and is more accurate. But if people still want to file the old fashioned way, they will be able to.”
The Village Board voted last month to approve a $2.5 million rebate from the property taxes paid to the village. Everyone who is eligible for the rebate will receive the same amount.
What the amount is depends on how many rebates are issued. Village staffers have estimated that if all 19,000 eligible property owners qualify, the rebate would be about $131 each.
The tentative timeline for applications to begin is October with a December deadline, said village manager Paul Grimes. Checks are expected to be issued in March.
Orland Park suspended the rebates in 2009 at the height of the recession.
Mayor Dan McLaughlin said the rebate is only for this year’s taxes. Next year, the board will have to discuss a different rebate, he said.
“Each year we’ll decide if we will do a rebate, how much it will be and the process of distributing it. So each year it could change,” McLaughlin said. “We’re just happy to give something back. Even a small amount helps.”
Qualifications include whether a person lives in the house, and if he or she is up to date on bills, McLaughlin said.
In other action:
- The board voted to keep watering restrictions in place until Saturday, Sept. 15.
- Approved adding a Class A liquor license for a new establishment going in at the Wolf Crossing plaza at 159th Street and Wolf Road.
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John Fotopoulos
6:29 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
I am a proponent of tax rebates. However, this rebate program is nothing more than an election tactic for the upcoming municipal election in 2013. The deadlines are highly suspect. The application process is during the time that nominating petitions for the Mayor and Mr. Dodge will be circulated and the tax rebate will be mailed out right before the election. Coincidence? Not likely. Furthermore, the planned media blitz is just a political propaganda at the expense of the taxpayer. I call on the Cook County States Attorney and the Illinois Attorney General to initiate an investigation on whether or not public funds are being used for political purpose.
Dean Casper
7:14 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
John,
Why don't you disclose in your post that you are a candidate in next April's village election. That fact makes your call for an investigation into the village informing it's residents about a program to receive a rebate just a tad self-serving, wouldn't you agree?
Let's see, you are asking the legal authorities to pursue a criminal investigation against legally elected officials for committing the crime of giving the taxpayers their money back and informing them as such? Come on John. I thought you were better than that.
That would be wasting taxpayer money and diverting limited resources in fighting crime for the benefit of who? Your narrow political interests and those seeking to defeat Mayor McLaughlin and Trustees? Hmm.
The village election is 7 months from now, hardly around the corner. I have seen several incumbents look like sure winners or losers that far out and the opposite result occurs.
As an elected official myself, abatements and rebates to taxpayers are commonplace. In fact, it shows strong fiscal management. At times, that government has to communicate with the taxpayers it serves to educate them in how to obtain their money. The Cook County homeowners exemption is an example.
Given the timetable for budgets and levies set by state law, the village initiated the rebate process when fiscally prudent to do so.
Are you saying village residents should have to wait until after next April's election because it is politically incontinent for you?
william james
8:02 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
We should also look at past pratice of previous rebate programs? Should that be added to the equation, this years rebate is similar to those of previous years. Just another example of our Village providing great services while being financially responsible.
voklst
8:39 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
We've been getting rebates similar to this in Orland Park since 1972-since I've lived here. Voting year/not voting year doesnt matter. Now that I'm on a fixed income I need food on the table. Accept the check or pay it forward to charity or the candidate of your choice. Bring up your notes when your village or the irs want to take another 2.5 Mil or $131.00 out of your personal checkbook.....
Dave Wagner
9:49 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The Village isn't really in any better shape now than it was 3 years ago. In fact, debt obligations have risen (can you say 9750) despite what might or might not be excess in the budget. Smoke and mirrors, save 2.5 mil allocate 64 million. Sounds like a fiscal policy path to ruin. Coincidental with an election? Suspended after the last mayoral election and reinstated before the next? Pardon my cynicism, but I would have been much more inclined to believe the motivation for the rebate was more genuine if it happened after the election. Oh well, money to burn.
Ray Blah Blah Blah
7:24 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
I believe Trustee Brad O'Halloran is the Chair of the Finance Committee. He would be a good place to start
frank
10:39 pm on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The village takes me for a fool. I am a fool.
But, a large group of FOOLS can be a majority and eliminate from office those who try to mess with what little COMMON SENSE we have remaining.
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John Fotopoulos
7:24 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Our police officers should not be working for over a year without a contract. If we can't afford to pay our officers, we should not be lending developers millions of dollars for apartments. Mr. Grimes should have used the phrase more skin in the game with developer of the apartments and not with our police!
Dean Casper
8:45 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
John, no one is lending anything. That is misleading. The developer is getting no money from the village. Please educate yourself on this before you look really foolish.
Andrea Williams
9:52 am on Thursday, September 6, 2012
Why do residents have to "apply" for a rebate? What is the point - why not just automatically issue a refund to those that qualify and avoid having to spend money on this media blitz? Do only people that pay attention need a refund? People that are paying attention are more likely to vote - no? Maybe John's right. Maybe this really is an exercise in advertising what the Village Board is doing in an election year rather than an exercise in getting the people's money back where it belongs....in their own pockets.
JoAnne Poppie
1:58 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
I agree with both comments. Taxes paid, water bills and vehicle registrations current ... rebate issued. No board to pay for approval, no paper to buy for advertising, no website to create for application. No MORE spending, just a lot less wasting. Ask a mother of three working a part time job just to make ends meet, she'll tell you how to do it.
Dean Casper
7:32 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
All property taxes are processed through the Cook County Assessor and are a year behind. By applying for the rebate, the unit of government can insure the owner of the property is entitled to the rebate.
Rebates are different from abatements. If a rebate is issued for a given year, a previous owner is entitled to that rebate if they owned and paid the property tax for the rebate year. An abatement is a credit to current property from previous assessment and cannot be claimed by a previous owner but can be applied as a credit for a current delinquent owner.
frank
6:43 pm on Thursday, September 6, 2012
19,000 possible rebates.
Are all their taxes paid? They get a rebate.
What's your problem? The only BLITZ we need-------A BLITZ of voters to end this stupidity of fiscal mismanagement.
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JSuzeH
8:38 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
Same old thing.....politics is all I see here. Some people are never happy, even when getting a rebate. It's obviously not about what's best for the Orland Park residents, these comments are the same old people with their own self-serving interests commenting.
Some things never change.