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Property owners in Grant Township may have questions as to
why their 2016 assessments increased by 7.16% compared to last year.The answer is not a simple one, and our experts in the Chief County
Assessment Office (CCAO) are happy to review your individual assessment and
answer your specific questions. Or, you can attend a Tax
Assessment Help Center and get one-on-one assistance.
The entire
property tax process is defined in State
law and it dictates that each year, the Illinois Department of
Revenue (DOR) provides its analysis of the assessment
level in a township using recent sales
transactions. The next step in the process is for the CCAO to
apply a township “equalization factor” when market sales are higher than
the assessment value levels in place to bring them to a uniform level.
The equalization factor ensures the tax burden is distributed fairly from
township to township by bringing assessment values in line with
market values. Conversely, in general assessment years - the next one
will be in 2019 - your township assessor will review individual assessment values
and make adjustments.
The “equalization
factor” can result an increase to your assessment, but if does not
necessarily result in an increased tax bill next year. If everyone’s
assessment went up (by any percentage) and taxing bodies
(schools, cities, townships or county) did raise their taxes, the
equalization itself would not impact your tax bill. This is complicated
because some taxing bodes overlap multiple
townships, but essentially, the equalization factor ensures the tax
burden is distributed fairly from township to township.
There are opportunities to
appeal your assessment if you meet certain criteria. To learn
more, contact your township assessor. You can also visit assessor.lakecountyil.gov, or call
the office and talk to one of our taxpayer advocates. Please
note, the deadline to appeal is 30 days after the date of publication of
current assessments, which is Sept. 19 for Grant Township properties.
Lake
County PASSAGE puts local traffic information at
your fingertips. PASSAGE is an intelligent transportation system designed to
provide motorists real time traffic congestion information through the PASSAGE
website, email
notifications, Twitter and radio 1620 AM. The PASSAGE website is mobile-friendly,
so you can get a map of current road conditions, construction and
events, including crashes, stalls, debris, and other roadway incidents as well
as view camera images at major intersections. Let us know what you think! Take PASSAGE Survey.
Governor
Bruce Rauner recently signed legislation that gives Lake County (along with
McHenry County) the authority to consolidate and dissolve units of local
government. This legislative change helps Lake County build on its
consolidation efforts to improve efficiency of government services and
alleviate tax burdens on residents.
Chairman
Aaron Lawlor said, “We recognize that in these tough times, the same old way of
conducting our business just doesn’t cut it. That’s why we are leading efforts
to save taxpayer money by sharing services, including contracting with
municipalities for plan review and inspection service and providing police
services at cost for some municipalities. We are also exploring the feasibility
of consolidating 911 emergency dispatch centers in the region, which presents
tremendous opportunities to improve quality, efficiency, and provide cost
savings.”
The new law
is an expansion of a 2013 law that only applied to DuPage County. This move is
a step toward reducing the more than 7,000 units of government in Illinois,
which is more than any state in the nation.
Forest Preserve News
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Carp-O-Rama
Compete for prizes while helping reduce
carp overpopulation in the lake at Independence Grove on Saturday, Sept.
10. This catch-and-keep fishing event will take place from 6:30 a.m. to noon
at the South Bay. Learn more
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Celebrate Lake County's Agricultural Roots
Join the 24th
annual Farm Heritage
Festival from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 24 and 25 at Lakewood Forest
Preserve in Wauconda. Check out hundreds
of antique tractors, cars and other farm machinery as we celebrate Lake
County’s rural roots. Daily highlights include a tractor parade, sheep
herding demonstrations, scarecrow making, wagon and barrel train rides and a
petting zoo. |
Dog park and horse trail permits reduced
When purchased through Nov. 30, dog park and
horse trail annual permit prices are half price. Reduced permits are valid
through the end of the year. Learn
more |
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Be a
part of history. Become an election judge
The Lake County Clerk’s Office is in need of
election judges for the upcoming presidential election! Election judges ensure
that the elections are fair and accurate by processing Election Day voters. Pay
is based on election training, skills and assignment. Call the County Clerk’s
Office at 847-377-2408 or visit their website to learn more. |
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Become
a couch potato voter. Vote by mail
Vote in the presidential election from the
comfort of your home! Registered Illinois voters can now request to receive a ballot by mail. Requests can be made at LakeVoterPower.info or by calling 847-377-2410. |
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Veterans are invited
to come to the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan on Nov. 11 to have their oral
histories recorded. The typed transcripts will be archived at the Library of Congress as part of the Veterans History Project. This
project aims to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of
American war veterans. The deadline to submit forms to participate in this
year’s event is Oct. 1. Any veteran interested in being interviewed for
this project should contact Carol Cord at ccord@lakecountyil.gov or 847-377-3771. Learn more
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Certain
crimes such as popular scams can be targeted to older adults, so awareness and
education are key to protecting yourself. Attend this upcoming free
workshop to learn the popular scams which target senior citizens, the steps to
take if you should become a victim of a financial scam and more. Register to Attend
When: 10
a.m. to noon Sept. 24 Where: Gurnee Police Department, 100 N. O'Plaine Road, Gurnee Questions? Contact Sandra Bankston at 847-377-3184
Telephone Scams Anyone can be susceptible to a telephone scam.
Here are some tips from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office
to protect yourself.
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The Lake County Jail and Health Department have launched a new
treatment option to help opioid or alcohol addicted inmates in the Lake County
Jail. Those eligible will begin receiving addiction treatment services through
the Health Department in the jail and after they are released. The Health
Department has committed to treating 15 inmates over the next six months. The
initiative is part of the Health Department’s newly expanded
Medication-Assisted Treatment program, which recently received a grant of
$325,000 from the Health Resources and Services Administration. Read news release
Take action! Work
with your family and your community to develop an action plan, so you can be
prepared if an emergency should occur. To observe National Preparedness Month
through September, check out these resources that can help you plan.
And watch this video to learn ways to get emergency information in Lake
County. |
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Enjoy pasta dinner Friday night An all-you-can-eat pasta dinner will be served from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9 at the Volunteer Fire Department Bingo Hall, 114 Washington St., Ingleside.
Save
the date for fall festival
Grant Township and the Village of Fox Lake will hold its fall festival from 10
a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Grant Township Center, 26725 W. Molidor Road, Fox
Lake. Learn
more
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