Automatic Renewal of Property Tax Exemptions |
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Thanks to a special pandemic-related law, money-saving property tax exemptions for most owner-occupied homes will be automatically renewed this year. The automatic renewal will be issued to homeowners who bought their homes prior to 2020 and received exemptions on their tax bills last year.
There are some homeowners who will have to apply for exemptions this year. For example, any homeowner who purchased a home in 2020 will have to complete an exemption application. Homeowners can either apply at www.cookcountyassessor.com, or wait until they receive an exemption application in the mail.
In addition, homeowners who recently turned sixty-five or were recently diagnosed with a disability will likely not receive applications for the senior or disabled exemptions in the mail, and should apply for the appropriate exemption now. The office of Oak Park Township Assessor Ali ElSaffar is available to help taxpayers who need help applying for tax exemptions. Please call 708-383-8005 to make an appointment.
Please see this link to read the entire press release.
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Black History Month Celebrated by Girls On The Rise |
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Knowledge is POWER. This year, in honor of Black History Month, Girls On The Rise participants in Brooks and Julian Middle Schools created an artistic representation of their personal career ambitions. Black women that made contributions to black history in the students' chosen career fields were researched. For the students, this visual embodies the possibility of a career in their field of choice because iconic black women have already paved the way.
Here are some of the careers researched for this project: Marine Biologist, Chef, Anesthesiologist, Teacher, Judge, Lawyer, Hair Stylist, Fashion Designer, Entrepreneur, Singer, Softball player, WNBA player, Artist.
Girls On The Rise is a program created and led by Oak Park Township Youth Services Girls On The Rise Supervisor Dominique Hickman. Find out more about Youth Services by clicking here, emailing mgale@oakparktownship.org or calling 708-445-2727. We're also seeking volunteers for the Youth Services Committee; please visit this link for more information.
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This month the CMHB is highlighting
Community Support Services is a private, nonprofit agency that initiates, provides and promotes services for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families, within their communities, in order to strengthen their independence, self-esteem, and ability to participate in and contribute to community life.
“CSS saved our family not once, through Respite services, but twice with their Residential Services. We know our daughter is very happy today.” -Carla, CSS parent
Funding for Oak Park residents provided by the Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township.
For more information about the CMHB and our partner organizations, please click here or call 708-358-8855.
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Community Support Services (CSS) provides support to individuals of all ages who are diagnosed with an intellectual/developmental disability as well as their families. CSS was founded 40 years ago and today provides services for Oak Park residents and nearly 500 families in western Cook and eastern DuPage counties.
CSS strives to strengthen the independence, self-esteem, and ability of our participants so they can become involved in and contribute to community life. CSS is one of the largest Respite providers in Illinois. Respite is a planned break for care givers, which benefits both the care giver and the participant themselves. Respite services occur in group or one-on-one settings and can take place in the home or community.
Other services include Residential and Independent Living which helps adults live independently in the community in their own home or in a group home that CSS owns and operates. CSS Academy Programs provides park-district style learning for adults in an inclusive environment. Day Programs offer activities where participants choose meaningful ways to spend their day. Supported Employment are for those interested in working in the community who also wish to acquire the skills to become productive and valuable employees.
CSS’ major fundraiser, Circles of Support Celebration, will be held Friday April 8, 2022. For tickets and information, email development@CSSservices.org. For program information, visit www.CSSservices.org, email intake@CSSservices.org, or call (708) 354.4547 x143.
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Welcome Anne Fussichen to the
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Anne Fussichen has been appointed to the Oak Park Township Youth Services Committee. An Oak Park resident since 2010, Anne’s most rewarding, and at the same time, challenging job is raising her two young sons to be good humans. She is an educator and child advocate at heart who taught middle school and high school for the past 20 years. Anne is currently working at Aktiv Learning–an edtech company helping break down barriers in chemistry and math education. She loves the healing effects of being active in nature and believes that recreation, especially outdoor recreation, has a huge impact on young people’s well-being.
Anne is very excited to give back to her amazing community through serving on the Youth Services Committee by providing support and resources to the young people who are the future of Oak Park. The Youth Services Committee engages in a variety of activities and services directly impacting the youth of Oak Park and River Forest.
Youth Services of Oak Park and River Forest Townships contract with agencies, organizations, institutions, as well as parent and youth groups for programs that address specific need areas for the youth of our community. We're looking for additional Committee members! Click here for more details and contact Youth Services at 708-447-2727 or email mgale@oakparktownship.org.
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Illinois Water Assistance Program |
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Oak Park Township Helps Residents Apply for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program
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The Illinois Low Income Household Water Assistance Program is a crisis program for water and wastewater.
Eligible customers may make an appointment with an Oak Park Township counselor to apply for this program and apply to receive a benefit of up to $1,500 total for:
- Reconnection Assistance
- Disconnection Prevention
- Past Due Balance
- Disconnection Fees
- Late Fees
For more information, please call the Township at 708-383-8005, see the flier to the left, or click here.
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We're Hiring! We Need Volunteers!
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Township Board Meetings
The Board of Trustees of Oak Park Township will meet on March 8th and 22nd at 7 p.m. via the gotomeeting.com platform. All are welcome. Board documents for upcoming meetings will be posted at the following link: https://oakparktownship.org/board-agendas-finances/.
Save the date for the Annual Town Meeting which will be held on Tuesday April 12th.
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| Oak Park Township| P: 708-383-8005|F: 708-383-8062| optnewsletter@oakparktownship.org
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