SSMMA Newsletter August 9, 2024

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August 9, 2024

www.ssmma.org

Skyrocketing South Suburban Homeowner Property Tax Bills Worry Taxpayers

Earlier this month, many Cook County homeowners were shocked to discover their annual property tax bills increased substantially due to the Cook County Assessor’s reassessment of all properties in the south and southwest suburbs last year. This occurred due to the removal of the three year “Covid Factor” and record sales prices of single-family homes within Southland communities during the pandemic. Since early August, mayors have been responding to the concerns of residents who have been particularly hard-hit, with some worried about losing their homes due to tax bill increases that amount to thousands of dollars that are already past due.

Faced with these challenges, local mayors are calling for the State of Illinois to fund schools at a substantially higher level, which would reduce the property tax burden on local taxpayers. In addition, the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association is working on behalf of its members to identify potential property tax remedies that could provide immediate and long-term property tax relief.

SSMMA Executive Director DeLaurentiis recently testified to the Cook County Board about potential measures that could be considered that could help hardest hit households. Another remedy already in place developed by the Cook County Treasurer is a payment plan system that can help ease the financial burden. Learn more about Treasurer Pappas’s Payment Plan Portal here and see related stories below.

• CBS News: After big spike in property tax bills, Chicago's south suburbs look for solutions

• Chicago Tribune: Luxury home or vacant lot? Cook County assessor misclassifies hundreds of properties, missing $444M in one year alone

Lynwood Mayor and SSMMA Called to Testify at Recent Senate Hearing on the Future of Transit

On July 24^th, Lynwood Mayor Jada D. Curry and SSMMA Executive Director Kristi DeLaurentiis provided testimony to the Illinois Senate Transportation Committee during their Subject Matter Hearing at Moraine Valley Community College on proposed legislation that would create the Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act. Invited to testify by Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Ram Villivalam (Chicago) and Senators Mike Porfirio (Burbank) and Michael E. Hastings (Frankfort), Mayor Curry and Director DeLaurentiis spoke during the second in a series of public hearings on the topic: Transit must be accessible and equitable.

Mayor Curry testified that the General Assembly should prioritize expansion and improvement of the current public transportation system so that it begins to address the pressing issues of accessibility, equity, environmental sustainability and environmental justice. She also called upon decision makers to aspire to rebuild and re-think our public transportation system so that it is improved over what we had before COVID-19, better able to serve the entire Chicagoland region and its residents into the future.

“Expanding and improving transit options and facilities will be key to the continued growth and vibrancy of our region. Leveraging these investments to support economic growth, improve accessibility and the environment are a must and in all of our best interests” Curry stated. “By embedding principles of environmental justice in decisions about our public transportation system, we can ensure that communities and all people benefit from these advancements”.

Read the full testimonies of Mayor Curry and Director DeLaurentiis here.

Questions or comments can be directed to Kristi DeLaurentiis at 708.922.4670 or kdelaurentiis@ssmma.org.

South Suburban Airport Could Bring Over $1B in Economic Activity, per Report

A study from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute found that building a cargo-focused airport in the south suburbs would create around 6,300 total jobs.

In 2023, state legislators passed and the governor signed 103-0317 requiring the Illinois Department of Transportation to develop a process for requesting contractors and other developers to submit plans.

The plan for an airport in the south suburbs has been proposed and discussed in various forms for decades, with the earliest proposals coming in the 1960s. Learn more.

Grant Opportunities and Resources

• State of Illinois Offering $10,000 to Help Illinois Residents Purchase Homes. Learn more.

• Notice of Funding Opportunity is now available for the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant. Learn more.

• Find a list of DECO grant opportunities for the state of Illinois here.

• Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is accepting grant applications for green infrastructure projects, under the GIGO program. Learn more.

• Check out Will County's small business assistance resource page.

News from Community Partners

Cook County Community Voices Survey for ARPA Projects

Since the pandemic, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) has been a vital source of funding for community programs. However, this funding will come to an end in 2026.

Residents and workers in Cook County are encouraged to participate in a community survey from August 1 to September 13, 2024. Your feedback will help shape the County’s long-term ARPA initiatives by highlighting what matters most to you.

Take a moment to watch a video of President Preckwinkle encouraging the public to provide feedback on which programs Cook County should prioritize in 2027 and beyond. Take the survey.

Find additional resources from the Office of President Preckwinkle, including details from the South Suburban and Southwest Municipal Conference Briefing, here.

Cook County Public Defender's Office Offering Law Student Volunteer Opportunity

The Law Office of the Public Defender provides law students and recent graduates the opportunity to learn more about the criminal and juvenile justice systems by participating in their Law Student Volunteer Internship Program as a volunteer. Learn more.

Check Out Events in the Southland!

Visit Chicago Southland offers a full calendar of events happening in the Southland this summer. Learn more.

Job Postings & Requests for Proposals

• SSMMA Seeks an Environmental Consultant to Assist with Brownfields Remediation. Request for qualifications is due Monday, August 19, 2024, at 5:00pm. Only electronic submissions will be accepted and can be sent to Sarah Waks, Planning and Technical Assistance Director at sarah.waks@ssmma.org

• SSMMA offers a list of local job opportunities and RFPs throughout the south suburban region directly on our website.

• Municipalities and organizations can send job openings and proposals here to be publicly posted.

SPC News

Thank You for Making the Summer Auction a Success!

Thank you to Deerfield, Lincolnshire, North Aurora, Skokie, Tinley Park and Wheaton for participating in the Surplus Vehicle and Equipment Auction on Tuesday, July 23 at America’s Auto Auction (America’s AA). Although the numbers haven’t been finalized yet, preliminary reports indicate 26 units sold for nearly $115,000. The last live auction for the year will be held on Tuesday, October 22. In addition, America’s AA hosts online sales on par with other government surplus Internet auctions. For more information, please contact staff or America’s AA Account Executive Berry Ellis, 312-371-5993 or berry.ellis@americasautoauction.com.

Find a list of the categories for the SPC’s competitively bid contracts here.

SPC Vehicle Contracts

Prices are based on Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) Low Chicago published price per gallon dated May 6, 2024, plus or minus the bidder’s profit/overhead (“contractor mark-up”). The mark-up amount will remain firm throughout the term of the contract. Additional information including prices may be found by visiting the SPC Fuel Program web page.

For questions or additional information, please contact Arnie Berg 630-484-4368 or

aberg@alwarrenoil.com or Shaleen Okon, 312-881-9324 or sokon@alwarrenoil.com.

Type I Additional Duty Ambulance (Contract #214) with Foster Coach Sales has been extended through May 31, 2025. Additional information may be found by visiting the SPC Ambulance web page.
Sewer Cleaner Truck contract extensions for 12 Yard Single Engine Combination Sewer & Catch Basin Cleaner (Contract #215) and 10 Yard Single Engine Combination Sewer & Catch Basin Cleaner (Contract #216) have been awarded to EJ Equipment through June 30, 2025. Additional information may be found by visiting the SPC Sewer Cleaner Trucks web page.
Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 2WD Reg Cab 142” Work Truck (Contract #218) with Currie Motors Chevrolet has been extended from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Additional information may be found by visiting the SPC Chevrolet Silverado web page.
Ford Escape (Contract #206) with Currie Motors has an extended factory order cutoff date of September 14, 2024, so you still have time to order! Additional information may be found by visiting the SPC SUVs web page.
SPC Ford F-Series The SPC is pleased to announce the first of three possible one-year contract extensions on the Ford F-Series vehicles with Sutton Ford from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Additional information may be found by visiting the SPC Ford Pick-Up Trucks web page.

Have something you'd like included in our next newsletter? Email it to news@ssmma.org.