🌱 Oak Park Property Tax Debate + Cook Co. Taxes Extended By 4 Months

Hey, friends! It's Friday in Oak Park-River Forest and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Pleasant with some sun. High: 81 Low: 63.

Here are the top three stories in Oak Park-River Forest today:

1. The Oak Park village board is considering eliminating the 3 percent cap on the annual property tax levy extension and replacing it with language that allows the board to limit the tax levy increase based on financial policy developed by the village's finance committee. The decision sparked a philosophical debate between some board members, with Trustee Ravi Parakkat arguing for a specific limit of 3 percent for immediate accountability, while Village President Vicki Scaman believed a policy-based approach provides long-term accountability without restricting the board in response to future economic factors. The board will finalize its decision after returning from the August break, with discussions about the property tax levy increase for the next year taking place in September. (Wednesday Journal)
2. Cook County property owners will receive a four-month delay on their property tax bills, with the second installment for 2022 now due on Dec. 1 instead of the usual Aug. 1. The delays are a result of bureaucratic issues and technological challenges, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted the County's property tax processes and timelines. The delay comes after Chicago homeowners experienced significant property tax increases in 2021 following reassessments, with residents in the Lower West Side community area, including Pilsen, seeing their property taxes rise by an average of 63 percent. (WTTW)
3. The Cook County drug court is piloting a program that uses "Sesame Street" videos to help children of defendants dealing with addiction and the criminal justice system. The videos, including one featuring Elmo, aim to provide developmentally appropriate information to children, addressing tough topics like drug addiction, divorce, and military deployment. The program seeks to support the next generation and build stronger, healthier kids who can become productive citizens in the future. (ABC 7)

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Today in and around Oak Park-River Forest:

Friday, July 21

• DIY Dollhouse Summer Camp (5-12 Years) At Kidcreate Studio (9:00 AM)
• Horner Brew Fest At Horner Park, Chicago (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Join in on the magical evening of opera and show tunes with the Lyric Opera Stage Artists at the Free Outdoor Concert today (Jul. 21) at 7:00 p.m. Bring your own snacks and chairs, and all donations from the event will go towards benefiting the Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Children’s Clinic. (Oak Park-River Forest Patch)
• The National Weather Service warns of possible hit-or-miss showers and thunderstorms throughout the weekend, with a potential for severe thunderstorms producing damaging winds and hail south of Interstate 55. Temperatures are expected to remain in the mid-to-upper 80s, and residents in affected areas should be prepared for the changing weather conditions. (Chicago Patch)
• Join the free, family-friendly Concerts in the Park event at Scoville Park on Sunday, Jul. 23 at 6:00 p.m. The event will feature a local country and rock band from Oak Park, Strawdawg Band, providing an enjoyable evening for everyone. (Park District of Oak Park)

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Featured businesses:

• Laura Ruiz, REALTOR® at REALTY OF CHICAGO — (Visit website)
• Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX In The Village — (Visit Website)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday! See you all tomorrow morning for another update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.