Press Release on 2020 Tax Levy

The following is a press release issued by the City of Oak Forest regarding its 2020 tax levy:

On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at the Oak Forest City Council Meeting, the city council approved a 0% increase in property taxes for 2020. City staff calculates that the city actually needs a $1 million increase in property taxes to cover declining revenues and increasing expenses, which is about a 9% increase to the city’s portion of the tax bill. Passing a flat levy will save the average homeowner $117 and significantly more for a commercial property owner. Mayor Kuspa states, “We felt compelled to help our residents during this difficult time. We are all belt-tightening to get through this tough time together.”

Staff and elected officials reviewed the required increase of $1M and determined that increasing taxes while property values are not growing, even shrinking, is unsustainable for many households and businesses. Additionally, local businesses and residents are suffering a significantly greater hardship this year because of the pandemic.

For these reasons, the city is choosing to use alternative resources to meet its obligations. The city will receive $320,000 from Cook County this year from Coronavirus Relief Funds and is choosing to pass this award to its taxpayer by offsetting the levy requirement. The city is also choosing to use $500,000 of general fund reserves to close the gap and keep the tax levy flat. There will still be sufficient reserves to meet our fund balance policy after a one-time transfer.

Accompanying the press release, the following chart and graph illustrate the City of Oak Forest's share of your property tax bill, which is less than 17%:

Bremen Township Tax Appeals

Bremen Township is currently open for Tax Appeals which includes the City of Oak Forest. The last day to file is 1/5/2021.

Appeal forms are available in the Clerk's Office at City Hall, 15440 S. Central Avenue. These forms MUST be completed and turned in to Guy Gattone, Taxpayer Advocate by 01/02/2021.

If you have any questions on completing an appeal form, contact Guy Gattone, Tax Advocate at (708) 687-4050, EXT. 1031.

Holly Jolly House Decorating Contest

Is your house decked out in lights, decorations and holiday cheer? Enter your name for the Holly Jolly Holiday House Decorating Contest. Presented by the City of Oak Forest and open to all Oak Forest residents, businesses and organizations. We are looking for houses where the holiday spirit shines merry and bright!

Complete and submit the Holly Jolly Entry Form. Entries are due December 25.

Be sure and include a photo of your Holly Jolly House when you complete the entry form on www.oak-forest.org and indicate your permission so we can share your house in future editions of eBriefs, on Facebook, Twitter, and the City of Oak Forest website.

Look on Facebook and our website for an updated list of houses submitted so you can drive around and enjoy the displays.

Complete details are on the Holly Jolly Entry Form.

COVID-19 Updates

Illinois is currently at Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigations.

FREE COVID-19 Testing at SSC

South Suburban College (SSC) continues to offer free COVID-19 testing on its Main Campus located at 15800 S. State Street, in South Holland, IL, through December 31, 2020.

Daily testing is available from 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., or until tests run out. A security detail is in place while testing is open.

COVID-19 symptoms may include fever, sore throat, loss of taste, cough or shortness of breath. Visit CDC.gov for more information regarding symptoms.

Oak Forest COVID-19 Statistics

Current numbers for Oak Forest from the Illinois Department of Public Health website (www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/covid19-statistics) as of Friday, December 18, 2020:

1,915 positive cases
15,670 people tested
11.9% Positivity Rate (Suburban Cook County, Region 10)

Holiday Toy Drive

For the past twenty-four years, the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation has pursued its mission of providing comfort and distraction from painful procedures to children and teens fighting cancer by providing toys, gifts and gift cards. When a child must endure the rigors of cancer treatment, there is little anyone can do to take away the pain. However, thanks to the efforts of this unique Foundation, there are treasure chests filled with donated toys, gifts and gift cards at 61 nationwide treatment centers including Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL. Last year more than 14,400 children with cancer benefitted from this vital program every month.

The Foundation needs our help in order to keep the treasure chests full for the brave children and teens fighting cancer. We are asking families to donate to the City of Oak Forest Holiday Toy Drive. All donations will be used for the treasure chest program. Toys and gifts in all shapes, sizes and varieties are welcomed, although we do request that no stuffed animals be donated.

Toys, gifts for teens or gift cards in increments of $5.00 may be dropped off at City Hall through January 8, 2021.

On behalf of the City of Oak Forest and the children and teens who benefit from the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation, we thank you in advance for your generous donation.

ComEd Rate Decrease for Customers

The Illinois Commerce Commission today approved ComEd’s request for a $14 million decrease in delivery service charges in 2021 compared to rates in effect this past January. The approval comes after an eight-month proceeding in which regulators, the Illinois Attorney General, the Illinois Industrial Energy Consumers, the Citizens Utility Board and others review the costs and investments that determine customer rates. It marks ComEd’s fifth rate decrease in the past 10 years.

The new delivery rate will lower residential customer bills by about $1 per month. This will result in an average monthly bill of close to $82, which is lower than customer bills in 2008. Energy supply charges account for almost half of the monthly residential bill, and ComEd does not mark up or profit on these costs.

To read the entire release from ComEd, click here.

ComEd offers programs and services to help those in need, including energy assistance, help for customers with special needs, and ways for neighbors to help neighbors. Form more information, follow this link:
https://www.comed.com/MyAccount/CustomerSupport/Pages/AssistancePrograms.aspx.

Nicor Gas Energy Assistance Programs

As COVID-19 continues to impact communities across the country, NIcor Gas knows it can be a stressful and even confusing time for many of their customers.

Whether you’re a homeowner or trying to run your business, Nicor Gas wants to make sure you have all the information you need to stay safe and healthy during this time.

There is a lot of information that can be found about energy assistance programs. When it comes to a Nicor Gas-specific energy assistance programs, you can find accurate and up-to-date information on nicorgas.com.

Part-Time Job Opening at City Hall

The City of Oak Forest is seeking a part-time Code Enforcement Officer / Apartment Inspector who takes a proactive approach to enforcing property maintenance codes. The successful candidate must be able to work independently and communicate effectively while maintaining a professional working relationship with employees, supervisors, and the public.

Schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

For complete details about this employment opportunity, please use this link: https://www.oak-forest.org/jobs.aspx.

Snow Removal Reminders

Winter is just around the corner. Please remember that the city prohibits residents from parking vehicles on city streets after 2 inches of snow has fallen to allow Public Works Department crew members to clear and salt the streets efficiently and effectively and

Vehicles must remain off streets for 12 hours after the end of snowfall or risk being fined and/or towed.

IMPORTANT! Do not shovel or blow snow from driveways into the streets as this can cause a hazard and is also against city ordinance. When snow is shoveled into the street, the plow is likely to push it right back in front of the driveway. Although the city's plows may leave some snow across driveway entrances, they try to keep it to a minimum. The Public Works Department will not remove snow from driveway entrances.

For more information, please read the Snow and Ice Control article on the city website.

Garbage News

Did you know you can use your blue trash bin -- normally used for for branches and yard waste -- as a garbage can? It's true! From December 1st through March 31, 2021, residents can use the blue yard waste bins as an additional garbage can.

For more information about garbage collection and recycle in Oak Forest, please visit
Garbage & Recycling.

Next Oak Forest City Council Meeting

The next Oak Forest City Council Meeting will be held January 12, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. Residents are invited to attend the meeting (must wear a mask and practice social distancing) or you can watch the meeting live on www.oak-forest.org/live. To watch the most recent meeting from December 8, 2020, please click on the image below.

Everbridge System Replaces Reverse 911 Notifications

In the past, the City of Oak Forest has reached out to citizens via Reverse 911 calls. This has changed to a new system called Everbridge Emergency Alerts.

By going to the Everbridge website, you can sign-up and create an account. Enter a cell phone number for voice and text, landline phone number for voice, email address for notifications, as well as home address. Entering your home address helps the City of Oak Forest send messages to only certain areas of the town that a particular emergency is taking place, such as a water main break, for example.

Creating an account will also give you access to make future modifications to your account when needed, such as change of phone number, email, and home address.
Additionally, if you ever move and do not want any notifications from the City of Oak Forest, you have the ability to delete account.

Everbridge is a valuable tool for the city and for citizens who want to be informed.

Please sign up today!

Stay Informed!

Receive Phone Call Alerts and Text Alerts by signing up for Everbridge.

eBriefs is a weekly newsletter from the City of Oak Forest with information from the Mayor and other city officials.

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