REMINDER: Property Tax Rebate Forms Due Thursday

The deadline to submit your tax rebate form with the village is this Thursday, Dec. 15.

Residents eligible for the refund will get 50 percent of their 2011 property tax bill returned. For the average resident, that equates to about $150 returned from the village.

Applications were mailed late in October, so if you haven't received a form you either aren't eligible or it was misplaced. To get an application, you can go to or download one from the village's website.

How do you know if you're eligible?

Only residential properties qualify, so township residents are not eligible. You also must have: 

• Owned a home for all of 2010 and still own that home;
• Qualified for the Homestead Exemption in 2010;
• Not rented or leased any portion of the home;
• Paid all 2010 real estate taxes through the Will County website; and
• No past due balance owed to the village.

Read more about the tax rebate:

What do you need to turn in the form?

Residents must return the application with copies of their Illinois driver's license or state ID and their 2010 property tax bill. A copy of your property tax bill may be requested through the Will County Treasurer's website.

The application must be mailed to Village Hall, 1 Veterans Pkwy, or dropped off there, on Dec. 15 at the latest. Mayor Tim Baldermann stressed that it's a firm deadline, because last year got "crazy" when people were turning in rebate forms late.

"We can't just have people calling in March," he said. "This is giving money back to the taxpayers. Don't think (the form) is just junk mail."

Village Approves Tax Levy Increase

At Monday's Village Board meeting, the board approved a tax levy increase that will equate to about $10 more for the average homeowner. But because of an increase to the amount rebated on your property taxes, most residents will see savings.

Last year, the village rebated 40 percent of property tax bills. The increase to 50 percent this year will return an addition $30 on average.

Read more about the proposed tax levy: Village Approves 2011 Property Tax Increase