Emerson St. and Busse Ave. Intersection Closed

Beginning Monday, May 19, 2008, the intersection of Emerson St. and Busse Ave. will be closed due to the ongoing street resurfacing program and will remain closed for 2-3 weeks.  The library and village hall including the parking garage will be accessible via Central Road for the duration.  Additionally, the Chase Bank parking lot and all parking lots behind the buildings on Emerson St. as well as most of the on-street parking will remain accessible.  For further information, please contact Joel Michalik at the Mount Prospect Public Works Department, 847 870 5640.

Chicago Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Chicago Housing Choice Voucher Program, (which replaces Section 8 ) will be accepting registration forms beginning Thursday, April 17 for those who wish to be on the wait list for vouchers to rent units in the city of Chicago.  Any resident of Cook County is eligible to apply, but must relocate to Chicago to use the vouchers.  Voucher applications can be submitted until May 15 via the website www.rentbetter.org .   Mail-in paper forms (must be postmarked by May 15) are available at all Chicago Public Library branches, Chicago Park District Fieldhouses, city colleges, offices of the Chicago Department of Human Services, and the Illinois Department of Human Services; they can also be printed from the above website.  After the May 15 deadline, 40,000 applicants will be randomly chosen in an electronic lottery and assigned a place on the wait list.  For further information, go to the above website (applications and info in Spanish, Russian, Polish and Chinese are available) or call the Rent Better Hotline 312 786 3676.

Homeowner Assistance/Avoiding Foreclosure

Services are available to homeowners who are struggling to pay their mortgages.  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has a web page designed to assist Illinois homeowners, including information on housing counseling services currently available: http://www.hud.gov/local/il/homeownership/foreclosure.cfm. 

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (ILDA) also has information to assist homeowners facing foreclosure: http://www.ihda.org/.  The ILDA has scheduled "Homeowner Outreach Days" in April and May at various locations throughout the state where homeowners will be able to meet one-on-one with representatives of lenders and officials from state and local agencies: http://www.ihda.org/ViewPage.aspx?PageID=250. 

The Illinois Statewide Forclosure Prevention Network provides phone counseling: call 888 995 HOPE for more information. 

Tax Rebates/Economic Stimulus Payments

The IRS has released an economic stimulus payment calculator to assist taxpayers in determining the precise amount of their tax rebate:  http://www.irs.gov/app/espc/.  The distribution of these payments will begin in early May with the exact date dependent on the last two digits of social security numbers.  Tax filers who opt to have their 2007 tax refunds direct deposited will be the first to receive their payments direct deposited; otherwise, paper checks will be distributed in mid-May through July.   For more information and the payment schedule for taxpayers who file their 2007 taxes by April 15, 2008:  http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=180247,00.html.

Seniors Ride Free

Seniors are now able to ride free on area public transportation as of March 17, 2008 but they must have the free senior reduced fare card to do so.  They can now register for the card at Mount Prospect Village Hall.  See post below for further information.

Tax Rebates/Economic Stimulus Payments

Starting in May, one-time tax rebates will be sent to more than 130 million Americans. Single filers with adjusted gross income (AGI) below $75,000 will get rebates of as much as $600. Couples with AGI below $150,000 will receive rebates of up to $1,200. Parents will also receive $300 rebates per child under 17. The rebate is a one-time tax cut and an advance on a credit to be applied on 2008 income tax returns. To receive the payment, one must file a 2007 individual income tax return:  the IRS will use information on the tax return to determine eligibility and calculate the amount of the payment. These payments are intended to stimulate the economy and stem the possibility of a recession.  Taxpayers should expect to receive their economic stimulus payments anytime May through July.  For further information, go to website: http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=177937,00.html

Circuit Breaker Booklet Error

Mount Prospect Public Library recently received copies of the Circuit Breaker IL-1363 Application Booklets (IL-1363 Form; Schedules A , B  and C as well as Instructions and Benefits Information) which have been printed without a Schedule B: Qualified Additional Residents.  This oversight also extends to the web version of the booklet.  Click here  for a copy of  the Schedule B form and instructions: http://www.cbrx.il.gov/aging/1rx/cbrx/forms/IL1363B.pdf

Digital Television Transition

Analog broadcast television will become history on February 17, 2009, as the nation completes its transition to an all-digital system. Anyone whose television is not connected to cable, satellite, or other pay service needs either a new TV or a converter box to plug into their analog TV.  The federal government is offering U.S. households up to two $40 coupons to help pay for such converter boxes, which should cost between $50 and $70. Coupons will not be mailed until February 17 of this year, by which time the converters should be on store shelves.  Go to this website for further info about this change and how to obtain a coupon: www.dtv2009.gov.

Seniors Ride Free

Starting March 17, Illinois citizens 65 years of age or older, who live in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties will be able to ride for free on the RTA's system of fixed route transit including CTA buses and trains, Metra trains and Pace buses. 

If you currently have a senior reduced fare card, you will be able to use that card to ride for free on the CTA, Metra and Pace starting March 17.  If you do not have a senior reduced fare card, you must complete a simple enrollment process to sign up.

You can register during normal business hours at the RTA's Customer Service Center at 165 N. Jefferson, or at any one of over 200 sites in the region. To find a site near you, call 836-7000 from any area code. Give your zip code to the operator, and they will let you know which location is nearest to you.

To help complete your application when you go to a registration center, please bring with you a government issued picture identification card that verifies your age and also bring a photo of yourself that is approximately passport size (1.5" square).

For further information go to website:  http://www.illinois.gov/transit/#details

Cook County Prescription Drug Discount Cards

A new prescription discount card is now available for free to Cook County. Any county resident without prescription coverage can use this program. Even if you have insurance for prescription drugs, you may still benefit from the discount card, since it may save you money on prescription drugs your existing plan does not cover. Card users can typically save 20% off the pharmacy’s regular price on all commonly prescribed prescriptions. Go to this website for further information on obtaining a card: http://www.co.cook.il.us/prescription/ or call:  877-321-2652.  Mount Prospect residents can pick up a discount card by going to the Human Services Department at Mount Prospect Village Hall, 50 S. Emerson St.  Call for more information: 847 870-5680.