My wife and I are seniors. We are on a fixed income. We were told that we could not get the senior freeze, that it is not offered any longer. Even with the senior freeze, our taxes went up $500 one year and $200 the next year. We can’t sell our house because prices are so ridiculously low. What are we to do, not pay our taxes?

According to the county supervisor of assessments office, “The Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption provides seniors with limited income protection against real estate tax increases due to rising property values. It is not a tax freeze or a tax reduction and does not protect against increased taxes due to tax rate increases. Because this exemption provides for a base year frozen assessment, it will potentially provide increased savings each year a senior is eligible. The base assessment used in the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption initially equals the assessed value from the prior year tax calculation. In subsequent years, if the new assessed value is lower than their original base value, the new lower value becomes the new base amount. This is assuming the assessment reduction is not the result of a temporary adjustment because of a physical property change such as a fire or flood adjustment. If a senior no longer qualifies for the Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption, taxes will then be based on the current ‘non-freeze’ property assessment.” For information on a separate program available to lower income seniors, see the center section titled “Senior Citizens’ Tax Deferral Program,” at www.dupageco.org/SOA/1480.—JAC

* * *

I agree with the person who called about trucks parking in a residential area. I know of three trucks, one large truck and two small vans that are parked in a driveway; the large one parked on the street and none of the three even had a village sticker. So, I would think that it stated that if you garage or park your truck or vehicle in Lombard on the street that you must have a village sticker. I know we can’t find out from the police department or the village because they’re not going to answer, but it seems to me like there’s a lot of lost revenue on that block.

* * *

About the satellite village hall office in downtown Lombard, let me remind everyone that this went away 30-some years ago, when the village board, in their infinite wisdom, moved the village hall complex to a part of town consisting of a residential neighborhood, thereby helping lead to the eventual downfall of downtown Lombard. At that time they had the option of taking over one of several locations in downtown Lombard to expand the size of the village hall complex. There was Lincoln School, an addition to the then-village hall or the DuPage Theatre building. Any of three options may have helped revitalize downtown Lombard, much the same as Glen Ellyn, Wheaton and Elmhurst did successfully. I can’t imagine what caused them to move it where it is today. Now there is a consideration to open a small satellite office in downtown Lombard. As usual, the board is a day late and a dollar short. Some things never change.

* * *

Hi, Lombard. I am a business owner in town and will always donate to an organization that comes in and asks. Do you know how many letters I get from not only organizations in Lombard, but outside of Lombard also looking for support? Tons. How do I decide? Well, if you come in and ask me face to face, you will usually get something donated. If you have sent a letter and catch me on a phone call, maybe. But you would still need to pick it up. Let’s keep Lombard flourishing and stay local. Make the effort and go in and introduce yourself, especially if you’re not a current customer. Hopefully you will become one.

* * *

Lombard calling. Illinois is broke because for years, irresponsible politicians have not been meeting the state’s financial obligations and they are now past due. Illinois is broke because of dwindling corporate tax revenues, which is only going to get worse because the law has changed and corporations can give unlimited amounts to re-election campaigns; sweetheart deals are being cut; salaries of state employees make up 8 percent of the state’s budget.

* * *

Trustee Zachary Wilson claims he would have refused to accept his second taxpayer-funded pension had he won his race for a county board seat, but I did not see that promise in any of his campaign literature. How convenient for him to say what he would have done now that he has lost the race. Perhaps Mr. Wilson will explain to Lombard taxpayers why he continues to accept his $3,400 annual paycheck for the “volunteer” trustee job even though he states he would have refused his county pension.

* * *

Kudos to Trustee Wilson for not being afraid to tell it like it is. How refreshing to see a politician be truthful. There is waste at every level of government; admit it. 

* * *

Does everyone remember the Westin debacle? According to the Report of Independent Auditors from April 26, 2012, “The company (LPFC) has incurred consecutive years of significant losses from operations, continued negative cash flows from operating activities and was not able to make complete scheduled interest payments during the years ended December 2010 and 2011. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The company did not make interest payments of 4.1 million and 2.4 million in scheduled interest payments, resulting in additional interest being accrued during the year.” How is your plan to fix this going, Mr. Hulseberg? Got your payment ready for July1?

* * *

Here are a few questions for the thought police who believe national politics have no place in a community newspaper. Why shouldn’t residents comment on national politics? Don’t the decisions of politicians in Washington, D.C., affect all of us? Don’t we have a right to express our opinions on those decisions? Should we be allowed to comment on state politics, or have you decided that comments related to politics in Springfield are also inappropriate? Since you are the best judge of what should and should not belong in local papers, please tell us what other subjects you would like to censor. Thank you.

* * *

I find President Mueller’s attack on public safety pensions in last week’s edition laughable when one considers the squandering of millions of taxpayer dollars under his administration. Mr. Mueller cries out about $3 million it costs for police and fire pensions each year that provide the safe community we enjoy. What he forgot to mention is the reason it costs so much today is because the village never fully funded the pensions in the past. Mr. Mueller, what are we getting for the millions of dollars per year that Lombard must pay to subsidize the Westin Hotel you pushed through?  What are we getting for the $40 million dollars the DuPage Water Commission “misplaced” while you sat on the board other than higher water rates? 

* * *

I was disappointed to see the letter from President Mueller complaining about pension costs.  The current public safety workers did not create this condition. The governments did by continually underfunding the pensions and asking for a 20-year extension from Springfield.  His village manager is also funded by a government pension plan and continues to go after fire and police without mentioning his own government- funded plan. All this at the same time the village is paying more than $2 million a year for the LPFC Westin project.  This is because the same village manager got this shoved through when he was community development director and had Mueller’s name put on the ballroom.  At least with pension costs you have something to show for it. 

* * *

A few comments on the Lombard Pride: First, on the back it says that a “new roof” was replaced in 2011. Does that mean a new one had to be replaced, or was that a grammar gaffe? I hope the latter. Second, a “no-cost permit” to remove ash trees on private property. You have to fill out an application and get permission to cut down a tree on your own property. Big government in our lives again. Lastly, I had to do a double take when I saw that the county’s water commission raised our bulk water purchase rate by 30 percent this year, and it will continue to go up. Again, people, use your voice and vote.

* * *

Hi, this is Villa Park calling. I’m responding to a couple of SPEAK OUT calls about taxes being frozen, assessments being frozen. My understanding is they freeze the assessment on your property taxes. However, if other taxes are raised throughout the year for pensions, schools, what have you, your taxes will still go up. Again, all they’re doing is freezing the assessment dollar amount on your property.

* * *

This is Lombard calling. A few years ago we had a president who didn’t know what the definition of “is” is, you remember. Now we have a president who also has some issues with definitions of words. He is obviously confused on what the word “evolving” means, as opposed to the word he really should be using, “revolving.” There’s a big difference.

* * *

There should be no rush to replace Attorney General Patrick Fitzgerald. The taxpayers of DuPage County have serious concerns about the recent excessive property tax bills they have received. The DuPage County treasurer has been quoted as saying for the last several years in a row that total assessed property value has decreased by 12.1 percent. The treasurer insists she is doing her best to serve the taxpayers by raising their taxes. Her justification for such a statement is the taxing bodies are spending more tax dollars each year. Hello. The lack of fiscal responsibility by taxing bodies is a problem of the county board president and its members. They are not fulfilling their oath of office. Legal action should be taken as a wake-up call. Enough is enough.

* * *

This is Lombard calling. How can businesses in downtown Lombard now sell or reserve their parking spaces for Metra riders by the month and by the quarter? If everybody in downtown Lombard and their parking lots would rent their parking spaces, then there won’t be parking for anyone to come and use their facilities. I think there has to be some kind of zoning on that. Second of all, as I’ve been calling many times, we need more Metra parking in Lombard. That’s why people are scrounging to find available parking spaces to be able to go to work every morning. It’s very critical that somebody really thinks about this.

* * *

Our freedom is being taken away from us. Freedom is not free. I will repeat that one more time. Freedom is not free. Many of us veterans, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, you name it, all these people were killed. All these families were disrupted yet we don’t have any freedom in this country. It seems our politicians are being bought off by all the people with big bucks in their pocket and this has to stop. I don’t care how you say it or how you spell it, it must s-t-o-p. Freedom is not free. Remember this, all you red-blooded Americans. Freedom is not free.

* * *

I would hope that the cruisers know they aren’t supposed to park by fire hydrants, like last year, and I hope the Lombard Police Department will make sure they follow up on that.

* * *

SPEAKING OUT FOR 25 YEARS

The following comments are reprinted from the May 21, 2003, SPEAK OUT column in celebration of SPEAK OUT’s 25th year.

Hi, This is Lombard calling. During one of the last storms, the siren of the village went off, and I was wondering what exactly do the sirens mean? Does it mean that a tornado has been seen? Or there’s a tornado warning? And what are the residents supposed to do? Are they supposed to go to their basements or just take shelter? And are there any siren warnings that we’re supposed to be aware of like for terrorism or anything else? If somebody could please let me know, I’d appreciate it.

(Note: This call is from 2003 when the village still provided answers.) According to then-Lombard Fire Battalion Chief Mike Kalina, Lombard’s tornado warning siren is only activated if a tornado warning exists or a funnel cloud has been spotted and is traveling in the direction of Lombard. “When you hear the sirens—go,” said then-Lombard Police Deputy Chief Dane Cuny. Kalina said if the siren is activated, residents should take shelter in the basement or an area of your home that does not contain a large amount of glass. As there are no “all clears” sounded, Kalina said residents should listen to a radio or television once they have taken shelter. The tornado siren is a constant sound, Kalina explained. In a civil defense warning, the sound goes up and down.

* * *

Hi, calling from Lombard. I’m just wondering if we could get some more street lighting in the neighborhoods. St. Charles Road has one every 40 feet, yet on our blocks, we have one on each end of the block. There are no lights in residential areas where they actually need them. Maybe we could talk to somebody about getting more lights into residential areas.

* * *

Hi. This is Lombard calling. Spring is in the air and so is baseball. Since the season has started, we the homeowners around Terrace View Park do not appreciate the additional litter from pop cans and treat wrappers dropped on the parkways or our lawns by the players and their families on their way back to their cars. Please use the trash receptacles or take the trash home.