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player ready...Country Club Hills has become the second south suburb to refund a portion of its property taxes.
Aldermen recently approved refunding 25 percent of the municipal portion of property-tax bills that were paid this year. Mayor Dwight Welch urged council members to take the action, citing the city’s strong tax base.
Country Club Hills joins Crestwood in providing a tax rebate. Crestwood has given property owners rebates for several years, using revenue from its off-track betting facility to cover village expenses.
Welch said he anticipates that Country Club Hills’ rebate also will become annual.
Welch said nearly 4,500 Country Club Hills residents who have owned and lived in their single-family homes for at least one year will receive the rebate. They will be required to file a rebate application at City Hall and present a copy of their second-installment tax bill, he said.
But Welch warned that the city will be forced to raise its tax levy to cover the debt of its bankrupt fire department. The city took over the formerly independent Country Club Hills Fire Protection District this month and needs an immediate infusion of money to cover salaries and replace the district’s aging vehicles, including its pumper truck, which has a leak.
A new ladder truck costing $750,000 also is needed, Welch said.
“This [fire department debt] will be short-term, however,” Welch said. “I anticipate we will have it under control in 18 months.”